INDIANAPOLIS -- After years of having it on his bucket list, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is finally coming to the Indianapolis 500.

NBC announced Wednesday that the retired NASCAR superstar and one of racing's most popular personalities will attend the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 as part of a broadcast team that includes retired driver/analyst Danica Patrick, host Mike Tirico and nearly a dozen others.

More Indy 500:

NBC also confirmed Wednesday that NBCSN's lead IndyCar commentary team of Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell and Paul Tracy will call May 26's Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

When NBC announced last year that it had secured the rights to air its first 500, it was widely speculated that Earnhardt might be one of the prominent personalities it selected to join the broadcast team.

While Earnhardt could not confirm that was the case at the time, he wasn't shy about expressing his hope that come Memorial Day weekend 2019, he'd be standing somewhere inside Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"I’ll be geeking out," Earnhardt told IndyStar ahead of the Brickyard 400 last year. "I’ve never been, but I obviously have a lot of appreciation for the history of the track and the history of that particular event, and I can't wait to experience it for the first time.

"I could be wrong, but what I think I’ll find most fascinating is the pre-race. The morning before the race, the driver responsibilities, the drivers’ meeting, out on the grid before they get in their cars, those types of moments where the intensity is starting to ratchet up and the energy from the fans. That’s going to be a pretty special experience. ... I can’t wait. This is an event I have wanted to attend for as long as I can remember."

No one covers IndyCar like Indystar:Get a great deal on a digital subscription

Start your engines, the Indy 500 is almost here!:Subscribe to our free newsletter for updates on The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Earnhardt Jr., who made 17 career appearances and registered five top-10 finishes in the Brickyard 400 at IMS, is set to serve as a roving reporter on race day and be featured on NBCSN’s 500 coverage during race week.

In addition to Earnhardt Jr., NBC Sports motorsports host Krista Voda and reporter Rutledge Wood will contribute to the network’s Indy 500 presentation.

Rounding out the 14-person crew will be Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Kevin Lee and Jon Beekhuis, who will serve as pit reporters for NBC Sports’ 500 coverage, along with reporters Robin Miller and Dillon Welch.

“Dale Jr. is one of the most popular personalities in racing history, so adding Dale to our inaugural broadcast the Greatest Spectacle in Racing on NBC was a no-brainer.” Sam Flood, Executive Producer and President, Production, NBC Sports & NBCSN said in a statement. “Dale has never been able to attend the 500, and now he will have the opportunity to experience every aspect of this massive event – from the party in the Snake Pit and the hundreds of thousands of fans in the grandstands, to the key strategic decisions and bold moves on track that will ultimately crown the 103rd Indy 500 champion."

Follow IndyStar Motor Sports Insider Jim Ayello on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: @jimayello.