Rice visits White House, meets Bush.
Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice and members of Rahal Letterman Racing visited the White House on Monday to meet with United States President George W. Bush.
After a photo opportunity on the South Lawn of the White House with the President, the Indianapolis 500-winning car and the Borg Warner Trophy, Rice and his Rahal Letterman teammates were invited into the Oval Office for a 10-minute tour of the President's office.
Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice and members of Rahal Letterman Racing visited the White House on Monday to meet with United States President George W. Bush.
After a photo opportunity on the South Lawn of the White House with the President, the Indianapolis 500-winning car and the Borg Warner Trophy, Rice and his Rahal Letterman teammates were invited into the Oval Office for a 10-minute tour of the President's office.
"This was pinnacle," said Rice, who was the first Indianapolis 500 winner to visit the White House since Rick Mears visited George H. W. Bush, the current President's father, in 1991 . "For the leader of the free world to take time out his busy day to meet with me and Rahal Letterman Racing is outstanding. I can't thank him enough."
Rice gave President Bush a replica helmet and a model IndyCar Series car. He also participated in an "Ask The White House" chat session, joining Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip and Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan as the only sports figures to participate in the chat.
