Indiana Pacers star to drive pace car at 2023 Indianapolis 500

Indiana Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton will drive the honorary pace car at Sunday's running of the 107th Indianapolis 500, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced Wednesday.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be given the opportunity to drive the pace car and lead the field to start theIndy 500,” Haliburton said in a news release. “Basketball and racing are big in Indiana, and it’s such a cool experience to represent the Pacers at the biggest race in the world.”

Haliburton, who was an NBA All-Star in his first full season with the Pacers, will drive a 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 as he leads the field of 33 IndyCar drivers to the green flag. His red-and-black sports car will be the 20th Corvette and 33rd Chevrolet vehicle to set the pace at the Indy 500.

Pace car revealed: IMS celebrates history with 2023 Indy 500 pace car, a hardtop convertible Corvette Z06

“Tyrese had a breakout season for the Indiana Pacers this year, and he’s the perfect fit to lead the field atthe Racing Capital of the World,” IMS President Doug Boles said. “Tyrese has power and speed onthe court, so driving the CorveƩe Z06 pace car should be a natural fit.”

Complete guide to 2023 Indy 500: All of our coverage of the 107th running

Haliburton joins former IndyCar racers Sarah Fisher (2022) and Danica Patrick (2021) as recent pace car drivers. He is the first non-racer to drive the pace car since General Motors President Mark Reuss, who redeemed himself at the 2020 Indy 500 after he had crashed another Corvette pace car at a 2018 IndyCar race in Detroit.

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Rory Appleton is the pop culture reporter and columnist at IndyStar. Contact him at 317-552-9044 and rappleton@indystar.com, or follow him on Twitter at @RoryDoesPhonics.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Tyrese Haliburton to drive Indy 500 pace car