What Is This Airplane Doing At The Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

INDIANAPOLIS -- Here's something you don't see everyday.

To promote the inaugural Red Bull Air Race -- coming Oct. 1-2 to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway --  2016 Indianapolis 500 champion Alexander Rossi joined Master Class pilot and two-time world champion Kirby Chambliss for a first-of-its-kind video shoot at IMS.

Chambliss and Rossi piloted their respective racecrafts in unison around the racetrack for the video

"I didn't think anything of it until I was on track and there was a plane next to me," Rossi said. "It was a little bit trippy -- when else are you going to be able to be driving an Indy car around the Speedway with a plane upside down next to you?"

The two also switched roles, with Chambliss riding shotgun to Rossi in a two-seat Indy car and Rossi taking to the skies as Chambliss' guest in a two-seat plane. Rossi experienced a strong dose of the nearly 10 Gs that Air Race pilots regularly confront during competitions. Chambliss also executed several aerial stunts with Rossi in the plane. 

"The fact that I got in the plane makes me question my own sanity," Rossi said.

The Red Bull Air Race will feature pilots negotiating a course over the IMS infield and Brickyard Crossing Golf Course at speeds exceeding 230 mph.

"People always say 'you're crazy,'" Chambliss said. "I take it as a compliment."

Video courtesy Red Bull Media House