Due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the 104th Indianapolis 500 was rescheduled for August 23, and was held without spectators. Since there was no track activity during the month of May, the schedule for the 2020 episodes of The Talk of Gasoline Alley was revised.
New episodes of The Talk of Gasoline Alley aired on Thursday evenings during the month of May. The episode schedules for Brickyard 400/GMR Grand Prix race week in June/July was daily shows for one week Monday through Friday. For the Indianapolis 500 race weeks in August, the shows began Wednesday August 5.
The August episodes ran nearly every night until race weekend, except when Pacers games conflicted. However, unlike previous years, accommodations were made around the basketball games. Since the NBA was playing in the “Orlando/Disney World bubble”, tip-off times were unconventional compared to normal seasons. Afternoon and late afternoon game ended early enough that Trackside and TOGA could still air, albeit delayed. On more than one occasion, TOGA started late (8:30 p.m., 9 p.m., and even 9:30 p.m.) in order to get in a night’s worth of programming. In some cases, Trackside was shortened to a half-hour (or shorter) show to provide more time.
For Podcasts & Downloads of 2020 episodes, see WFNI 107.5/1070 The Fan
For Downloads of 2000 to 2019 episodes, see Audio Downloads
For The Talk of Gasoline Alley Episode Guides from 2000 to 2020, see TOGA Episode Guides
May 2020 (“quarantine”) broadcast schedule:
- 107.5 FM / 1070 AM The Fan WFNI
- Tuesdays 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (EDT): Trackside with Curt Cavin & Kevin Lee
- Thursdays 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (EDT): Donald Davidson’s The Talk of Gasoline Alley
June/July 2020 (Brickyard 400/GMR Grand Prix) broadcast schedule:
- 107.5 FM / 1070 AM The Fan WFNI
- Monday-Friday 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (EDT): Trackside with Curt Cavin & Kevin Lee
- Monday-Friday 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (EDT): Donald Davidson’s The Talk of Gasoline Alley
August 2020 (Indianapolis 500) broadcast schedule:
- 107.5 FM / 1070 AM The Fan WFNI
- Monday-Friday 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (EDT): Trackside with Curt Cavin & Kevin Lee
- Monday-Friday 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (EDT): Donald Davidson’s The Talk of Gasoline Alley
- May be pre-empted due to Indiana Pacers basketball games
| The Talk of Gasoline Alley — 2020 Episodes | |||||||||
| March/April | [24] | [31] | [7] | ||||||
| May | [7] | [14] | [21] | [28] | |||||
| June/July | [29] | [30] | [1] | [2] | [3] | ||||
| August | |||||||||
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | |||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | [5] | [6] | [7] | 8 | |||
| 9 | 10 | [11] | [12] | [13] | [14] | 15 | |||
| 16 | [17] | [18] | [19] | [20] | [21] | 22 | |||
| [23] | |||||||||
Tuesday March 24: (Special edition of TOGA on Trackside): Donald Davidson joined “Trackside with Curt Cavin & Kevin Lee” for a special episode of “The Talk of Gasoline Alley” during the COVID-19 pandemic. All questions were Twitter submitted and there were no live callers. Kevin Lee hosted the program while Donald joined the program via telephone and the TOGA segment was aired during the second hour of the program.
(Mike from Vernon Hills) Harvest Auto Racing Classic and other races at the Speedway, Carl Fisher’s dispute with the local hotel owners in 1916, the 1916 300-mile race, race cancelled in 1917-1918, Eddie Rickenbacker and the Prest-o-Lite team, formerly the Maxwell team, has the 500 ever not been held in the month of May (no), the 1986 rain delay, scheduling the 500, moving the 500 from May 30 to Saturday to Monday then to Sunday in 1974, the 1997 rain delay, the location of the 1909 “The Vision” photograph, Mike Mosley, alternate starters in the 500
Tuesday March 31: (Special edition of TOGA on Trackside): Donald Davidson joined “Trackside with Curt Cavin & Kevin Lee” for a special episode of “The Talk of Gasoline Alley” during the COVID-19 pandemic. All questions were Twitter submitted and there were no live callers. Kevin Lee hosted the program while Donald joined the program via telephone and the TOGA segment was aired during the second hour of the program.
