Acclaimed actor Adam Driver will return to his native Indiana to wave the green flag for the 107th Indy 500 as the honorary starter of the May 28 race.
“Adam is going to experience one of the most exhilarating, powerful and exciting moments in all of sports as he stands atop the flag stand and waves the green flag to officially start the world’s greatest race,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway president J. Douglas Boles said in a release.
“Indy 500 Race Day is full of meaning for our drivers, our fans across the globe and most especially our active-duty military members and veterans. Adam is not only a star recognized across the world but also a former U.S. Marine who will be a very fitting addition to ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”
INDY 500 PRIMER: Important details and facts for watching on NBC Sports
STARTING LINEUP: Click here for the 11 rows of three cars in the 107th Indy 500
Driver is perhaps best known for playing Kylo Ren in the last three “Star Wars” movies. He has been nominated for two Academy Awards, four Emmy Awards and a Tony Award.
Among his many credits: Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” and “White Noise,” Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman,” Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci” and “The Last Duel,” Leos Carax’s “Annette,” Jim Jarmusch’s “Paterson,” Steven Soderbergh’s “Logan Lucky” (which took place at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway), Martin Scorsese’s “Silence” and the HBO series “Girls.”
He also has starred in numerous roles on and off-Broadway, including John Osborne’s “Look Back in Anger” and Lanford Wilson’s “Burn This.”
The Julliard graduate and Marine attended the University of Indianapolis for a year. He co-founded Arts in the Armed Forces, a non-profit organization that staged theatrical and musical performances for members of the military.
Driver joins a long list of entertainers and actors who have served as Indy 500 honorary starters. Last year, Miles Teller of “Top Gun: Maverick” waved the green flag for The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Milo Ventimiglia, Matt Damon and Christian Bale have waved the green in recent years.
TV coverage of the 107th Indy 500 will begin Sunday, May 28 at 9 a.m. ET exclusively on Peacock. At 11 a.m., NBC and Peacock will broadcast prerace through postrace interviews.
RETWEET if you’ll be watching the #Indy500!
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 22, 2023
Don’t miss it this weekend on @nbc and @peacock. pic.twitter.com/v1XdXNTvvU