Rick Hendrick, the owner of Hendrick Motorsports, was set to be a pace car driver at Martinsville Speedway but had to undergo knee surgery, missing the opportunity. However, he will now serve as the honorary pace car driver for the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to mark the 30th anniversary of Jeff Gordon's win. Hendrick, with over 300 wins, will drive a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and reflecting on his four-decade partnership with Chevrolet. This event is significant as it returns NASCAR's Cup Series to the IMS oval after a hiatus on the road course, with Hendrick leading the field to the green flag amidst celebrations of the team's achievements and history in the sport.