Indy Star

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The comedian talked about it on his late-night television program, and the few-minute ride/photo op was a tidbit worth sharing on those all-celebrity-all-the-time news shows.</div> <div> This year, actor Jim Caviezel will have the honors in the special 50th anniversary edition of Chevrolet's 2003 Corvette.</div> <div> In the past, pace car drivers have been automobile executives, former race drivers and celebrities with racing backgrounds -- even if it wasn't at the Brickyard. </div> <div> Singer Marty Robbins' ride in the 1976 Buick Turbocharged V-6 pace car made sense. He was known as an entertainer, but he'd also competed in the Daytona 500. Actor James Garner (1975 and 1977) was recognized as a race driver in addition to his television and movie roles. </div> <div> The pace car driver's job is to lead the pack of 33 competitors around the track for three laps on race day. That includes the parade lap and trips around the oval to get tires warmed up and speeds accelerated while the cars are still in formation. The pace car's next job is to hightail it off the track before the green flag lets the cars take off. Today, that's all the celebrity driver does. If there's a yellow flag (caution and no passing) -- even on the first lap -- a different pace car and a driver employed by the Indy Racing League goes out to manage the field. </div> <div> While extensive racing experience isn't a prerequisite to being the pace car driver -- it really never was -- a big name isn't enough. Celebrities agree to give up a precious commodity called time while they learn the basics and practice how to be the Indy 500 pace car driver. </div> <div> '01 driver "bumped"</div> <div> Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp ended up behind the wheel of the Oldsmobile Bravada pace car last year because the actress originally selected to drive didn't want to put in the time to train at the Brickyard. That star wanted to practice in California and show up in Indy only for the race and, in racing lingo, she got bumped.</div> <div> Irwin-Mellencamp, a professional model who now is an IRL spokeswoman, worked with driver Al Unser Jr. to get ready and got good reviews for her job behind the wheel. </div> <div> "They have to be passionate about the opportunity," said Glenn Tayler of General Motors Racing. Any doubt about the celebrity's commitment or ability on the track means the deal is off, he said. </div> <div> And, they are business deals where everyone is supposed to benefit.</div> <div> Celebrities appeal to people and attract new fans to the 500, says IMS spokesman Fred Nation.</div> <div> For manufacturers, the right pace car driver can help shape a car's overall perception in the public's eye, says Tayler.</div> <div> Irwin-Mellencamp may not be the mom with little kids living down the street from you, but Oldsmobile liked the public seeing her drive that new generation SUV last year.</div> <div> Most pace car driver deals involve donations to charities chosen by the pace car drivers. "ER" star Anthony Edwards, for example, turned his 2000 pace car drive in an Oldsmobile Aurora into a $50,000 donation to his favorite charity, Cure Autism Now. </div> <div> While not every expert agrees it's a good idea to have big names with little or no racing experience take on the ceremonial pace car duties, Nation said he's heard no complaints from drivers or team owners.