Panthers TE Olsen to drive pace car at NASCAR All-Star race
Posted May 18, 2016 7:00 am
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Panthers Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen received his certification to the drive the pace car this Saturday night at the Sprint Cup All-Star race, although not without a little scare first.
While Olsen was taking a spin at 120 miles per hour around Charlotte Motor Speedway Wednesday with Sprint Cup driver Matt DiBenedetto, they had to avoid a metal gate that swung open on the backside of the track.
DiBenedetto broke well in time to avoid any accident.
Olsen joked the ride was "way more stressful" than he thought it'd be and that "it's a good thing we have eight tight ends on the roster right now."
Eventually Olsen drove the pace car around the track himself - at a much slower speed - in preparation for Saturday night.
Carolina Panthers' Greg Olsen, left, listens to NASCAR driver Matt DiBenedetto, right, before taking test laps in the pace car during a news conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Olsen will lead the field at the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series All-Star Race on Saturday, May 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
The Associated Press
Carolina Panthers' Greg Olsen drives down the front stretch as he takes certification laps in the pace car during a news conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Olsen will lead the field at the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series All-Star Race on Saturday, May 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
The Associated Press
Carolina Panthers' Greg Olsen drives the pace car down pit road as he takes certification laps during a news conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Olsen will lead the field at the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series All-Star Race on Saturday, May 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
The Associated Press
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