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INDIANAPOLIS (AP)— Fans of the Brickyard 400 will get a unique experience this Sunday, combining the excitement of basketball and racing.
On Tuesday, organizers of the Brickyard 400 announced that Indiana Pacers All-Star Pascal Siakam has been chosen to drive the pace car at this weekend’s event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
This news comes nearly two months after the Pacers faced off against the New York Knicks in an Eastern Conference finals match, coinciding with the Indianapolis 500, which occurred just a short distance away.
This marks only the fourth occasion that the Pacers have shared the spotlight with racing events in Indianapolis.
This time, however, Siakam will step into the role of pace car driver, leading the NASCAR Cup cars to the green flag in a 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS. For the second consecutive year, the race will be held on the historic 2.5-mile oval track, after previously taking place on the road course.
“Basketball and motorsports — the Pacers and racing community — are intertwined in Indianapolis,” said Doug Boles, President of IndyCar and the speedway, in a statement. “After the Pacers’ thrilling playoff journey, it’s a perfect fit to have Pascal lead the field as NASCAR’s top talents compete for victory in the In-Season Challenge and aim to etch their names in history at the Brickyard.”
Siakam’s basketball journey began at the age of 17. Hailing from Cameroon, the three-time All-Star is a two-time All-NBA selection and was a member of the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 NBA championship team.
