Colin Powell to drive pace car at Indy.

Former U.S. Secretary of State General Colin L. Powell will drive the pace car in the parade laps of this year's Indianapolis 500.

"We're honoured that such a distinguished American as General Powell will drive the Corvette pace car since honouring the sacrifice of America's military heroes is such an important part of the tradition of this event and Memorial Day weekend," said Joie Chitwood, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and chief operating officer.

Secretary of State from January 2001 to January 2005, Powell has also served as the chairman of America's Promise-The Alliance for Youth, a national crusade to improve the lives of the nation's youth, and wrote "My American Journey," his best-selling autobiography. Before that, he served as a key aide to the Secretary of Defence and as national security adviser to President Reagan.

He also served 35 years in the United States Army, rising to the rank of four-star general and serving as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989-93). During this time, he oversaw 28 crises, including the Panama intervention of 1989 and Operation Desert Storm in the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

"I am very excited and looking forward to driving the Corvette pace car to lead the field at the Indy 500," General Powell said. "It is a great American tradition, and I am honoured to be a part of it."