Tony Stewart is back at the Indianapolis 500 — not behind the wheel, but behind the mic.

FOX Sports announced that its debut race-day broadcast of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing that begins at 10 a.m. on May 25 will include Stewart, the famed three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 1997 IndyCar Series champ who has five Indy 500 starts.

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Joining the Columbus, Ind., native on the broadcast lineup is former IndyCar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick, alongside veteran FOX broadcaster Chris Myers. The trio will enhance FOX’s prerace coverage that's added an additional hour than recent Indy 500s on NBC. 

Stewart's previous broadcasting experience includes NASCAR Cup and Xfinity coverage on FOX as he complements FOX's primary booth team of Will Buxton, James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell. Stewart’s involvement is particularly fitting given his history with the Indy 500, where he has a best finish of fifth in 1997 after leading a race-high 64 laps.

His last Indy 500 came in 2001 where he started seventh and finished sixth. Other performances include a 24th-to-ninth run in 1999 and two DNFs in '98 (crash, completed 22 laps) and '96 (mechanical issue after qualifying second, completed 82 laps). Could Stewart ever make his return as a driver at the Indy 500? Don't count on it.

"The last time I was in an IndyCar was 2001, so 20 plus years now," Stewart said last month on a video conference. "To go there and even think that I'm going to be competitive is, in my opinion, very unrealistic. Do I feel like I could make the race and have a solid showing? I do feel like I could do that, but I don't feel like I have what it takes.

"These guys are so good in these cars and have such a good feel and read on what these cars are and what the car needs. I don't feel like I would have that input to give to the team to help ... to have a winning car. The only way I'm going back to the Indy 500 is if I feel I have a shot to win the Indy 500.

"I don't think I'd be capable because of seat time," he added. "Just don't think it's in my cards."

Though Stewart retired from NASCAR in 2016, he's remained active, recently making headlines with his first NHRA Top Fuel win in 2025 at the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals and then over the weekend by winning the Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill. Stewart also leads the NHRA Top Fuel standings by three points over Shawn Langdon through six of 20 events.

FOX Sports’ coverage will also feature sitdown interviews by Tom Rinaldi and Erin Andrews, with pit reporting from Jamie Little, Kevin Lee and Georgia Henneberry. The company's trio of well-known NFL legends Michael Strahan (pace car driver), Rob Gronkowski (Snake Pit grand marshal) and Tom Brady (Fastest Seat in Sports passenger) are also part of FOX Sports' event coverage.