INDIANAPOLIS -- Known for his smooth delivery and catchphrases like "He's on it," and "It's a new track record," Tom Carnegie was the voice of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for more than 60 years.
Carnegie, a Connecticut native whose legal name was Carl Kenagy, got his start at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1946 when Firestone asked him to introduce an antique auto show.
At the time, then-track president Wilbur Shaw and Speedway owner Tony Hulman heard the 26-year-old's voice and were impressed. The duo asked Carnegie to join the public address team at IMS in 1946.
WRTV, then WFBM, hired Tom Carnegie as sports director in 1953. WRTV was the first station to have live trackside reports from the Speedway. The WRTV Trackside tradition continues today.
Carnegie retired from WRTV in 1985 but continued as the voice of the Speedway until 2006.
Tom Carnegie died Feb. 11, 2011 at the age of 91.
In this throwback, reporter Greg Todd features Tom Carnegie in his Hoosier Profile series, which originally aired in May 24, 1983.
