Tyrese Haliburton Drives Pace Car at Indy 500
Former Iowa State Cyclones guard Tyrese Haliburton got the opportunity to be the celebrity pace car driver at the Indy 500 race on Sunday. With Haliburton being a member of the hometown Indiana Pacers, the Wisconsin native stepped onto the track and received a warm welcome from fans.
Haliburton had a breakout year with the Pacers last season averaging a double-double with 20.7 points, and 10.4 assists per game. Haliburton was selected with the 12th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft after two seasons in Ames.
Haliburton took to the track to kick off the 2023 Indy 500 with a ceremonial first lap to get race day started. After spending time in Indianapolis, Haliburton quickly became a fan favorite among Pacers fans, and with a packed crowd inside of the Indianapolis Speedway, once Haliburton made his way around the track, the Indy 500 was underway.
Haliburton choose one of the most eventful Indy 500 races to attend with the race coming down to the final lap when a risky move from Josef Newgarden secured the win. The former Cyclone got a chance to drive in front of 80,000 screaming fans in attendance, as this year’s Indy 500 goes down as one of the biggest racing events of the last decade.
