While the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is celebrating the 100th running of the 500, it will also being laying a foundation for the future.
That will start in the radio booth where a familiar voice will become the definitive voice for the race.
It's known as the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Since 1952, starting with Sid Collins, only five voices have occupied the chair to describe the action on the Indianapolis Speedway Radio Network.
Sid Collins, Paul Page, Lou Palmer, Bob Jenkins, Mike King and now, Mark Jaynes.
"I don't know that one of those belongs, Kevin. Maybe I will earn my place eventually. I know people don't like this reference, but that is the Mount Rushmore for sure," Jaynes said as high school students set up for a practice news broadcast.
It is certainly not one of those situations where he will quit his day job. Thursday was the last day of school at Beech Grove where he teaches broadcasting and serves as assistant athletic director. Now, the 52-year-old Jaynes can also teach them about perseverance. He has worked on the Speedway Radio Network for 21 years.
"I've had a lot of seasoning. At lot of Triple-A and now I finally get the call to the bigs. I am confident race day will go well. I've had the opportunity to discuss this with Mike King, Paul Page and Bob Jenkins. I am confident I am prepared because of the influence of those three," Jaynes explained.
So there is also a life lesson here for his students. They get to see first-hand that if you are willing to work, prepare and pay your dues, they may also get a call like Mark Jaynes got.
"It's a watershed moment. I was here, of all places, working a swim meet in my capacity as assistant athletic director," is how Jaynes described taking that phone call telling him he would become the new radio voice of the Indianapolis 500.
"How many people asked for tickets now?" Eyewitness News reporter Kevin Rader asked.
"I did a little preventative work in that regard. I started sending those emails out in December," long before he received the good news because he knew the 100th running was going to be a tough ticket to get.
Now the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 is sold out, so it's a perfect time to slide into this chair to describe history.
