Basketball’s biggest stars are in Indianapolis this week for the NBA All-Star Game, and INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway are adding sparkle to the constellation through various promotional activities, including driver appearances, throughout Central Indiana.
The 73rd NBA All-Star Game tips off at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, Feb. 18 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis, with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers serving as host. Many other traditional All-Star Weekend activities also are taking place Friday through Sunday at various Indianapolis locations, such as the celebrity game, the Rising Stars game, HBCU Classic, skills contests and the G League Up Next Game.
NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers are attending and participating in multiple events this week and weekend. Conor Daly of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will suit up and play in the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday, Feb. 16 (ESPN).
Other drivers joining in the fun include Pietro Fittipaldi of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing as a special guest at the Panini Rising Stars Game Feb. 16 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and Marcus Ericsson of Andretti Global at the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at Lucas Oil Stadium. Fittipaldi also will take NBA Brasil on a tour of IMS, sharing the rich history of the facility and the Indianapolis 500. Excerpts will be shared online and on the air over the weekend.
INDYCAR and IMS also are revving up NBA All-Star Weekend with a fast break of promotional activities.
Activations started Sunday, Feb. 11 with the famed Scoring Pylon at IMS featuring a daily countdown graphic through Friday. After Friday, a general NBA All-Star Game graphic will be shown on the Pylon through the weekend, attracting attention and coverage from local and national media and NBA broadcast partners.
IMS also created a “Love Letter to Basketball” video, featuring narration from 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan and showing the interwoven Hoosier passions of motorsports and basketball. The video was released Monday, Feb. 12 and shared on IMS and INDYCAR social media and with national media.
Social media influencers also are getting in on the fun this week. Influencer Tristan Jass visited IMS on Monday, Feb. 12 and created content for his Instagram account and YouTube channel, both of which have more than 5 million followers each. Arrow McLaren driver Alexander Rossi greeted Jass at the track and gave him a tour.
Red-hot rapper and singer-songwriter Jelly Roll will wear a custom “Start Your Engines” jacket Saturday night, Feb. 17 during his performance at NBA Crossover, an interactive fan event celebrating basketball culture at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis.
The INDYCAR and IMS community also will participate in the Million Meal Movement charitable initiative Friday, Feb. 16.
More than 700 volunteers, including Penske Entertainment staff, INDYCAR race team staff and fans, will pack meals to be distributed to food banks across Indiana. INDYCAR community participants will wear 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge hats since Friday is 100 days out from this year’s edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” NTT INDYCAR SERIES transporters will carry all the food donations and meals to Indiana food banks Monday, Feb. 19.