Last Updated on May 26, 2022 by Indianapolis Motor Speedway
INDIANAPOLIS – Blake Shelton, country music superstar and coach on NBC’s “The Voice,” will serve as grand marshal of the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
As grand marshal, Shelton will give the traditional command for drivers to report to their cars during the official pre-race ceremonies and walk the Indy 500 red carpet.
“Blake is a country music powerhouse and good friend of motorsports fans everywhere,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “For both spectators at the track and everyone watching on NBC, his winning energy will be a perfect fit for the intensity of ‘The Greatest Spectacle of Racing.’”
Shelton is visiting the Racing Capital of the World as a guest of NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Jimmie Johnson. The two icons collaborated on the design Johnson will use on his helmet on Race Day.
Shelton continues to add to his superstar status with the deluxe version of his new album “Body Language,” out now. The album features his Platinum-selling 28th country radio chart-topper, “Happy Anywhere” (featuring Gwen Stefani). Prior to “Happy Anywhere,” Shelton and Stefani celebrated a 2x Platinum, multi-week No. 1 with “Nobody But You,” which has now reached 475 million global streams. The single made its TV debut on the 62nd GRAMMY Awards, where Shelton was also nominated for Best Country Solo Performance for his hit “God’s Country.” The 4x Platinum smash earned the 2019 CMA Award and 2020 ACM Award for Single of the Year.
As his award wins approach the hundreds, Shelton remains a force in the industry with ACM (five), AMA (three), CMA (10), CMT (11) and People’s Choice Awards (seven), among many others.
As a coach for the Emmy Award-winning television show “The Voice,” Shelton is an eight-time champion, most recently with his contestant Cam Anthony. He and Carson Daly recently revealed that they will team up to executive produce and star in a new celebrity game show, “Barmageddon,” to air on USA Network.
Grand Ole Opry member Shelton also remains focused on his Ole Red partnership with Ryman Hospitality, with locations currently in Tishomingo, Oklahoma; Nashville, Tennessee; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; and Orlando, Florida. A noted humanitarian, Shelton has helped raise millions of dollars for children’s hospitals, disaster relief organizations, food banks and more in his home state of Oklahoma and throughout the entire country.
Shelton also is performing a concert Sunday, July 24 at Iowa Speedway after the Hy-Vee Salute to Farmers 300 NTT INDYCAR SERIES race to conclude the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend.
Follow Shelton @BlakeShelton and visit www.BlakeShelton.com for more information.
NBC’s live coverage of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge starts at 11 a.m. (ET) Sunday, May 29.
WWE Global Ambassador Titus O’Neil will make his return to The Racing Capital of the World as grand marshal of the Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light on Sunday, May 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
O’Neil, who took part in pre-race festivities last year, will address Race Day’s biggest party from the Snake Pit stage before the Green Flag waves for the start of the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
“The Snake Pit is returning in style with an all-star lineup ready to celebrate one of Race Day’s loudest and most unique traditions,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “The atmosphere will be electric, and Titus is the perfect person to help us amp up the energy in Turn 3 from start to finish.”
Said O’Neil: “Having the opportunity to return to this racing spectacle at full capacity as Snake Pit grand marshal is truly an honor. I fully expect to not only be overtaken by the revelry of this event but also contribute to the energy and excitement of the Snake Pit as race fans from all different backgrounds descend upon Indianapolis. It’s going to be electric!”
A WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE Tag Team Champion and the first-ever 24/7 Champion, O’Neil has flattened many a WWE Superstar since emerging in NXT in 2010, and he brings that same determination to his many commitments outside the ring.
O’Neil is an accomplished athlete, philanthropist and entertainer who has a heart for youth and the community. He was a USA Today Parade All American in high school football before playing college football at the University of Florida. His football career took him to stops professionally in the NFL and AFL before transitioning into professional wrestling.
Outside of the ring, his passion has helped thousands of kids and raised thousands for scholarships and millions for non-profit organizations such as the United Way, Susan G. Komen and the Special Olympics.
As part of the Indy 500 Snake Pit, Superstar DJ and producer Martin Garrix will headline a stellar lineup of global electronic music artists, including deadmau5, Galantis, Steve Aoki and Yellow Claw. Performances begin early in the morning in the infield adjacent to Turn 3 of the IMS oval.
General admission and VIP tickets for the Snake Pit are on sale for $75 and $200 at www.ims.com. VIP amenities will include access to a raised viewing platform, a private cash bar and private air-conditioned restrooms.
All Snake Pit ticketholders must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid Indy 500 general admission or reserved seat ticket. Ticket holders should be prepared to show proper identification to enter the concert.
