Wheldon to pair with Earnhardt Jr. at Indy

Dan Wheldon has brought one of NASCAR's biggest stars to the IndyCar Series... for a couple of hours. Two of the National Guard’s biggest racing stars will be sharing a ride in an IndyCar this Thursday when Panther Racing driver, and former Indianapolis 500 winner, Dan Wheldon will give NASCAR Sprint Cup star Dale Earnhardt Jr. a ride in the Indy Racing Experience two-seater at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Both drivers will be on hand for photos and interviews following the event, which begins at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. Earnhardt Jr. is in Indianapolis to promote the upcoming July 26th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and Wheldon is traveling to Canada immediately after Thursday’s event for the Honda Indy Toronto IndyCar Series race, which will be held on Sunday.

The Indy Racing Experience two-seater will be in the same No. 4 National Guard livery as Wheldon drives full-time in the IndyCar Series. The event also included Earnhardt’s Hendrick Motorsports’ teammate Jeff Gordon, who is also sponsored by the National Guard.

Earnhardt will also turn laps in the historic No. 16 Noc-Out Hose Clamp Special that Mauri Rose and Floyd David co-drove to victory in the 1941 Indianapolis 500. Earnhardt currently ranks 21st in the Sprint Cup standings and has collected one Top Five and three Top Ten finishes this season. He will be making his tenth career start in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard this year, and has previously recorded a best result of sixth at the race in 2006. In nine previous starts, Earnhardt Jr. has led a total of 54 laps at Indianapolis.

The Honda Indy Toronto will be broadcast live in ABC at 1 p.m.