</div> <div> Job isn't hazardous</div> <div> Also, the job isn't as hazardous as it once was. The cars are built better, the track is smoother and experts are on hand every step of the way -- including race day when IRL's Jim Haynes will be in the car with this year's driver, Caviezel. </div> <div> The 34-year-old actor also will be grand marshal of the Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade on May 25. His film credits are impressive, including his current appearance in theaters as Ashley Judd's husband in the movie "High Crimes." </div> <div> Speedway officials say it was Caviezel's connection with the movie "Madison," set in Indiana and portraying the 1971 memorable and inspiring hydroplane race in southeast Indiana, that prompted the pace car deal, not the fact that Judd is married to Team Green driver Dario Franchitti. </div> <div> Caviezel wasn't the only name on the list of possibilities to be this year's pace car driver. Four-time 500 champ Rick Mears declined because he's working that day spotting for Penske's Gil de Ferran. Another name considered, according to Tayler, was GM executive Robert Lutz, who did pace car duties as a Chrysler official in 1996. </div> <div> Caviezel fits the bill for the image of the Corvette: He's 34, handsome, played the Count of Monte Cristo and even starred with Jennifer Lopez in "Angel Eyes." He's also a race fan, known for driving fast and has that element Tayler loves so much -- passion for doing it. </div> <div> "Without a doubt about it, pacing the Indy 500 is certainly an opportunity of a lifetime," he said. "For a race fan like me, being in control of the Corvette Pace Car ahead of those 33 race machines will be an adrenaline rush second to none." </div> <div> Former Indy 500 winner Johnny Rutherford will be spending some time with Caviezel to make sure that adrenaline doesn't translate to pushing his foot down too hard on the accelerator.</div> <div> Rutherford recalls having to take Lutz aside in 1996 and be diplomatic. "I finally told Mr. Lutz there was something he might want to remember. I said the last thing you want to do as a pace car driver is to spin this thing out in Turn 4." </div> <div> Jim Perkins, who drove the pace car in 1995, 1993 and 1990, says the thrill is the same every time. Sitting in the pace car with the cars stacked behind him, listening to "Back Home Again in Indiana" taking in the enormous crowd in the stands was overpowering. He recalls thinking, "Good God, what am I a part of here." </div> <div> The best advice he ever got was from a longtime Indy 500 fan, who told him that while the race may be the biggest spectacle in racing, he'd better be careful not to become the biggest spectacle by making any mistakes. </div> <div> An unfortunate accident in 1971 left 22 injured when the pace car, driven by Eldon Palmer, an Indiana automobile dealer, and carrying Tony Hulman and astronaut John Glenn, crashed into a stand of photographers.</div> <div> Pace cars</div> <bR> <div> <B>Year Car Driver </b></div> <div> • 1911: Stoddard-Dayton, Carl. G. Fisher </div> <div> • 1912: Stutz, Carl G. Fisher </div> <div> • 1913: Stoddard-Dayton, Carl G. Fisher </div> <div> • 1914: Stoddard-Dayton, Carl G. Fisher </div> <div> • 1915: Packard 6, Carl G. Fisher </div> <div> • 1916: Premier 6, Frank E. Smith </div> <div> • 1919: Packard V-12, J. G. Vincent </div> <div> • 1920: Marmon 6, Barney Oldfield </div> <div> • 1921: H.C.S. 6, Harry C. Stutz </div> <div> • 1922: National 8, Barney Oldfield </div> <div> • 1923: Duesenberg, F.S. Duesenberg </div> <div> • 1924: Cole V-8, Lew Pettijohn </div> <div> • 1925: Rickenbacker 8, E. Rickenbacker </div> <div> • 1926: Chrysler 8, Louis Chevrolet </div> <div> • 1927: LaSalle V-8, Bill Rader </div> <div> • 1928: Marmon 8, Joe Dawson </div> <div> • 1929: Studebaker, George Hunt </div> <div> • 1930: Cord 8 (fwd), Wade Morton </div> <div> • 1931: Cadillac, Bill