Jeff Gordon to Drive Pace Car at Indy 500

NASCAR great Jeff Gordon shouldn’t need any pointers on how to manage the turns at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After all, he’s won the Brickyard 400 five times—including last year.

Announced today as the pace-car driver for the 2015 Indianapolis 500, Gordon will start the race in a Corvette Z06.

“The Indianapolis 500 is one of the most celebrated races of the year and an event I always dreamed of racing while growing up in California and in nearby Pittsboro,” Gordon said in a statement released by IMS. “I’ve won five NASCAR races at IMS, and the track will always be a special place for me, so to be able to participate in such a historic day will be something I remember for the rest of my life.”

The only conceivable problem for Gordon might be resisting the urge to stay on the track when the 99th running gets underway.