Justin Timberlake Sponsored Car Wins Indianapolis 500

Award winning singer Justin Timberlake has accomplished a lot in his career.

But now he can add Indy 500 winner to his resume.

Kind of…

In a remarkable finish to this year’s race – rookie JR Hildebrand was leading in the last lap but then crashed into the wall with only half a lap to go.

This set the stage for second place Dan Wheldon to cruise to his second Indianapolis 500 career win.

But what made this win special for Justin Timberlake?

Timberlake's William Rast clothing line-sponsored Wheldon’s #10 Target Chip Ganassi car this year.

William Rast clothing is sold through Target so it was a logical move for Timberlake to sponsor the tem.

Timberlake took to twitter moments after the final lap saying,

"What a Memorial Day weekend! The William Rast car just won the Indy 500. Congrats to Dan Wheldon, the WR racing team and everyone else who put in the hard work for this victory! Unreal!"

Watch the historic Indy 500 2011 Final Lap


It is not unusual these days for Hollywood to be part of the big race.

In fact, David Letterman is partners in “Rahal Letterman Racing” with friend Bobby Rahal. Their big catch is driver Danica Patrick who has raced for their team since she started.

Watch Justin Timberlake talk about William Rast


This was an exciting race this year, and some of the drama started before the first car even left the pits.

It seems that our good friend (not) Donald Trump was scheduled to drive this year’s pace car but at the last minute was….. wait for it…. FIRED!

Related: Donald Trump Fired as 2011 Pace Car Driver

Thank you Indianapolis.

We could not have stood by and watched that douche bag on the track. After getting Trump out of the way, A.J. Foyt was given the honor of driving the pace car this year.

For his part, Timberlake can now go back to making music and poking fun at Justin Bieber on Saturday Night Live.

Related: Justin Timberlake Slams Justin Bieber on SNL – Video

He is also currently working on the movie “Friends with Benefits” with pals Mila Kunis, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, Andy Samberg, and Jenna Elfman.

The film will show that while trying to avoid the clichés of Hollywood romantic comedies, Dylan (Timberlake) and Jamie (Kunis) discover that adding sex to their friendship really does lead to complications.

“Friends with Benefits” is scheduled for release in late 2011.

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"Indianapolis 500" Or Indy 500 Celebrate 100 Years of History

Chevrolet competed in the inaugural Indianapolis 500. One hundred years later, a Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible will lead the 2011 Indianapolis 500, as the car maker and iconic race celebrate their Centennial anniversaries – and start the countdown for Chevrolet’s return to IndyCar racing in 2012.

History includes some of the most memorable cars that have paced the Indianapolis 500, well as many checkered flags won under Chevrolet power,” Campbell said. “With a new Chevrolet race engine competing in next year’s race,

Louis, Arthur and Gaston Chevrolet compete at Indianapolis 500 From 1911 to 1920:

Although 2011 marks the 100^th anniversaries for Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500, the connection can be traced back to as early as 1905.

22 Chevrolets Vehicles Pace the Indy 500 From 1945 to Upto Now:

Chevrolet has paced the Indianapolis 500 more times than any other brand,” said Campbell, the 2011 Camaro SS Convertible Pace Car brings a modern interpretation of one of the most iconic cars ever to pace Indy – the 1969 Camaro SS Pace Car. We think this is a fitting way to celebrate Chevrolet’s history with the Indy 500, while gearing up for our next 100 years at Indy.”

The first Chevrolet to pace Indy, a 1948 convertible, was driven by Indianapolis Speedway President Wilber Shaw.

Ten Corvettes have paced the Indianapolis 500. The first appearance was in Corvette's 25^th anniversary year, 1978. That year, the Wall Street Journal triggered a buying frenzy for the official 1978 Corvette Limited Edition Pace Car replicas when it published a front-page story about their collectability.

2012: The Return of Chevy Power to IndyCar

In addition to pacing the Indy 500, Louis Chevrolet’s namesake has also powered many of the cars that competed at the Brickyard.

Donald Trump Backs Out of Driving the Indy 500 Pace Car – Good Riddance

Donald Trump is learning that there may be consequences to running his mouth.

And for the first time in his life he may have had those now infamous words spoken to him – You’re fired.

After what can only be described as a couple of bad weeks of press, the Donald has backed out of, or maybe been fired from, driving the Indy 500 pace car before the big race later this month.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s tradition of having a celebrity, or other notable personality, drive the pace lap goes back to the inception of the brickyard event.

Trump notified track authorities yesterday saying he was cancelling. Track spokesman Doug Boles said,

“We had conversations with Trump that started yesterday, and he was talking about his concern that he may make an announcement for president ahead of the race and that it may be inappropriate to drive the pace car. So we discussed the political ramifications for everyone, we spoke with him again this morning and he decided to pull aside.”

Really? I would think that being the pace car driver might be a positive thing for a presidential candidate. Is there more to this story? Yes.

It seems that a huge number of race fans complained that Trump was too controversial to be the driver, and a grass roots effort was started to oust the blabber mouth from the job.

In fact, Indiana State representative Jeb Bardon, who represents the Speedway district, started the opposition with a fiery speech to fellow legislators on the house floor, and a local attorney started a Facebook page that already has 18,000 followers.

Why is this story important to me?

I was born in Indianapolis and spent my youth going to the track during race month. In later years I got drunk during carb day, and ran through the mud in the infield watching qualifications. It was a tradition. It was a rite of passage.

It was an honor to stand and cheer as the pace car drove past signaling the start of the race. Imagining big mouth Donald Trump serving the honor does not sit well with me.

Who will they get to replace the Celebrity Apprentice blabber mouth?

How about getting someone from our Armed Forces, or a representative from the Navy SEALS, or a local family of a 9/11 survivor. I can think of plenty of people better suited than Donald Trump.

I may live a thousand miles from the Speedway today, but I can still sing the words to “Back Home Again in Indiana”.

Related: Seth Meyers Roasts Trump at White House Dinner.
Related: Donald Trump is such a dick.
Related: Donald Trump on the Today Show. What an idiot.

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