*Did you know that Donald Trump was selected to be the celebrity pace car driver in this year’s Indy 500 centennial celebration? Well, he’ll actually be driving the day before on May 29.
But since he went and created a stir by questioning whether President Obama was born outside the United States and whether he was qualified to attend the Ivy League schools, racing fans, local citizens and an Indiana state lawmaker want to force Trump out of the position
“To me, when they first named Donald Trump, it just felt wrong,” said Michael Wallack, who started a Facebook page in hopes of firing Trump. “He has no relationship to the track, to the race, to racing, to Indianapolis, and I think I would have been bothered anytime with something like that. But to do that on the 100th anniversary, it made no sense.
“Then when he started going off on the birther stuff,” Wallack told The AP, “that prompted me to do more and that’s when I started the page.”
Trump, who is known for not being able to handle criticism, didn’t respond himself, but put his mouthpieces into action.
“The debate stems from unfounded, incorrect and malicious lies that Donald Trump has a racial bias toward the President,” said Michael Cohen, executive vice president and special counsel to Trump. “Nothing could be further from the truth, as Donald Trump doesn’t have a racist bone in his body.
“Mr. Trump’s request for President Obama’s birth certificate, school records and documents were predicated upon transparency, a major part of President Obama’s 2008 platform,” Cohen said. “If Mr. Trump should become the next president, he would provide these documents willingly.”
Track spokesman Doug Boles said speedway officials are aware of Wallack’s Facebook page, first reported Wednesday by The Indianapolis Star, and are monitoring the situation.
Changing the pace car driver might be a first.
“As far as I know, the speedway has not changed a pace car driver,” Boles said. “But there’s been a pace car since 1911, so I don’t know if anybody could definitively say it’s not been changed.”
The speedway has a rich tradition of using celebrity pace car drivers from outside auto racing. Since 2000, the list includes actors Anthony Edwards, Jim Caviezel, Morgan Freeman and Josh Duhamel; seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong; supermodel Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp; and “Good Morning America” host Robin Roberts. One potential political candidate, retired Gen. Colin Powell, also drove the pace car in 2005.
The race’s reputation has survived other brushes with controversy, including a split between the two major open-wheel series and Steven Tyler’s rendition of the national anthem.
Trump, opponents contend, is more polarizing and might overshadow the race.
“The folks I have talked to indirectly have shared concern with the situation,” said state Rep. Jeb Bardon, a Democrat who represents the area surrounding the racetrack. Bardon said he worries Trump’s appearance will draw negative attention to this month’s centennial celebration.
As far as Trump being the pace driver, it might be a first. According to track spokesman Doug Boles, the speedway has not changed a pace car driver to the best of his knowledge.
But there is a rich tradition, at least since 2000, celebrities have graced the track’s presence by driving the pace car. Among the appearances have been Morgan Freeman and “Good Morning America’s” Robin Roberts.
But many opponents believe Trump’s appearance will draw negative attention to the celebration.
Mothership, et. al. This is one of the very few things on which I thought I was an AUTHORITY. I was WRONG and admit it! I lived across the street from 500 track for 10 years and assumed that the average 500 mile race fan was a Confederate flag wavin’, republican-Tea Party-lovin’, Obama-Hatin, Beer-Guzzlin’ annual visitor. I guess, some of us can change? I’m am SHOCKED by the negative response that “The Donald” is receiving from some of the Speedway race fans! It blows my mind! There is a petition going around to block “The Donald’s” visit. I’m sharpening my pencil so I can sign it!
The Black Ministerial Alliance has written a letter to the 500 Administration requesting that they “dis-invite The Donald” and it will be interesting to see what happens. Indianapolis is a very conservative, republican-controlled city. There are a bunch of Black republicans who live here!
I may be wrong, but I’m inclined to think that your first take was correct.
“The average 500 mile race fan was a Confederate flag wavin’, republican-Tea Party-lovin’, Obama-Hatin, Beer-Guzzlin’ annual visitor.”
I’m thinking that if Obama didn’t shatter the myth about the birth certificate, the Donald would be getting a heroes welcome at Indy.
If you take a closer look at the article, this is mainly the doing of a few “fans” and a lawmaker. And as for a petition, if you start one and give it enough press, you will get more than a few signers.
I guess the true test will be the reaction on race day if the Donald is still retained as pace car driver.
Reds! New Bulletin! “The Donald” has bowed out!! Yes, Reds, you’re correct and I made my first post “tongue and cheek.” The 500 fans are more, republican, conservative and racist and if I had a dollar for each time I was called the “Nword” by a bunch of them as they sped by me on the street the 10 years I lived there. I was NEVER called the “Nword” face to face, it was always from a speeding car. That shows you how brave racists are! LOL!!
To the contrary, the Formula folks One (they cancelled this series a few years ago) were mainly international, respectful and quiet. They had class and treated folks in Naptown with respect. When the 500 folks leave there are TONS of garbage, beer cans, confederate flags etc. all over the place. When the Formula One folks left, there was hardly any garbage on the streets. Again, my post was “tongue and cheek.” but I’m glad a few of the 500 fans spoke out against “The Donald.”