The 1937 Indianapolis 500 finish, including the “Frame” story for Wilbur Shaw, memorable instances of teams bending the rules, 1947 Andy Granatelli story of Pete Romcevich adding oil – actually adding water to the oil tank to top it off, Rene Dreyfus and Rene Le Begue in the 1940 race, follow-up on Lewis Strange “The Vision” photograph, 1946 AAA Championship Carseason (the “Big Car” races as part of the championship).
Tuesday April 7: (Special edition of TOGA on Trackside): Donald Davidson joined “Trackside with Curt Cavin & Kevin Lee” for a special episode of “The Talk of Gasoline Alley” during the COVID-19 pandemic. All questions were Twitter submitted and there were no live callers. Kevin Lee hosted the program while Donald joined the program via telephone and the TOGA segment was aired during the second hour of the program.
Follow-up on the Harvest Auto Racing Classic in 1916, Marmon on display at Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, also racing at Rockford Speedway and the Chicago World’s Fair, color of the Marmon Wasp on the film “The Crucible of Speed”, J.C. Agajanian (inlcuding Evel Knievel), history of public address announcers at the 500.
Thursday 5-7-2020: Mike from Vernon Hills is first for the abridged month of May, John Martin (includes the Sea Snack Shrimp Cocktail Special), Jim Hurtubise on Bump Day 1978, Eddie Rickenbacker (inlcudes the Maxwell team and purchasing the Speedway), Johnny Thomson (Dave in Marion), Basement Bessie, Eddie Cheever, Bill Simpson, Al Bloemker, traditions missed (former winners’ lap during pre-race ceremonies), follow up on Rick Mears driving for Bill Simpson, Bobby Johns.
Thursday 5-14-2020: Radio broadcasting crew assignments (1982, etc.) Paul Russo, the White Front is for sale, Basement Bessie, 1971 Frank Fiore and Denny Zimmerman entry, Andy Granatelli, the book “They Call Me Mr. 500”, Donald’s best memories, Bob Harkey (Dave from Marion), using sponsor’s products/passing in turn 1 & 3 vs. 2 & 4/most talented drivers (mostly not answered), Jim Clark.
Thursday 5-21-2020: Louis “Sonny” Meyer Jr. (Mike in Vernon Hills), Meyer/Drake Engineering and the Offenhauser engine, Billy DeVore, Duke Nalon, Pete Dye, Speedway golf course, Ralph DePalma and John DePalma (Paul in Racine), racing in the rain in pre-WWII years, older cars winning the race.
Thursday 5-28-2020: Drivers that attended Arsenal Tech High School, spectators visiting the track on the day the race was supposed to be held (May 24), Ferrari history at Indy, Alberto Ascari, the Indy 500 paying points towards the World Championship of Drivers, Tony Hulman’s athletics (Paul in Racine), Rudolf Caracciola recuperating with Tony Hulman, Johnny Parsons (Jr.), Johnny Rutherford in 1983, Nigel Mansell, Lou Palmer.
Monday 6-29-2020: (Brickyard 400/GMR Grand Prix week) Co-host Kevin Lee, Jack McGrath (Paul in Racine), 1956 Ford 24-hour stock car endurance record run attempt, USAC Stock Car tests and proposed USAC Stock Car race at Indianapolis, Nichels Engineering Endurance Run, endurance races/sports car races at Indianapolis, 1909 original IMS road course plans, Bobby Allison at Indy.
Tuesday 6-30-2020: (Brickyard 400/GMR Grand Prix week) Co-host Kevin Lee, The Race of Two Worlds at Monza Italy, Bob Laycock (Paul in Racine), Mike Thomsen (Curator of Media and Historical Archives at IMS Museum) joins the program to discuss the discovery and restoration of the original radio broadcasts of the 1957 & 1958 Race of Two Worlds, Bobby Johns at Indy.