Packages that include Race Day general admission tickets are available. A package featuring general admission to the Indianapolis 500 and Snake Pit is $120, while a race general admission and Snake Pit VIP package is $245. Prices increase on Race Day.
Live coverage of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge starts at 11 a.m. (ET) Sunday, May 29 on NBC, Telemundo Deportes on Universo and the INDYCAR Radio Network.
Miles Teller, star of blockbuster action movies and character-driven independent films, will serve as honorary starter for the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, waving the green flag Sunday, May 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Teller stars as Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, son of the beloved “Goose,” in Paramount’s “Top Gun: Maverick” with Tom Cruise, the sequel to “Top Gun.” The film will be released nationwide May 27. He also can be seen in the making of “The Godfather” series, “The Offer,” for Paramount+.
“Miles is no stranger to action-packed roles, and waving the green flag for the 33 drivers racing for history will provide him with a similar adrenaline-fueled experience,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “We’re happy to welcome him to ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ for a day he’ll never forget.”
This summer, Teller will also appear in the science-fiction thriller “Spiderhead,” an adaptation of a George Saunders short story that first was published in The New Yorker and was later included in the author’s book “Tenth of December.”
In 2014, Teller starred opposite JK Simmons in the Sony Pictures Classics critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated drama, “Whiplash.” The hit film received the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at Sundance and the Deauville Film Festival, and landed Teller a Best Actor nomination at the 2014 Gotham Awards.
Teller began reaching critical success after starring in the James Ponsoldt film, “The Spectacular Now,” for which he won the Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. He made his feature film debut in 2010 in “Rabbit Hole,” after being picked for the role by co-star Nicole Kidman.
INDIANAPOLIS – Jordan Fisher, whose accomplishments and accolades span from television to music, Broadway and film, will perform the national anthem before the start of the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Fisher is an actor, producer and musician. He was the first African American to portray the title character of Evan in Broadway’s “Dear Evan Hansen” and Mark in Fox’s Emmy-nominated “Rent Live.” Named a breakout star in Fox’s Emmy-winning broadcast “Grease Live!”, Fisher also starred in Netflix’s “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” and “Work It,” and the CW’s “The Flash.”
In addition to a duet collaboration with Lin-Manuel Miranda on Disney’s “Moana” soundtrack, Fisher joined the cast of the Tony Award-winning musical “Hamilton.” He also won ABC’s 25th season of “Dancing with the Stars” with his partner Lindsay Arnold in 2017. He subsequently hosted “Dancing with the Stars: Juniors” in 2018.
“The national anthem is a signature pre-race moment, and Jordan is ready to welcome fans back to Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a memorable and emotional performance at the Racing Capital of the World,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “This year’s pre-race show will be fantastic, and I know our fans at the track and everyone watching on NBC will be thrilled with the excitement, tradition and pageantry on display as we await the green flag.”
Beyond his accomplishments as a performer, Fisher is an advocate for youth in foster care, continually partnering with nonprofits. He started “Be My Friend” to support dependable communities that build up those in need. Fisher is also an avid gamer who regularly streams on Twitch (@jordanfisher).
Follow Fisher on Facebook @JordanFisherOfficial, on Twitter @jordanfisher, on Instagram @jordanfisher and on youtube.com/jordanfisher. For more information, visit www.jordanfisherofficial.com.
INDIANAPOLIS – Girl Named Tom, an American sibling trio known for its distinctive harmonies and heartfelt performances, and winner of Season 21 of NBC’s “The Voice,” will perform “America the Beautiful” during pre-race ceremonies for the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Girl Named Tom, consisting of siblings Caleb, Joshua and Bekah Liechty, rose to fame on Season 21 of “The Voice,” earning the distinction of being the first trio to win the American talent competition. Coached by Kelly Clarkson, who previously sang the national anthem three times at the Indianapolis 500, the trio earned her fourth victory as a coach.
While Girl Named Tom calls the small town of Pettisville, Ohio, its hometown, the three members have strong Indiana ties. The sibling trio moved to South Bend, Indiana, last year, and both Caleb and Joshua graduated from Goshen College before forming Girl Named Tom with their little sister, Bekah.
“Caleb, Joshua and Bekah captured the attention of America during their winning run on ‘The Voice,’ and their performance will be one of the highlights of pre-race ceremonies,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “We welcome them back home again to Indiana along with the huge crowd on Race Day and live national TV audience on NBC and eagerly look forward to their rendition of this beautiful tribute to our great nation.”
