Super Bowl XLI Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning will wave the green flag to start the 91st Indianapolis 500 on May 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. source: indycar.com The two-time National Football League MVP also will serve as grand marshal of the IPL 500 Festival Parade on May 26 in downtown Indianapolis. Manning led the Indianapolis Colts in the 2006-07 season to their first NFL championship, as the Colts beat the Chicago Bears 29-17 in the Super Bowl. Since joining the Colts as an NFL rookie in 1998, Manning has become one of America's most respected and beloved sports stars. "I am very honored to have been asked to serve as the grand marshal of the 2007 IPL 500 Festival Parade," Manning said. "I appreciate the grand tradition of the Indianapolis 500 and am excited to participate in the festivities surrounding the event." Manning holds several NFL passing records, including: touchdown passes in a single season (49 in 2004), most consecutive seasons with more than 4,000 yards passing (six, from 1999-2004), and most seasons with 4,000 or more yards passing in a career (seven). Manning has been selected to seven NFL Pro Bowls in his nine seasons with the Colts. He is also the only player in NFL history with more than 3,000 passing yards in each of his first nine seasons. "We're excited that Peyton Manning will wave the green flag to start the 91st Indianapolis 500," said IMS President Joie Chitwood. "His performance in the Colts' run to the Super Bowl secured his place among all-time Indiana sports legends, electrifying and uniting the entire community in a blue wave of Colts' team spirit. He also has been a great friend to the Speedway and greater Indianapolis since coming here in 1998." Known for his charitable contributions and humanitarian efforts, Manning and his Peyback Foundation have donated millions of dollars to help disadvantaged youth build a successful future. The Foundation accomplishes its mission by assisting established community-based programs and providing fundamental leadership and growth opportunities for kids. It focuses its efforts in a three-state region, including Indiana, Tennessee and Louisiana.
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