Rader </div> <div> • 1932: Lincoln, Edsel Ford </div> <div> • 1933: Chrysler, Byron Foy </div> <div> • 1934: LaSalle, Bill Rader </div> <div> • 1935: Ford V-8, Harry Mack </div> <div> • 1936: Packard, Tommy Milton </div> <div> • 1937: LaSalle, Ralph DePalma </div> <div> • 1938: Hudson, Stuart Baits </div> <div> • 1939: Buick, Chas. Chayne </div> <div> • 1940: Studebaker, Harry Hartz </div> <div> • 1941: Chrysler, Toby Couture </div> <div> • 1946: Lincoln V-12, Henry Ford II </div> <div> • 1947: Nash Ambassador, Geo. W. Mason </div> <div> • 1948: Chevrolet Stylemaster Six-Series, Wilbur Shaw </div> <div> • 1949: Oldsmobile 88 "Rocket," Wilbur Shaw </div> <div> • 1950: Mercury, Benson Ford </div> <div> • 1951: Chrysler New Yorker V-8, Dave Wallace </div> <div> • 1952: Studebaker Commander, P.O. Peterson </div> <div> • 1953: Ford Crestline Sunliner, W. C. Ford </div> <div> • 1954: Dodge Royal 500, W.C. Newburg </div> <div> • 1955: Chevrolet Bel Air, T.H. Keating </div> <div> • 1956: DeSoto Fireflight Pacesetter, L.I. Woodson </div> <div> • 1957: Mercury Turnpike Cruiser, F.C. Reith </div> <div> • 1958: Pontiac Bonneville, Sam Hanks </div> <div> • 1959: Buick Electra 225, Sam Hanks </div> <div> • 1960: Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight, Sam Hanks </div> <div> • 1961: Ford Thunderbird, Sam Hanks </div> <div> • 1962: Studebaker, Sam Hanks </div> <div> • 1963: Chrysler "300," Sam Hanks </div> <div> • 1964: Ford Mustang, Benson Ford </div> <div> • 1965: Plymouth Sports Fury, P. Buckminster </div> <div> • 1966: Mercury Comet Cyclone GT, Benson Ford </div> <div> • 1967: Chevrolet Camaro, Mauri Rose </div> <div> • 1968: Ford Torino GT, W.C. Ford </div> <div> • 1969: Chevrolet Camaro SS, Jim Rathmann </div> <div> • 1970: Oldsmobile 4-4-2, Rodger Ward </div> <div> • 1971: Dodge Challenger, Eldon Palmer </div> <div> • 1972: Hurst/Oldsmobile Cutlass, Jim Rathmann </div> <div> • 1973: Cadillac Eldorado, Jim Rathmann </div> <div> • 1974: Hurst/Oldsmobile Cutlass, Jim Rathmann </div> <div> • 1975: Buick Century Custom "Free Spirit," James Garner </div> <div> • 1976: Buick Turbocharged V-6, Marty Robbins </div> <div> • 1977: Oldsmobile Delta 88, Jim Garner </div> <div> • 1978: Chevrolet Corvette, Jim Rathmann </div> <div> • 1979: Ford Mustang, Jackie Stewart </div> <div> • 1980: Pontiac Turbo-Trans Am, Johnnie Parsons </div> <div> • 1981: Buick Regal V-6, Duke Nalon </div> <div> • 1982: Chevrolet Camaro Z28, Jim Rathmann </div> <div> • 1983: Buick Riviera, Duke Nalon </div> <div> • 1984: Pontiac Fiero, John Callies </div> <div> • 1985: Oldsmobile Calais, Jim Garner </div> <div> • 1986: Chevrolet Corvette, Gen. Chuck Yeager </div> <div> • 1987: Chrysler LeBaron, Carroll Shelby </div> <div> • 1988: Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, Gen. Chuck Yeager </div> <div> • 1989: Pontiac Trans Am, Bobby Unser </div> <div> • 1990: Chevrolet Baretta, Jim Perkins </div> <div> • 1991: Dodge Viper, Carroll Shelby </div> <div> • 1992: Cadillac Allante, Bobby Unser </div> <div> • 1993: Chevrolet Camaro Z28, Jim Perkins </div> <div> • 1994: Ford Mustang Cobra, Parnelli Jones </div> <div> • 1995: Corvette, Jim Perkins </div> <div> • 1996: Dodge Viper GTS, Robert A. Lutz </div> <div> • 1997: Oldsmobile Aurora, Johnny Rutherford </div> <div> • 1998: Chevrolet Corvette, Parnelli Jones </div> <div> • 1999: Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Jay Leno </div> <div> • 2000: Oldsmobile Aurora, Anthony Edwards </div> <div> • 2001: Oldsmobile Bravada, Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp </div> <div> • 2002: 2003 Chevrolet Corvette, Jim Caviezel </div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>