Q&A: Bachelorette Heartthrob Arie Luyendyk Jr. Visits IM

IndyCar star and Bachelorette heartthrob Arie Luyendyk, Jr. was in town recently for a celebrity cook-off benefiting the Children’s Bureau. He stopped by Indianapolis Monthly beforehand to reveal some his favorite local date spots for our Best Of Indy issue, coming up in December. You’ll have to pick up the magazine to find out what they are—but we got him to stick around long enough to offer a few other nuggets.

James Layne: You live in Arizona. Do you come to Indy a lot?

Arie Luyendyk, Jr.: Yeah, I do come to Indy a lot. Obviously, being involved in racing Indy cars, this is the place to be. I’ve been coming to Indianapolis for the Indy 500 since I was four, and I haven’t missed a race since. When I am racing full time, I try to make Indy sort of my hub, my home away from home. So, like, for half of Indy Lights seasons I’ve actually lived here, close to Broad Ripple.

JL: Any favorite Broad Ripple spots?

AL: I tend to go to Average Joe’s and Rock Lobster. The owner, Rob Sabatini, is a close friend of mine.

JL: Do you ever check out shows at the Vogue?

AL: Not too much, actually. I’ve gone to a lot of concerts at the Lawn at White River. I went there Sunday to see the Avett Brothers. It was really good. That venue is awesome so I try to go there a lot.

JL: I recently saw you in the audience at Dancing with the Stars. Want to explain?

AL: I was at the premiere. I went there with [Bachelorette contestant] Jeff (Holm). It was funny because he called as I landed in L.A. and was just hanging out because [Bachelorette star] Emily (Maynard) was in meetings. So I was like, well, you have to go with me to Dancing with the Stars. It was totally unexpected. We sat sort of in the back, and then during the Justin Bieber concert we went up front.

JL: Yeah, that’s when I saw you. The blogosphere called it a “photo bomb.”

AR: (Laughs) Yeah, it was pretty hilarious. But it was cool. It was really nice to see Helio [Castroneves], and he did an amazing job.

JL: So that’s the main reason you went?

AR: Yeah. I’ve got to show some support.

JL: Makes sense. Okay, so I watched you on The Bachelorette …

AR: That’s funny. Were you at home with your bottle of wine?

JL: No, no, I watched with the girlfriend.

AR: (Laughs) Don’t lie …

JL: Those shows can suck you in. Are there any reality shows you enjoy?

AR: Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

Photos by Tony Valainis