Jeff Gordon Will Finally Be Part Of The Indianapolis 500

Five-time Brickyard 400 winner Jeff Gordon will drive the pace car for the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Chevrolet made the surprise announcement during a break in NASCAR’s tire testing at IMS, Wednesday afternoon. Gordon, who grew up in Pittsboro just 20 minutes west of the historic track, said he couldn’t believe it when he first heard of the plan.

“I was blown away. I thought this can’t be real, they must be joking," Gordon said. "And to be standing here making that a reality is very, very exciting for me.”

Gordon said, as a child, his heroes were the race car drivers who forged their legends at IMS. He can point out the spot where he got four-time 500 winner Rick Mears' autograph. But, Gordon's career veered away from open-wheel racing and into NASCAR, where he has established himself one of the best ever to race in that series. The Indianapolis 500 wasn't in the cards.

Gordon, 43, announced earlier this year that he plans to retire from driving at the end of the season. If there's any regret about never getting the chance to race here in May, the four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion doesn't let on.  

"I think it's any race car driver's dream to race in this race, but it just wasn't meant to be," Gordon said. "But yet, the Brickyard 400 was; and now this amazing opportunity."

He said he's excited he will be able to see the 500 in person for the first time since 1983; and is grateful to finally be a part of the race, driving the Chevrolet Corvette pace car. 

“In my opinion, this ranks right up there with five Brickyard 400s. This is such a huge honor. You look at the other race car drivers who have done this and they are legends in their form of motorsports and at this speedway. I’m certainly in great company, and I’m a little overwhelmed right now, to be honest.”

Gordon will lead the IndyCar field to the green flag of the Indianapolis 500, shortly after noon on May 24. He'll fly to Charlotte, North Carolina in time to compete in NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 that evening. 

The month of May officially begins at IMS on Sunday with an IndyCar test on the oval track. The action will switch over to the road course for the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis May 7-9

The 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 is May 24.