Emmy Award-winning actor Josh Duhamel will drive the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Pace Car at the 2009Indianapolis 500, leading the field of 33 drivers to the green flag Sunday,May 24 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Duhamel has starred in motion pictures and television since his breakthroughrole as Leo du Pres on the ABC daytime drama "All My Children" from1999-2002. He is set to reprise his role as U.S. Army Major Lennox inMichael Bay's upcoming action spectacular "Transformers: Revenge of theFallen." Steven Spielberg is an executive producer on the film, which is setfor nationwide release June 24. The film also stars Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox,Tyrese Gibson and John Turturro.
"The Indy 500 is a legendary race, and it's a great honor to be driving theCamaro Pace Car in it," said Duhamel.
Duhamel began acting in 1998 after an award-winning career as a model. Hewas nominated three times for a Daytime Emmy Award for OutstandingSupporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role on "All My Children,"winning in 2002.
In 2003, Duhamel began his role as Danny McCoy in the NBC prime-time drama,"Las Vegas." He continued in that role until the series ended in 2008.
Duhamel made his movie lead debut in 2004 in "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!"and also starred in the 2006 thriller, "Turistas." Bay and Spielbergselected Duhamel to play Lennox in the 2007 summer blockbuster"Transformers."
North Dakota native Duhamel, 36, is married to Grammy-nominatedsinger-songwriter and actress Fergie.
"We're happy to welcome Josh Duhamel as Pace Car driver for the Indianapolis500," said Joie Chitwood, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and chiefoperating officer. "As a star in one of Hollywood's expected blockbustersthis summer, it's only fitting that he will lead the field to the start of'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing' on Memorial Day weekend."
Duhamel is familiar with the power and styling of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro,as the car appears in "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."Powered by the 6.2-liter LS3 all-aluminum Chevy V-8, the all-new 2010 Camaroproduces 426 horsepower at 5,900 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm.It features a Tremec six-speed manual transmission and 3.45 axle ratio.
No drivetrain or suspension modifications are required to prepare the Camarofor its Pace Car duties. The only modifications to the vehicle include afully integrated strobe system, including a GM-designed custom light barutilizing Whelen 500 series linear strobes.
2009 marks the fifth time the Chevrolet Camaro has been selected to pace theIndianapolis 500 (1967, 1969, 1982, 1993, 2009). It will be the 44th time aGeneral Motors vehicle has paced "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," with 20by a Chevrolet.
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2009 IMS tickets: Established in 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway haslong prevailed as an icon of motorsports excellence. Beginning in 2009, theSpeedway celebrates its Centennial Era, commemorating the 100th anniversaryof the facility in 2009 and the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500Mile Race in 2011.
Tickets for the three events in 2009 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway -the Indianapolis 500, Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and Red BullIndianapolis GP - can be purchased online atwww.indianapolismotorspeedway.com at any time.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS GroupSales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.
