INDY 500: Best of all worlds for speedy Bell

It was the best question of all the queries asked Saturday during positioning day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

"You have a full-time job on television, a full-time sportscar ride in IMSA, you're running Le Mans and you've got one of the fastest cars at Indianapolis right now, so how good is it to be Townsend Bell?"

The interview subject, a multi-talented 41-year-old Californian, broke into a smile. "It's good, thanks for asking that. Sometimes I forget how lucky I am to be in this position."

Bell's position going into Sunday's qualifying day is somewhat surprising but undeniably impressive. He was fifth fastest of the 33 drivers making runs on Saturday, averaging 230.452mph.

"Indianapolis is a bit of a vacation for me and I love this place," said the nine-time Indy starter who runs an IMSA sportscar when he's not commenting on IndyCar racing for NBCSN. "Man, I've had a fast car all week and I'm so proud of Honda and Andretti Autosports.

"I'm a little disappointed because I know I could have done a little better, but it was a good run."

The 2001 Indy Lights champion ran Champ Car for two years and then became an "Indy-only" specialist in 2006 while continuing to run sportscars sporadically for the next decade.

Bell loved being a race driver but never considered life in front of a camera.

"It was never a goal to be a broadcaster, and if it wasn't for [veteran director/producer for NBCSN] Terry Lingner it wouldn't have happened," said Bell, whose commentary with Paul Tracy for NBCSN on the Verizon IndyCar series makes for some entertaining television.

"He told me I was crazy if I didn't try it, and I'm glad I did."

It's a racing life and a crazy life for the father of two boys. He was the IMSA GT Daytona champion in 2015 and runs a Lamborghini Huracan this season with Bill Sweedler, the CEO of his Indy sponsor, Robert Graham. And he's going to Le Mans next month to drive a Ferrari in the GTE-Am class.

"I've got great wife and kids and some of the best jobs on the planet," he said. "Life is great."