Originally intending to go to medical school, the siblings instead decided to form a band. The band name is inspired by Joshua and Caleb’s desire to have another brother, leading Joshua to call Bekah “Thomas” when she was a baby.
Girl Named Tom released its first single, “Barrier Island,” independently in November 2019 and its first EP, “Another World,” the following month. On New Year’s Day 2021, a second single, “Backup Plan,” was released. In February 2021, Girl Named Tom released its first album, “Hits from the Road,” an album of covers. In addition, a holiday single, “No Snow for Christmas,” was released the day after “The Voice” finale, under Republic Records.
Follow Girl Named Tom on Facebook @GirlNamedTom, on Instagram @GirlNamedTom and on YouTube at youtube.com/girlnamedtom. For more information, visit www.girlnamedtom.com.
INDIANAPOLIS – Former INDYCAR SERIES driver and team owner Sarah Fisher, who remains the fastest woman in Indianapolis 500 history, will drive the 2023 Corvette Z06 70th Anniversary Edition Pace Car to lead the field to the green flag for the 106th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Ohio native Fisher started “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” nine times between 2000 and 2010, a record for female drivers. Her fastest four-lap qualifying speed of 229.439 mph in 2002 also remains an event record for a female driver.
Fisher also was the first woman to win the pole position for a major North American open-wheel event, for the INDYCAR SERIES race in 2002 at Kentucky Speedway. She also was the first female driver to earn a top-three finish in INDYCAR SERIES competition, placing third in 2000 at Kentucky Speedway and second in 2001 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
After her driving career, Fisher turned to team ownership, providing two-time series champion Josef Newgarden with his first ride in the INDYCAR SERIES. Since her team ownership role ended, she stayed involved with the sport by serving as the Pace Car driver at selected NTT INDYCAR SERIES events.
She now co-owns with her husband, Andy O’Gara, the successful Speedway Indoor Karting facilities in Speedway, Indiana, and Daytona Beach, Florida, and is the mother of two children.
“Every time I’ve had the opportunity to drive at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it’s been special – from INDYCAR SERIES cars to two-seaters to vintage cars,” Fisher said. “Driving the Pace Car is just as special of an honor. And to have served in that role for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES since Johnny Rutherford retired, I’ve had many great memories to add to my career.
“I am humbled and proud to become the official Pace Car driver for the 106th Indianapolis 500 and to represent the hard work and development that Chevrolet puts into these fantastic pieces of automobile advancement and technology.”
The 2023 Corvette Z06 is powered by the all-new 5.5L LT6 which creates 670 horsepower, making it the highest-horsepower naturally aspirated V-8 ever to hit the market in any production car. The Indianapolis 500 Corvette Z06 Pace Car exudes confidence with a wide stance and exotic mid-engine proportions. This year’s Pace Car is equipped with the available Z07 Performance Package, featuring a carbon fiber rear wing, aerodynamic ground effects, carbon ceramic brakes and more, for maximum track capability.
With a nod to Corvette’s 70-year history, the Pace Car is a model year 2023 70th Anniversary Edition Z06, finished in a special White Pearl Tri-Coat Metallic paint. Unique to this package on the production car and the Pace Car are 70th Anniversary Edition exterior badging, including special Corvette crossflags, Edge Red brake calipers and the 70th Anniversary Edition logo on seats, steering wheel and sill plates.
Chevrolet’s Performance Design Studio created an asymmetric stripe package specifically for the Pace Car that draws inspiration from the 70th Anniversary Edition badging on the door of the Z06.
“The Chevrolet Team is proud to pace the Indianapolis 500 for the 33rd time, while celebrating 70 years of Corvette,” said Steve Majoros, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. “It’s only fitting the Indianapolis 500 will be the first race the 2023 Corvette Z06 paces, a truly special moment for Corvette and INDYCAR fans around the world.”
Chevrolet and Corvette have led the starting field more than any other manufacturer and nameplate, respectively. The 2022 race marks the 33rd time for Chevrolet to pace dating back to 1948, and the 19th time since 1978 for America’s favorite sports car.
“Sarah Fisher is an Indianapolis 500 icon who always takes the time to appreciate her fans and represent the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ with class and humility,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “She is such a fitting person for this honor, and it will be such a thrill and privilege to see her lead the field of 33 cars to the green flag before a huge crowd at the track and a global television audience.
“I’m sure Sarah will enjoy driving the 2023 Corvette Z06 70th Anniversary Edition, which is an incredible car with the performance to match its great looks.”
Visit IMS.com for tickets and more information on all Month of May events and activities at IMS.
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 80 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
SOURCE: News releases from Indianapolis Motor Speedway