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.
Cool hand Jake
Before the start of the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, actor Jake Gyllenhaal — in town to serve as honorary starter alongside Boston Marathon survivor Jeff Bauman — caught up with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing drivers Graham Rahal and Oriol Servia. Turns out Rahal and Gyllenhaal had a close friend in common: Paul Newman. Rahal drove for Newman in 2008 and Gyllenhaal was Newman’s godson.
Setting the pace
Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” landed another dream role on Sunday: driving the Chevrolet Corvette pace car (presumably named Lucille) at the Indianapolis 500. “This is one race that I’ve always consistently watched throughout my life,” Morgan told reporters. “To have a chance to drive that thing and to get on this track … I’ve gotta say, there’s nothing cooler!”
Nikki knows noise
Motley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx knows noise. Yet even Sixx — who attended the Indianapolis 500 for his first time — was shocked by the decibels on track. “These cars make a heavy metal show sound meek,” Sixx tweeted.
Wanted: lozenges
The English broadcast of the finish of the Indianapolis 500 — in which Takuma Sato became the first Japanese driver to win the race — was plenty exciting. But it was a veritable snooze-fest compared to the Japanese one. Indeed, the only person yelling louder than the Japanese commentators after Sato’s historic finish was Sato himself, over the team radio.
Dixon, Scott Dixon
Leave it to @nascarcasm to let us know who Scott Dixon really is after the 2017 Indy 500 pole sitter took flight during the race. Maybe the first Kiwi 007? Dixon may have been stirred but certainly not shaken.
Louis Meyer would be proud
He may not have won the 101st Indianapolis 500, but two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso wasn’t about to miss out on one of the race’s greatest traditions dating to Louis Meyer in 1936. Wonder if it was whole or 2 percent?