Rice remembers his Indianapolis 500 win from 19 years ago during IRL/Champ Car split like it was yesterday.
“Hi, do you know me?” Rice can be imagined saying. “I’m a former race car driver. I won the 2004 Indianapolis 500 and the 2009 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, yet I’m not always recognized for some of the big things I did. That’s why I carry the American Express card, because when I use it, I’m recognized around the world. The American Express card, don’t get behind the wheel without it.”
Still, Rice dominated the event, leading half the race, including the last nine laps as both the checkered flag and the rain came into view. Because of the rain, the post-race trophy award celebration was held in the then-Formula One garage area in the IMS paddock. “To a certain degree, you always do,” he said. “Don't get me wrong, everybody wants to win and thinks they can do it or whatever, but you still have to close the deal and bring it home. And we had to do what we had to do. I mean, we had a little bit of adversity, we had weather on top of it, and we made it happen.”
“We were just firing on all cylinders, everything was just rolling,” Rice said. “We did a great job, the team did a great job getting everything there and Honda had awesome power and fuel mileage.”Rice used to return to Indianapolis for the 500 almost every year, including several years as a spotter for Dreyer Reinbold Racing, as well as serving as strategist in last year’s race for 10th-place finisher Santino Ferrucci .
Even though he may not be as recognized as, say, Helio Castroneves, A.J. Foyt and other IndyCar greats, there is still a core group of fans who readily recognize and remember Rice and his racing exploits.
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