Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady was on hand at the Indy 500 to lead the field to green alongside NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson
13:23 ET, 25 May 2025Updated 13:23 ET, 25 May 2025
Tom Brady was booed by Indy 500 fans after years of torturing the Colts (Image: FOX Sports)
Tom Brady faced a sea of boos from the Indy 500 crowd as he took part in the lead-up lap with NASCAR icon Jimmie Johnson in the “Fastest Seat in Sports.”
The 47-year-old NFL legend, notorious for giving the Indianapolis Colts a hard time during his career, maintained his composure despite the less-than-warm welcome.
Brady, who recorded a formidable 16-4 record against the Colts during his tenure with the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, embraced the negative reception, playfully inviting more booing before the race commenced. Rookie Robert Shwartzman is poised to start at pole position, while NASCAR’s Kyle Larson will attempt “The Double.”
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NASCAR champion Johnson couldn’t contain his excitement for the event, sharing, “I love the Indy 500,” and highlighting the unparalleled energy and excitement surrounding the race.
“Certainly, pre-race ceremonies are the ultimate racing experience that I’ve had outside of the car,” Johnson expressed his enthusiasm about being part of the proceedings. “I’m thrilled to be a part of the program and to see the stands full one more time. I’m extremely honored to come back and do it and to be able to also share this experience with another seven-time champion.”
Brady finished his first season as a FOX Sports analyst, a stint that saw him witness Patrick Mahomes narrowly miss a historic Super Bowl three-peat, a feat Brady himself never achieved during his illustrious playing career.
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Brady inked a lucrative 10-year, $375 million deal with Fox to serve as the network’s lead color analyst for NFL games.
Throughout his broadcasts, it was clear that Brady was still adjusting to his new role. However, he remains committed to honing his craft.
“Understanding the challenges and the art and the science of this, you can really only do it through doing it,” Brady noted.
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“I always thought it was gonna be a challenge and has certainly been that, and a very positive challenge,” Brady added. “Part of the experience of life is challenging yourself and getting outside your comfort zone to experience new things where it can be more of a transformational experience for you.”
Brady also touched on the rush of calling live games.
“To use your voice and your vision for a live television audience, there’s a lot of adrenaline in that. It was very different from when I played where I would see all these things, I just didn’t have to verbalize them. I knew subconsciously what to do and my body just took over because ultimately, that’s how I trained it.
Fox NFL announcers Tom Brady and Michael Strahan at the Indy 500(Image: FOX Sports)
“I think the mistakes that I’ve made, and I’ve made plenty, I’ve learned from all of them. You’re not happy they happen, but at the same time, you understand that when they do happen-and I mispronounce words or I forget a certain statistic or the preparation’s a little off in terms of my thoughts on something and I screw up the analysis-I go back and I want to get it right the next time.
“And without the mistakes, you don’t learn from them and apply them going forward. And I think all the mistakes I made, although I wish I didn’t make them, the fact that I can learn from them and move forward with a greater sense of awareness just allows you to improve.”