IndyCar fans were locked in to watch the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday with Alex Palou on pole and drivers like Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist trying to take home the win.
But before the drivers fired up their engines, fans were left with a bit of a bewilderment during pre-race ceremonies.
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Fans walk through the tunnel to enter the interior of the track before race 107 of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 28, 2023. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Pop and country star Jewel performed «The Star-Spangled Banner» to a packed house at the legendary racetrack, but her rendition of the national anthem had fans scratching their heads.
The multi-platinum artist was named the singer of the anthem earlier this month.
«The singing of the national anthem before the green flag of the Indy 500 is an iconic and signature moment in the racing capital of the world,» Indianapolis Motor Speedway president J. Douglas Boles said in a press release on April 19. May.
Singer-songwriter Jewel speaks during day one of Kroger’s The Wellness Experience at The Banks on August 20, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Duane Prokop/Getty Images for The Kroger Wellness Experience)
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«For more than a century, we have gathered at IMS to salute our nation’s military heroes, and the performance of the national anthem is a tradition that reminds us all of their sacrifice and bravery. Jewel’s performance will be a memorable experience and heartwarming for fans to follow and watch from home on NBC.»
Palou started the race from pole position and entered the race at the top of the points standings.
Alex Palou leads the pack at the start of the Indianapolis 500 on May 28, 2023. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
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Marcus Ericsson is the current champion. He stopped O’Ward and Tony Kanaan in the race.