Racing No Laughing Matter For Jerry Seinfeld
May 20, 1997

The largest sporting event in the world-the Indianapolis 500 will take place this Sunday, May 25th. The event attracts over 500,000 racing fans including some of Hollywood biggest stars-- John Travolta, James Garner, Paul Newman, David Letterman, Jay Leno to name a few.

One star who just might show up this year is comedian Jerry Seinfeld. I caught up with Jerry at another auto race recently to talk with him about his second favorite passion after comedy—auto racing.

"I’ve always been a car nut since I was like ten, just crazy with cars, fascinated, obsessed just reading magazines about them. I stare at them(cars) on the street, I talk about them, I drive them, I am just crazy with cars, all these people are too, something’s wrong" exclaimed Jerry. He should know he owns a very big collection of cars.

I made the mistake of asking Jerry why he didn’t include auto racing into one of the "Seinfeld" show plots?

"I can’t think of anything funny about it, it’s something I enjoy but it’s not really funny. I am in the comedy business, you know. I have to make people laugh or my ass is out " said the sarcastic comedian. CART Indy Car driver Al Unser Jr. overheard Jerry and me talking and said, "I have to go fast or my ass is out."

Jerry said he will not be trying professional car racing anytime soon. "It’s not like comedy, if your not funny no one gets hurt, unlike racing" said the comedian. He added "I’ve seen Al Unser, Jr. try comedy and that is another reason why I will not try racing."

A Little of This and a Little of That…

Some of the celebrities showing their support for the New York Knickerbockers during the playoffs were Michael J. Fox, Matthew Modine, comedian Richard Lewis, actor Stephen Baldwin, season ticket holder Woody Allen, John McEnroe, and Wayne Gretsky. Gettin’ hot in Miami at Heat playoff games are Sly Stallone, Matt Dillon, Kevin Bacon, Rosie O’Donnell, and singer Jimmy Buffet. My spies tell me that Atlanta Hawks coach Lenny Wilkins and Elton John live in the same apartment building in Atlanta. Lenny has been trying to convince Elton to be his guest at Hawks game but the singer has not made it yet. Some of the stars who have made it are Billy Corrigan, member of the "Smashing Pumpkins" band and movie critic Gene Siskel, who were cheering on the opposition—the Chicago Bulls. Now in la la land, the Los Angeles Lakers have had their regular fans Jack Nicholson and Dyan Cannon but Denzel Washinton and Tyra Banks showed face during the playoffs to cheer on Hollywood’s favorite NBA team...

Academy Award-winning actress Geena Davis will host Lifetime Television’s four "Breaking Through" specials which will highlight women in sports. The first special "Breaking Through: Women Behind the Wheel" will premiere this week on Thursday, May 22 at 7:00 ET/PT. The show will feature speed mavens Lyn St. James (who is racing in this year’s Indianapolis 500), Shirley Muldowney, and Janet Guthrie who opened the doors in auto racing for women.