Why Tom Brady and Jimmie Johnson are the surprise duo at Indy 500

The 2025 Indianapolis 500 car race isn’t just another big race. It also turns heads among fans of other sports. This year’s race, which will take place on Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana, has coincidental extra star power.Tom Brady, the N.F.L. quarterback who last played for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will participate in the race’s opening ceremony. Brady, now working as a football analyst with Fox Sports, is not racing but has a special role before the competition starts.Tom Brady will be part of the pre-race festivities, riding in “The Fastest Seat in Sports.” This is the two-seater IndyCar that takes laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before each race. It is part of a long-standing tradition in the IndyCar Series. Celebrities are frequently invited to ride in the passenger seat, and this year, Brady will be that passenger.Driving the car will be Jimmie Johnson, a well-known race car driver who won seven NASCAR championships. Johnson also competed in IndyCar from 2021 to 2022. This will be the first time since 2019 that this special ceremonial lap will take place at the Indy 500.According to Fox Sports, Johnson said, “There is an energy and excitement around the 500 that is unlike anything I have experienced before.” He also added, “I’m honored to come back and to be able to share this moment with another seven-time champion.”Also Read: Tom Brady Loses To Morgan Wallen In Golf And Their Hilarious Post-Match Chemistry Steals The SpotlightTom Brady is not the only well-known sports figure taking part in the event. Former MLB stars Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter will also attend the 109th Indy 500. At the IndyCar season opener in St. Petersburg, Florida, which took place in March 2025, Alex Rodriguez rode in the Fastest Seat in Sports too.Brady and Johnson will later head to Charlotte, North Carolina, on the same day for the Coca-Cola 600, another major racing event. That will mark Johnson’s 700th NASCAR start, making the day special for both men.Tom Brady joined Jimmie Johnson in the Fastest Seat in Sports at the 2025 Indy 500. Despite being booed by Colts fans, Brady smiled, waved, and embraced the high-speed tradition.With Fox Sports now broadcasting IndyCar for the first time, having Tom Brady involved brings even more attention to the race.