Tom Brady is leaving the gridiron behind—at least for a day—to experience the raw speed of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Just before the start of the 109th Indianapolis 500 on May 25, 2025, the seven-time Super Bowl champion will ride the “Fastest Seat in Sports” with NASCAR superstar Jimmie Johnson.
Tom Brady Jokes About Colts Fans Ahead of Ride With Jimmie Johnson
Now working as an NFL analyst for Fox Sports, Brady will take part in a revived IndyCar tradition involving a high-speed lap in a two-seat car, returning to the Indianapolis 500 for the first time since 2019. This initiative is part of a renewed partnership between Penske Entertainment and Fox Sports, designed to bridge the worlds of football and motorsports.
Have you ever seen two GOATs in one car before? @JimmieJohnson and @NFLonFOX’s @TomBrady are with @JamieLittleTV.#Indy500: 12:30p ET on FOX! pic.twitter.com/ARrlWJ43lX
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX)
Speaking to FOX NASCAR’s Jamie Little, Brady joked about his initial confusion when he heard who would be driving. “When they said Jimmy Johnson was driving me around the track, I thought it was coach Jimmy Johnson at first. I thought he’d be going 50 miles an hour. He’s going to be driving me at 180, 190 miles an hour, so I should be a little worked up, but I’m in great hands. He’s the best in the world, so I’ll be pretty comfortable back in that cockpit.”
Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2009 AP Male Athlete of the Year, didn’t miss the opportunity to tease Brady either. “I have three goals, but I think two of them are realistic. One would be crashing just so he can have that full experience, and I don’t think that’s going to be viewed highly. But the other two, one would be for him to get sick in the car, and the other would be to soil his suit. So, those two are still in play.”
Brady responded with humor, saying, “No, not so sick, thankfully. I’m sure a lot of the Indianapolis Colts fans would want to see me crash at some point here today.”
It’s well-known that the seven-time Super Bowl champion is not particularly liked in Indianapolis. During his tenure with the New England Patriots, Brady had a 4-1 record in the postseason against the Colts.
It’s Brady’s first-ever visit to the Indianapolis 500, and the excitement is palpable. The Fox broadcast team is pulling out all the stops in their first year covering the IndyCar Series. Earlier this season, baseball analyst Alex Rodriguez also rode in the “Fastest Seat in Sports.”
After his IndyCar cameo, Brady will accompany Johnson to North Carolina, where the racing legend is scheduled to compete in his 700th NASCAR start at the Coca-Cola 600.
