Will Buxton on His Viral Indy 500 Call: “I Could Have Done That Better”
Broadcaster’s Self-Critique Goes Viral After Historic Finish
Motorsport broadcaster Will Buxton has admitted he would have done things differently during his now-iconic commentary of the closest finish in Indianapolis 500 history — even as the clip of his call continues to circulate widely online. The moment of self-reflection came during a segment on FOX Sports’ SPEED with Harvick and Buxton, aired in the week following the May 24 race.
Felix Rosenqvist won the 2026 Indy 500 by just 0.0233 seconds, surging from third to first on the final lap to overtake Team Penske’s David Malukas in a photo finish that shattered records for the race’s closest-ever margin of victory.
The Call That Captivated Racing Fans
FOX Sports deployed its established commentary trio of Buxton, Townsend Bell, and James Hinchcliffe for the broadcast. When Rosenqvist made his decisive outside move in the closing yards, Buxton delivered a call that immediately dominated social media.
“Malukas has to defend from Rosenqvist! Great run off the final corner. Here comes Rosenqvist! Malukas defends. Who has it?! Over the line… IT’S ROSENQVIST!“
Footage of Buxton physically draped over the broadcast desk, gripping his headset as the cars crossed the Yard of Bricks, was widely described as iconic. Online reaction was swift and almost universally enthusiastic.
Buxton Picks Apart His Own Performance
Seated beside NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick on the studio couch, Buxton was candid about his lingering dissatisfaction with the call. “I’ve watched that back a few times now,” he said, “and there are — I could have done that better, you should have done that better.”
He framed the impulse to self-critique as intrinsic to the craft. “That’s the drug of announcing, isn’t it? That’s the drug of play-by-play — it’s never perfect and you always think you could do it better. But very proud. Very, very proud of that man.”
Harvick pushed back on the self-doubt directly: “You should be proud. That was great.”
Passion Over Perfection
Buxton also reflected on the public response to the moment. “Folks have been very, very kind online about it,” he said. “And the nicest thing is, I hope people can just see how much we love this race and how much we love this sport. It’s impossible in a moment like that not to let your passion and your love just sort of spew out of your mouth.”
The victory carried additional weight beyond the record-breaking margin. It was Rosenqvist’s first oval win in 120 career IndyCar starts — achieved at Indianapolis, on live network television, in the tightest finish the race has ever produced.
Buxton’s instinct to dissect a call that the internet had already declared definitive is, in itself, revealing. It is precisely the kind of professional rigour that tends to separate broadcasters who have one great moment from those who consistently produce them.