Wednesday 7-1-2020: (Brickyard 400/GMR Grand Prix week) Bill Alsup and other New England are drivers (also 1979 controversy, Sam Posey, Jackie Stewart, Daniel M. Buechlein giving the Invocation reciting “Godspeed” in the language of starting drivers, Eldon Rassmussen in 1975 with Father O’Connor, Rene Dreyfus and Rene Le Begue in the 1940 race, Eddie Johnson, Marshall Teague.
Thursday 7-2-2020: (Brickyard 400/GMR Grand Prix week) Hugh Downs testing a car in 1971 (Mike in Vernon Hills), other tire manufacturers (Jerry in Delphi), Lou Sparks, Johnny Carson driving the Turbine in 1967, Jay Leno and David Letterman ties to Indy, Kevin Calabro, Dave Calabro, Johnny Mantz.
Friday 7-3-2020: (Brickyard 400/GMR Grand Prix week) Co-host Greg Rakestraw, James Garner at Indy, Paul Goldsmith, follow up on Nichels Engineering run, George Salih putting cigar holder loops in the car for Jimmy Bryan in 1958, USAC Stock Car 1963 Yankee 300 at Indianapolis Raceway Park (Dave from Marion), Gene Harrington (father of Scott Harrington) at the Yankee 300, Jim Malloy, Dale Earnhardt (Sr.)
Wednesday 8-5-2020: (Kevin Lee co-hosting with Mike Thomsen as contributor) Mike Mosely (including 1979 finish), Pete Romcevich, Granatelli adding water to oil tank story, Chuck Hulse, living drivers that have driven on the brick main straightaway, classic audio with Mike Thomsen – Pat O’Connor 1957 intervew, Eddie Johnson.
Thursday 8-6-2020: Update on Robin Miller, Jim McElreath (Jerry In Delphi), Lloyd Ruby, Utah Stars sponsorship in 1971, memories from the 1977 race (Paul in Racine), classic audio with Mike Thomsen – Tony Bettenhausen interview, Gordon Johncock.
Friday 8-7-2020: Vel Miletich (Paul in Racine), Donald has been to every race since 1964, Donald’s favorite race, incline on the backstrech, Mel Kenyon (Jerry in Delphi), history of The Talk of Gasoline Alley, classic audio with Mike Thomsen – Sid Collins interviews Tony Hulman about the new museum.
Saturday 8-8-2020: No show
Sunday 8-9-2020: No show
Monday 8-10-2020: No show due to Pacers game
Tuesday 8-11-2020: August 1909 racing events, racing meets at IMS in 1910, planning the first 500 in 1911, Ralph Liguri, classic audio with Mike Thomsen – Tom Carnegie interview with Bob Sweikert from 1956, Charlie Brockman 1955 victory lane interview with Sweikert, the book “Black Noon” about the 1964 race, Dave MacDonald, Arthur and Louis Chevrolet, John “Irish” Horan (Paul in Racine), the origin of “Gentlemen start your engines”.
Wednesday 8-12-2020: Eddie Sachs, Johnny Rutherford, classic audio with Mike Thomsen – Parnelli Jones interview from 1961, opening day (8/12) was Parnelli Jones’ 87th birthday, location of the start/finish line, selecting the location of the mainstretch, Johnny White (Jerry in Delphi).
Thursday 8-13-2020: Len Sutton, chief starters (Pat Vidan, Duane Sweeney), classic audio with Mike Thomsen – remembering Don Edmunds, only two drivers left that drove in the 500 in the 1950s (A.J. Foyt and Paul Goldsmith), Jim Hurtubise.
Friday 8-14-2020: Best charger…Bill Vukovich…also Al Unser Sr and Rick Mears (Paul in Racine), Georges Boillot, Jerry Sneva (including Neil Bonnet and kill switch story from 1979), classic audio with Mike Thomsen – 1966 STP commerical with Jim Clark, Bill Alsup, winning driver that led only the final lap (Dan Wheldon in 2011), George Follmer.
