IZOD IndyCar's Katherine Legge Supports Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race

by Edmund Jenks | April 5, 2012 at 04:13 pm

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IZOD IndyCar's Katherine Legge Supports Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race

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IZOD IndyCar Driver Katherine Legge Supports Toyota Pro Celebrity Race Drivers

Lotus Dragon Racing driver Katherine Legge joined Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race competitors in Long Beach, Calif., on April 3 to promote the 38th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 13-15.

"I'm really looking forward to that one," said Legge, an IZOD IndyCar Series rookie who won the 2005 Atlantic Championship race on the scenic temporary street circuit and competed there in Champ Car in 2006 and '07.

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Actors, performers and athletes compete against professional race car driver in the 10-lap sprint around the 1.97-mile circuit in identical race-ready Scion tCs. The green flag waves with the pros - this year including Firestone Indy Lights driver Bryan Clauson -- starting 24 seconds behind the celebrity field.

The charity event benefits Racing For Kids (autograph signed helmet added for auction to the highest bidder).

This year’s field will compete in what has become the world’s longest-running, most prestigious celebrity racing event, and includes the following popular entertainment, media and sports personalities:

• Jillian Barberie Reynolds-Television personality and co-host of Emmy Award-winning, top rated Fox morning show “Good Day LA” for the past 15 years.

• Adrien Brody-Best Actor Oscar winner for his role in “The Pianist.” Other film credits include, “King Kong,” “The Village,” “Darjeeling Limited,” “Summer of Sam.” Most recently seen on screen in Woody Allen’s Academy Award–winning “Midnight in Paris” and “Detachment.”

• Adam Carolla-Well-known comedian and host of acclaimed comedy podcast “Adam Carolla Show”. Co-creator of “The Man Show” and currently a contestant on “The Celebrity Apprentice”.

• Kate del Castillo-Mexico’s most acclaimed actress, best known for her starring role in long-running miniseries “La Reina del Sur.” Other roles include “Muchachitas,” “Under the Same Moon,” “Trade” and a guest appearance on the Showtime series “Weeds.” She was named by People en Español as one of its “50 most beautiful.”

• Eddie Cibrian-Television and film actor best known for roles in “CSI: Miami,” “Ugly Betty,” “Vanished,” “Invasion,” “Third Watch,” “Sunset Beach,” “The Playboy Club” and “Baywatch Nights.” He next appears in the Tyler Perry movie “Good Deeds.”

• Kim Coates-Film and television actor known for his intense performances in “Sons of Anarchy,” “Resident Evil: Afterlife” and “Black Hawk Down.” He will be seen on the big screen in the upcoming movies “Goon” and “The Truth.”

• Eileen Davidson-Actress beloved for more than 20 years as Ashley Abbot on “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.” She also appeared in “Days of Our Lives” and “Santa Barbara” and has written a series of mystery novels.

• Hill Harper-The acclaimed television, film and stage actor currently stars in the hit crime-procedural “CSI: NY.” He is an author and Harvard grad who has appeared in “For Colored Girls,” “The Handler,” “City of Angels,” “Loving Jezebel” and “The Visit.”

• Brody Jenner-The reality-TV star was a central character in “The Hills” and has appeared in his stepsisters’ show “Kourtney & Kim Take New York.” His Olympic athlete father, Bruce, has driven in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race five times, winning twice.

• Cain Velasquez-Former UFC Heavyweight champion, Velasquez has lost only one fight in his professional career. The Mexican-American mixed martial artist has appeared on the Spanish-language TV networks Telemundo and Univision.

• Rutledge Wood-The host of “Top Gear USA” is also an auto-racing analyst on the Speed Channel.

Pros vying for the title include Scion drift driver Fredric Aasbø; former USAC National Midget champion and 2012 driver of Toyota-powered USAC teams, Bryan Clauson; and Jim Jonsin, Grammy award–winning record producer, “American Idol” mentor and owner of Rebel Rock Racing.

“It’s been astonishing to see how many entertainers and sports personalities have been transformed by the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race—not just by the event itself, but by the fact that it benefits chronically ill children. I have yet to meet a participant who hasn’t been appreciative and sincerely affected by the children’s hospital visit that we organize ahead of race day,” said Les Unger, Toyota’s national motorsports manager. “It’s one of the reasons that this race remains such an immense draw for celebrities and athletes—and for the fans who get to see their favorite stars really having a ball. Honestly, I don’t know who has more fun—the drivers or the spectators.”

Rounding out the field are charity auction winners Doug Fregin, co-founder and former vice president of operations for Research in Motion (RIM), and nightclub owner Jerry Westlund. The final seat on the track, reserved each year for a Southern California Toyota dealer, is being filled by Biff Gordon, general manager of Quality Toyota, in Corona, Calif.

The race is April 14, complementing IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights qualifications and the numerous off-track activities for ticket buyers.

... notes from The EDJE