This year’s Indianapolis 500 featured a striking moment when Jimmie Johnson gives Tom Brady 190 MPH Indy 500 ride as part of the Fastest Seat in Sports tradition. Held at the storied Brickyard, the annual event pairs a celebrity with a top driver for a rapid pre-race lap, and this pairing between the NFL legend and the motorsports champion made for an unforgettable spectacle.
Anticipation for the lap was high given Tom Brady’s status as one of the most successful athletes in NFL history and Jimmie Johnson’s renowned racing prowess. As the two prepared to hit the track, fans watched eagerly, ready to witness a collision of sports royalty.
Inside the High-Speed Lap: Brady’s Wild Introduction to Racing Speed
During an interview on ESPN’s Never Settle podcast with Marty Smith, Johnson described the intense experience of taking Brady for a high-octane spin at Indiana’s most famous speedway.
“Giving him a ride in the car is something that he was really jacked to do, and we threw TV’s big tall rear end in the back, went and sailed it around the track,”
—Jimmie Johnson, Driver
The run lasted for five laps at full acceleration, pushing both car and passengers to their limits. Unlike football, where Brady confidently navigates incoming defenders, this time he faced the challenge of extreme speed. Sitting beside Johnson, Brady was at the mercy of a race car tearing toward 200 mph down the straightaways.
Johnson commented on the car’s velocity, sharing how the pace hovered near 190 mph on average, touching even higher numbers on certain stretches. Watching from the driver’s seat, he noticed the unique challenge for his famous passenger.
“He’s so tall that he was above them, and I could see his head buffeting back and forth on the straightaway, and I think the helmet strap was trying to choke him out and was trying to lift the helmet off his head. So, another lap or two, maybe he would have passed out.”
—Jimmie Johnson, Driver
With adrenaline running high, the spectacle wasn’t just about speed—it highlighted both the physical demands placed on passengers in an Indy car and the humor in seeing Brady, usually in command, fighting to keep steady.
A Virally Memorable Sports Crossover
The footage and reactions from this unique moment quickly circulated among sporting fans, as Brady’s wild ride became an instant viral hit. Fans cheered as the Super Bowl star clung tightly, fully immersed in a side of sports far removed from the gridiron. While the experience was intense for Brady, he was seen smiling, clearly savoring the energy of race day at the Indianapolis 500.
This crossover between motorsports and football brought attention not just to the spectacle of the Fastest Seat in Sports tradition but to the unique camaraderie between champions across different arenas. For Jimmie Johnson, giving Tom Brady a lap at blistering speed showcased both men’s willingness to step outside their comfort zones and delight broader audiences, blending excitement, humor, and admiration from fans of both sports.
As the Indy 500 continues to honor its traditions with unforgettable moments, the ride between Jimmie Johnson and Tom Brady stands out as an emblem of sports unity, bottling up raw emotion and thrill in a way that won’t be easily forgotten.