Saturday 8-15-2020: Time Trials
Sunday 8-16-2020: Time Trials
Monday 8-17-2020: (Curt Cavin co-host) Mario Andretti as a rookie in 1965, Mario winning the pole in 1966-1967, Jack Mackenzie – caretaker of the Borg-Warner Trophy (Mike from Vernon Hills), various awards presented to the Pole Winner (Paul in Racine), Rex Mays watch, Starcraft van, PPG Pole Award, how the pole position was awarded in the early years, classic audio with Mike Thomsen – Lou Palmer radio report from 1980, memories of Lou Palmer, Tim Richmond in 1980, Gary Bettenhausen in 1980 (Dave from Marion), Greg Leffler, Bob Harkey, top ten finishes with both front and rear engine cars, Salt Walther/Bob Harkey in 1975, Scott Brayton, the hypothetical scenario of the 1989 finish with Raul Boesel, Scott Brayton, Mario Andretti, and A.J. Foyt.
Tuesday 8-18-2020: The former 500 winners that Donald has met and has not met, Phil Hedback and the Bryant Heating and Cooling sponsorships/entries, pouring 150 silver dollars into Parnelli Jones helmet, 200 silver dollars for Tom Sneva’s helmet, and 188 silver dollard for Janet Guthrie’s helmet in 1977, classic audio with Mike Thomsen – Giuseppe Farina interview, remembering Pat Kennedy and the Kennedy Tank Special entries, Kennedy’s ties to Jack Harvey, cross flag at the halfway point.
Wednesday 8-19-2020: Anniversary of first automobile races at IMS on August 19, 1909, Donald Davidson’s Indianapolis 500 Annuals yearbooks in 1974 and 1975, why the book was not continued, Donald’s trip around the world in 1976, also Clymer and Hungness yearbooks, Dale Drake (Mike in Vernon Hills), Offenhauser engines, classic audio with Mike Thomsen – Bill Vukovich victory lane interview from 1954, photo of Bill Vukovich on the workbench after the 1954 race, had Donald ever watched the race from the grandstands, Studebaker at the 500, where there any effects in the 1919 race due to the Spanish Flu pandemic (Johnny Aitken), 1919 race recap.
Thursday 8-20-2020: Jack C. Fox, the book Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500, also Clymer yearbooks, Hoover Motor Express Special, Jimmy Caruthers (Jerry in Delphi), classic audio with Mike Thomsen – Bobby Marshman interview in 1961, Al Gordon, also Ascot Speedway, Frank Kurtis.
Friday 8-21-2020: (Carb Day) Greg Smith on the radio broadcast crew, two-way radio communication in the race cars, also pit boards (Paul in Racine), Jack Beckley, MG Liquid Suspension Special and Kjell Qvale, classic audio with Mike Thomsen – Sid Collins interview with Ray Harroun from 1951, mention of the 1959 USAC Daytona 100, General Jimmy Doolittle at the 1931 Indianapolis 500, Dave Evans driving the Cummins Diesel – hand signals story, A.J. Shepherd, Patricio O’Ward, McLaren considering entering James Hunt in the 1977 race.
Saturday 8-22-2020: No show – “500 in 60” marathon
Sunday 8-23-2020: Post Race “Drive Home” show Hosted by Greg Rakestraw and Jake Query, post-race reports and analysis, Scott Dixon press conference, Alexander Rossi penalty, 2008 Ryan Briscoe/Danica Patrick incident, Marco Andretti, Takuma Sato press conference, Donald Davidson presents statistics and observations, Scott Dixon discussion, Graham Rahal, Sato wins second 500 over the age of 40, full field rundown, what it was like to call the race on radio, 2020 IndyCar schedule, races that finished under yellow, wrap-up.
| The Talk of Gasoline Alley – Episode Guides | |||
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 |
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
| 2020 | |||
| Beyond The Bricks – Episode Guides | |||
| 2012 | 2013 | 2021 | 2022 |
| 2023 | 2024 | ||