The Indy 500 weekend is upon us, and country music star Blake Shelton will serve as the Grand Marshal of the event.
“Nobody But You could give this command, [Blake Shelton]!” Indianapolis Motor Speedway tweeted on Friday morning (May 27). “The country music star and judge on [The Voice] will serve as Grand Marshal for the [Indy 500], giving the ‘Drivers, To Your Cars’ command on Race Day.”
Shelton shared the news to his own social media channels, tagging Indianapolis Motor Speedway as he wrote: “I'm starting to get the hang of this Grand Marshal thing.. let's do this Indy!!!!”
“Blake is a country music powerhouse and good friend of motorsports fans everywhere,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said in a statement. “For both spectators at the track and everyone watching on NBC, his winning energy will be a perfect fit for the intensity of ‘The Greatest Spectacle of Racing.’”
Shelton will visit as a guest of driver Jimmie Johnson, who collaborated with Shelton on the design he’ll use on his helmet on the day of the race, according to a press release announcing the “Come Back As A Country Boy” singer as the Grand Marshal.
The 106th Indy 500 is set to take place at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, beginning at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday (May 29).