INDY 500 FLAGS DAMON, BALE
Rev your engines because Matt Damon is slated to ceremoniously wave the green flag at this year’s Indy 500. The Cambridge-raised actor is also expected to be accompanied by his “Ford v. Ferrari” costar Christian Bale as they kick off the racing festivities.
The A-listers were just named honorary starters for the annual car-fueled competition at the end of the month, the IndyStar initially reported. And the customary, star-studded appointment, which went to Damon’s bestie Chris Hemsworth last year, seems only fitting for the acting duo, who will be gracing the big screen as they play a pair of auto-racing legends in the forthcoming film.
“Ford v. Ferrari” follows the true story of Ford leadership, Henry Ford II and Lee Iacocca ,as they enlist a team of top engineers and designers to outbuild its Italian rival and create a winning car for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. The frantic efforts to beat the overseas company, which ultimately proved successful and led to a Le Mans winning streak for Ford, stemmed from a personal grudge and business deal gone bad in which Enzo Ferrari squashed the sale of Ferrari to Ford at the last minute.
In the James Mangold-directed movie, Damon will be playing racing great Carroll Shelby and Bale will assume the role of equally celebrated test-driver Ken Miles, who were both integral in developing the victorious Ford GT40. The flick is now poised to hit theaters Nov. 15, after being pushed back from its original release date this summer.
And as for Damon and Bale’s Indy 500 appearance, the race is scheduled for May 26, with qualifiers taking place this weekend. So far, the famous face who’ll be handing off the green flag to the pair, per recent tradition, has not been named.