INDYCAR's "Fast Six" is a report derived from all things found online about Verizon IndyCar Series racing, its drivers and people. We seek and find pics and quips as INDYCAR drivers live their extraordinary lives and put the evidence on Twitter, Instagram and more. Check back regularly when we post the latest.
From gridiron to grid
Robert Mathis, the retired outside linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts, and current Colts quarterback Andrew Luck traded the gridiron for the grid at Saturday’s INDYCAR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. But Mathis scored the better seat — the driver’s seat of the Corvette Stingray pace car, that is. “Just when you think it couldn’t get any better, the city known as the Racing Capital of the World grants me a bucket list opportunity!” Mathis said of his Saturday drive.
As if
Actress Alicia Silverstone -- famous for her lead role in "Clueless" and co-star of the upcoming "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul" -- waved the green flag at the INDYCAR Grand Prix. It was her first visit to Indianapolis Motor Speedway — or any other racetrack. “It’s really impressive!” she said. “Architecturally, it’s quite beautiful.”
Doing the wave
Speaking of celebrities waving green flags, actor Jake Gyllenhaal — along with Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman — will do the honors at this year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. Gyllenhaal will portray Bauman in the upcoming film “Stronger” about the bombing, due in theaters this September.
New Captain in pit lane
It appears Marco Andretti has replaced Bryan Herta with a new strategist: Captain Morgan. (Not to be confused with “The Captain,” Roger Penske, of course.)
Fernando the skateboarding Alonso
First there was Tillman the skateboarding bulldog. Then there was Digda the skateboarding cat. Now: Fernando the skateboarding Alonso. Cruising Gasoline Alley on Monday, F1 star and Indy 500 rookie Fernando Alonso showed his skills on a very different type of wheels. Cue the inevitable Internet memes in 3-2-1.
Tuning up the toolbox
Yeah, we know. Will Power plays drums. Mikhail Aleshin plays guitar. But as far as we’re concerned, neither of them hold a candle to this guy on Alexander Rossi’s Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian crew.