WISH-8 adds Laura Steele to station's Indy 500 team
Former Q95 personality will report on history of iconic race
For Laura Steele's first media job of her post-Q95 career, she's heading back to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Steele, who became the first woman to join the IMS public address team in 2004, will be an Indianapolis 500 contributor for TV station WISH-8.
On Thursday, WISH will launch a 108-day countdown to the 100th running of the race. Steele will be part of a team led by sports director Anthony Calhoun and racing analyst Derek Daly.
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"We are going to dig deep into the history of the Indy 500, uncovering new facts about this historic race and the hallowed grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway," Steele said of her role.
Pike High School alum Steele exited the airwaves of WFBQ-FM (94.7) last May. Pop station WZPL-FM (99.5) provided Steele's first job in Indianapolis radio and she raised her profile as a classic rock expert at WNAP-FM (93.1), beginning in 1999, and then at Q95, beginning in 2000.
WISH news director Elbert Tucker said Steele's resume makes her a good fit for the countdown coverage (108 days, in a nod to the station's channel number).
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"Laura has had a very successful run in radio and also had a big involvement out at IMS," he said. "The opportunity was there and it made a lot of sense. We're looking forward to it."
The countdown will begin during Thursday's 6:30 p.m. newscast. Reports will be cataloged online at Wishtv.com/Indy500.
Steele lists Dan Wheldon as her all-time favorite Indy 500 driver. "He always took the time to chat," Steele said. "He picked on the media in a very fun way."
And actor Mark Wahlberg is Steele's pick as favorite interview on the Race Day red carpet. The star of "Ted" and "The Departed" attended the Indy 500 in 2010.
"It's amazing to me," Steele said of the 100-race milestone. "I love history. Think about the drivers, the superstitions, the ticket prices, the fashion over the years."
This year's Indy 500 is scheduled for May 29.
Call Star reporter David Lindquist at (317) 444-6404. Follow him on Twitter: @317Lindquist.