JR Hildebrand was in attendance at Comerica Park last October to watch the San Francisco Giants face the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.
The IZOD IndyCar Series driver returned to the ballpark April 29 to cheer on the Tigers to a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Hildebrand, who played baseball at Redwood High School in Corte Madera, Calif., also threw a strike in delivering the ceremonial first pitch.
Hildebrand was in town to promote the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix on May 31-June 2 before heading to Brazil, where he’ll compete this weekend in the fourth Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle in the No. 4 National Guard Panther Racing car.
On the field before the game, Hildebrand met Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera and swapped jerseys with pitcher Justin Verlander.
"The thing that's cool is meeting a lot of other athletes like baseball players and they totally know what's going on in INDYCAR,” Hildebrand said. “Like Justin Verlander, who told me he was out in Long Beach (April 21 for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach).
“He just bought a ticket and showed up to the race like any other fan. I think that's cool. It's neat to have a little bit of back and forth with those guys."
Click it: Race weekend tickets, info
The race weekend on the recently improved Belle Isle circuit will be the IZOD IndyCar Series’ first doubleheader – 70-lap races on the 2.3-mile circuit both June 1 and 2. Practice and qualifying for Race 1 for the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans will be held May 31. It’s a free day for fans sponsored by Comerica Bank.
"I'm really looking forward to the race,” said Hildebrand, who is coming off a fifth-place finish at Long Beach. “With the new track layout and surface I think it's going to be great for fans. And the Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans will be a real challenge for the teams and drivers."
Check out the music lineup at IMS for May
Poison will lead an impressive lineup of national, regional and local music acts performing during the 97th Indianapolis 500 in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Poison will provide a powerful show at the Coors Light Carb Day concert on May 24. On May 26 (Race Day), two-time Grammy Award-winning DJ Afrojack will headline the party in the Snake Pit presented by Miller Lite. For a complete lineup of musical acts and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.
Firestone Indy Lights teams to test at Speedway
Firestone Indy Lights teams will participate in an Open Test from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) on May 2 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Rookies will be on the 2.5-mile oval from 8-11 a.m., followed by all cars.
Practice and qualifying is May 23 for the Firestone Freedom 100 on May 24 (noon ET).
Spectators can watch from the South Terrace grandstand and Turn 2 viewer mounds free of charge.
Of note
Lexar will be the featured sponsor on the No. 10 Target Chip Ganasi Racing car driven by Dario Franchitti at Sao Paulo. ... On May 8, IZOD IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe will be honorary Indianapolis Public Safety Director for a day. ... Takuma Sato became the first Japanese driver to win an Indy car race when he won the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Now he aims to win again at the track where he led his first laps and scored his first podium finish -- at Sao Paulo. Sato drove from 25th to third last year and led 23 laps in 2011. ... Seven of the 25 drivers entered in the Sao Paulo race have led laps. ... Tristan Vautier is the lone first-time entrant.