Tom Brady risks it all at Indy 500: NFL legend trades football fame for 200 mph thrill ride with Jimmie Johnson

Tom Brady’s next big moment isn’t coming from the gridiron—it’s happening on the legendary track of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The NFL icon and seven-time Super Bowl champion will hop into a two-seat IndyCar for a ride-along with racing legend Jimmie Johnson ahead of the 109th Indianapolis 500 on May 25, 2025.The high-octane thrill ride is part of a renewed collaboration between Penske Entertainment and Fox Sports, marking the return of the two-seater IndyCar to the race’s iconic parade laps for the first time since 2019. Brady, now a prominent NFL analyst at Fox, is set to feel a different kind of rush as he hits speeds of over 200 mph riding shotgun with Johnson.Tom Brady won’t be the only football face turning heads at the Speedway. Fox NFL analyst Michael Strahan is set to take on pace car duties, while Brady’s longtime friend and former teammate Rob Gronkowski will be mingling with fans and drivers, mic in hand, bringing his signature energy to the sidelines of the event.Jimmie Johnson, the driver for Brady’s ride, brings serious credentials to the track. A seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, Johnson made his Indy 500 debut in 2022. Though that attempt ended in a crash and a 28th-place finish, his return in 2025 to pilot the two-seater with Brady marks a full-circle moment between two of America’s most decorated athletes.Always the showman, Brady teased his upcoming appearance in a playful Fox Sports promo. Poking fun at two-time Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden, Brady quipped, “He’s not that handsome,” in a lighthearted jab that reminded fans he’s still got a sense of humor to match his competitive spirit.Brady’s Indy 500 cameo is more than just a promotional stunt—it symbolizes the growing crossover between sports and entertainment. With NFL stars lending their charisma to the racing world and the event reaching global viewers, the 2025 Indy 500 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting editions in recent memory.Also Read: “Why give a crap about Swift?”: Commanders’ stadium ambitions spark fan backlash after Taylor Swift mention by team president Mark ClouseFor Brady, it’s another headline-grabbing moment in his post-football chapter—this time, fueled by speed rather than touchdowns.