Pacers All-Star Pascal Siakam is selected as pace car driver for Sunday's Brickyard 400
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Brickyard 400 fans will get their own glimpse into a Pacers and racers weekend Sunday.
Brickyard 400 organizers said Tuesday that Indiana Pacers All-Star Pascal Siakam has been selected as the pace-car driver for this weekend's race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Advertisement
The announcement comes almost exactly two months after the Pacers played the New York Knicks in an Eastern Conference final game on the same day as the Indianapolis 500. The events took place just a short drive apart.
It was just the fourth time a Pacers and racers doubleheader had taken place in Indy.
Now, though, Siakam will get a chance to experience the other part, this time leading the Cup cars to the green flag in a 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS. The race will take place on the historic 2.5-mile oval for the second straight year after it had been run on the track's road course.
'Basketball and motorsports — Pacers and racers — go hand in hand in Indianapolis,' IndyCar and speedway President Doug Boles said in a statement. 'Following the Pacers' electrifying postseason run, it's only fitting to have Pascal join us to pace the field as NASCAR's biggest stars compete to win the In-Season Challenge and add their name to the history books with a win at the Brickyard.'
Advertisement
Siakam didn't start playing basketball until he was 17 years old. He grew up in Cameroon and the three-time All-Star also is a two-time All-NBA selection and won an NBA title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mike Trout homers for 1,00th career RBI (19)
Mike Trout drives a two-run home run to center field, picking up his 1,00th career RBI and passing Joe Carter for 62nd on the all-time list
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dave Parker's son shares memories of his father during Baseball Hall of Fame speech
The Baseball Hall of Fame welcomes five new members on Sunday, July 27, with Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner, Dave Parker and Dick Allen set to be inducted in Cooperstown, New York. Suzuki becomes the Hall of Fame's first Japanese player – assembling a 19-year MLB career after nine decorated professional seasons in Japan – and was just one vote shy of a unanimous election. Sabathia also got in on the first ballot after winning 261 games as one of the best starting pitchers of the new millennium. Wagner ranks eighth on the all-time saves list with 422, while Allen (1972) and Parker (1978) were MVP award winners. Baseball greats remember Dave Parker: 'More respect for Dave Parker than anybody' More: Here's one way the Cincinnati Reds are honoring Hall of Famer Dave Parker An enormous crowd showed for the festivities with Suzuki a fan favorite on both sides of the Pacific and Cooperstown a four-hour drive from Yankee Stadium, where Sabathia pitched 11 seasons. Dave Parker's son shares memories of his father Pirates' legend Dave Parker passed away less than a month away from his induction ceremony, making his son's speech hit that much harder as it happened. Dave Parker II even mentioned that he died while writing his Hall of Fame speech. Parker II finished his speech with a poem written by his father, noting that it was specifically his father's request that it be read during the acceptance speech. The poem was a good conclusion, with Parker posthumously praising himself for his "rocket arm" and willingness to "run any catcher over." The best moment of the poem though was the finale. After mentioning that Cooperstown would be his last stop, Parker wrote, "I didn't lie in my documentary, I told you I wouldn't show [to my acceptance speech]." Considering Parker's recent death, this line hit infinitely harder. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Baseball Hall of Fame induction 2025: Dave Parker's son gives speech
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mitchell's 35 points lift Fever over Sky 93-78; Clark and Reese sit out
CHICAGO (AP) — Kelsey Mitchell hit seven 3-pointers and scored 35 points and the Indiana Fever defeated the Chicago Sky 93-78 in a marquee matchup on Sunday that was missing stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Clark missed her fourth-straight game for Indiana with a groin injury and has only played in half of the team's games and Reese was out for her second straight for the Sky with a back issue. Aliyah Boston had 14 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Fever (14-12), who have three double-figure wins over Chicago this season. Makayla Timpson had 14 points off the bench and Aari McDonald added 10. Mitchell had her 100th career 20-point game, second in franchise history behind Tamika Catchings, and her ninth 30-point game. She also picked up her 200th career steal and the Fever turned 23 turnovers into 31 points. Rachel Banham had six 3s and 26 points for the Sky (7-18). Kia Nurse added 14 points, Rebecca Allen 13 and Kamilla Cardoso 12 with 12 rebounds. The Fever had a 16 point lead early in the fourth quarter cut to six with less than five minutes to go but Mitchell responded with a 3-pointer and a couple of free throws to end the threat. Indiana closed out the first quarter on an 18-2 run to lead 26-13. Mitchell had 13 points and the Fever had 14 points off nine Chicago turnovers. The lead reached 16 points in the second quarter before the half ended at 51-39. Chicago got off to a quick start in the third quarter, pulling within 56-55 at the midway point on consecutive jumpers by Nurse. Mitchell responded with a 3 and a layup before consecutive baskets by Timpson pushed the lead to 65-55. Lexie Hull's buzzer beater made it 75-61 entering the fourth quarter. ___ AP WNBA:
