Donald Trump is “no longer this month’s Indianapolis 500 pace car driver,” according to Cavin & McFeely of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Trump told Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials that "continuing with the program conflicts with his possible presidential campaign.” He said, “Time and business constraints make my appearance there, especially with the necessary practice sessions, impossible to fulfill.” The news “relieves significant pressure Trump created after accepting the Speedway’s offer.” Trump in recent weeks “pressed President Barack Obama to prove his birthplace, which created a media firestorm." Fans opposed to him driving the pace car created a Facebook page called “Dump Trump.” No replacement for the May 29 race “has been selected, although some fans hope it’s a former 500 winner.” IMS landed Trump “through their mutual partner, Izod” (INDYSTAR.com, 5/5). IMS Dir of PR Doug Boles and Michael Cohen, a special counsel to Trump, said that “sponsors and track officials did not try to pressure Trump to make the decision.” Boles said, “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.” The AP’s Michael Marot noted four-time Indy 500 winner A.J. Foyt could replace Trump as the pace car driver. Boles said that a “formal invitation is expected to be made to Foyt on Friday” (AP, 5/5). Foyt said that he “hadn't been contacted” yet by IMS officials. Boles said, "Our fans want a former (500) winner or they want a military person. When the (selection) group gets together, it will probably be a former winner" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/6).
INDY 500 BETTER WITHOUT HIM? In Indianapolis, Bob Kravitz writes, ”When it was just Donald Trump, Celebrity Rich Guy, the decision to hire him as the 500 pace car driver was no worse than questionable.” But then he "turned political" and began “questioning whether Obama was worthy of gaining entrance into Ivy League schools Columbia and then Harvard” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/6). USA TODAY’s Michael Hiestand writes, “Sports events should not use anybody remotely controversial -- such as Donald Trump these days -- for their ceremonial sideshows. … One appeal of traditional sports events is that they always try to provide everybody with an escape from the issues of the day.” But USA TODAY’s Michael McCarthy writes with Trump removing himself as the pace car driver, IMS and ABC are “missing a golden opportunity to create buzz around the ailing sport of U.S. open-wheel auto racing.” McCarthy: “Whether you love Trump or can’t stand him, the controversial real estate mogul and reality television star turned possible U.S. presidential candidate brings the media spotlight with him. The Greatest Spectacle in Racing needs as much attention as it can get on its 100th birthday” (USA TODAY, 5/6).
