Rene Hatlelid in an NBC production truck while preparing to produce the 106th Indianapolis 500.
NBC sports photography
It is said that the Indianapolis 500 can change a person’s life.
That certainly changed the life of NBC sports producer Rene Hatlelid.
In last year’s 105th Indianapolis 500, Hatlelid became the first woman producer of the famous racing event.
I had the opportunity to have an exclusive interview with Hatlelid to hear her unique story about producing the world’s biggest race for millions of viewers watching on television.
That would be 105 Hatlelid’s grandmothersth birthday 105th running the Indianapolis 500 and was on track to produce the biggest sporting event of her career.
“I know she watched from above laughing at me,” Hatlelid said. “The family aspect of IndiCar plays a lot in that. I worked very, very hard to get to this place. I get respect because I do a good job.
“It meant a lot to me to see where I started on television to where I am now. I would not give that up for the world. I love my job.”
She emphasized that her job is to produce the best sports television program she can.
Last year, Hatlelid and NBC had an incredible fortune to share one of the most emotional stories in the history of Indianapolis 500. Then Helio Castroneves won, becoming the fourth driver to win Indianapolis 500 times in his career.
Hatlelid proved that timing is everything because after Kastroneves won the race and climbed the fence, NBC was ready to start advertising before Hatlelid made a decision that would change her career.
She saw on one of the cameras that Castroneves was getting ready to run on the track and share a great moment with the fans on the motorcycle track in Indianapolis, while they chanted, “Hel-yo !!! Hel-io! ”
“I suddenly said, ‘We should wait. We should wait. We should wait before we start advertising, “she recalled. “When Mario Andretti kissed him on the head, I felt it was probably the right time.
It was an authentic and organic moment in television history that could not be written and orchestrated.
“Every driver you talk to says this race is changing your life,” Hatlelid said. “Every driver who crosses a brick yard, his life changes forever in some way, shape or form.
“Watching Heli last year was amazing. It leaves me speechless when I look back. ”
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 30: NTT Indi Car Series driver Helio Kastroneves reacts after victory … [+]
Sportswire icon via Getty Images
Hatlelid seems to specialize in “high-speed sports” as a producer including the NHL playoffs, NASC
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In 2021, she was given the task of her career and entered the history of television as the first woman producer of the TV show Indianapolis 500 for NBC.
“It’s an extraordinary honor,” Hatlelid said. “I started working on India 500 in 2019 as a pit manufacturer and last year was the first year, I actually produced it.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to produce ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’ I take it on my shoulders. I know how important this race is for every single driver, every fan and the racing community in general.
“I take it very seriously. I owe that to the drivers. They are going extremely fast and I want to tell their stories. “
Producing a major sporting event such as the Indianapolis 500 must combine visual and audio sensations, as well as tell stories of how they happen.
“The most important part of that is knowing the stories that are taking place, and the action on the track always dedicates what we do,” said Hatlelid. “Then trust the people you work with. Reporters from the pit sell you and then suddenly there is a big battle on the track or team, and then go to the reporter from the pit.
“It’s an opportunity to provide the most relevant stories that happen and what’s most important to fans at home.”
Also, if there is a lull in the races, Hatlelid can provide the personalities of the drivers, stories and families of the drivers.
“They go over 230 miles per hour and their families watch them,” she said. “It’s important. It’s terrible. They go faster than airplanes.
“It tells the story of the race as it runs, and then provides the personalities of these drivers and shows the danger they face every time they go out on the track.”
Week 106th The Indianapolis 500 is the first full 500 Indie 500 since 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was held without spectators in 2020 and limited to 137,000 fans in 2021.
An audience of over 250,000 fans will fill the Indianapolis highway on Sunday. These fans have their favorite points to watch the race. Many fans have had their tickets for more than 30 years in a row.
Hatlelid’s headquarters are in a production truck in the broadcasting circuit on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. She has to watch the action on 15 screens, all of which are divided into nine squares.
She has to recognize and process what she sees to determine which camera to use during the race.
“Our director, Sean Owens, covers the races and he chooses how we will do it, but we are both watching at the same time,” Hatlelid explained. “We have a very good mindset. I’m inclined to point, and he literally goes to the camera I’m pointing at while I point at it. We’ve been working together for a long time, so it’s nice to know that I have a great partner in crime next to me. “
In addition to visuals, reporters from the pit and their producers discuss her feeding information to determine whether to switch to them on the pit road or pass that information to a booth that includes Lee Diffie, James Hincliffe and Townsend Bell.
“You have to set priorities and share the stories that are happening on the track,” she explained. “Then you have to check and decide which one is the most important at the moment.”
Indianapolis 500 Television is also showing NBC’s “Pit Bok” on Pit Road where host Mike Tirico will join for the 2005 Indianapolis 500 rookie Danica Patrick and former NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Mike Tirico and Danica Patrick at NBC Sports Pit Bock in the Indianapolis 500.
Timothy Hiatt NBC Sports
Tirico is highly praised for Hatlelid’s ability to produce an extraordinary and convincing race for television viewers.
“The producer’s role is always about timing, and over time and years in the truck, learn that timing,” Tirico said. “Regardless of gender, Rene is an exceptional television producer.
“The fact that there was attention about being the first woman, she deserves it, but I think of Rene as a great TV producer, period.
“By being around big events, covering live events, being in the middle of everything, she knew when to do the right thing. When things go the fastest, you have to be as careful as possible, but also calm.
“They appear in the greatest moments. I knew how great a professional he was here. I didn’t care what gender she was; you just know when people get it, and she absolutely understands it.
“She performed as a rock star.”
Hatlelid will produce his second Indianapolis 500 television program on Sunday on NBC. Television starts at 11:00 Eastern time, and the pre-race show leads to 106.th Indianapolis 500.