The Latest: Tom Hanks joins "Today" show at Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Latest on the Indianapolis 500 (all times local):
9 a.m.
NBC has taken its "Today" show to Indianapolis Motor Speedway as part of its salute to "Hidden Heroes," those people at home who provide help to America's veterans.
Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker were joined by actor Tom Hanks and former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, who has done extensive work with the Hidden Heroes campaign. Sheryl Crow performed on the front stretch.
Asked why the campaign is important, Hanks told The Associated Press: "Because we're always talking about caregivers, you make an assumption that means experts, medical technicians, doctors. But when we talk about these hidden heroes, we're talking about moms and dads, wives and girlfriends, grandparents. Caregivers that are just like you and me."
Hanks said it was his first trip to the Speedway, where the Indy 500 will take place Sunday.
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8:30 a.m.
Juncos Racing has signed deals with insurance company NFP and Global Medical Response to sponsor the No. 32 car that Kyle Kaiser will drive in the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500.
The small team founded by Argentina-born Ricardo Juncos made its Indy 500 debut two years ago with Spencer Pigot and Sebastian Saavedra. Kaiser has been with the team since 2014, beginning in a couple of lower-tier series before spending parts of the past two seasons in IndyCar.
He finished 29th in last year's running of the Indy 500.
Kaiser bumped the much better-funded McLaren car driven by two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso to qualify for this year's race. He will roll off in the 33rd and final spot Sunday.
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