Buddy Rice

Albert "Buddy" Rice, born January 31, 1976, is an American former race car driver whose career highlights include winning the 2004 Indianapolis 500 and the 2009 24 Hours of Daytona. Rice's path to professional racing began in go-karts at age 11, influenced by his father's background in drag racing and his grandfather's passion for the sport. He initially balanced racing with baseball in high school, but chose to focus on motorsports, starting professionally in 1996 in the U.S. F2000 series.

Rice's career progressed through the ranks, with notable achievements including the 2000 Toyota Atlantic Championship. He transitioned to the IndyCar Series in 2002, showcasing immediate potential with a second-place finish in his debut race. His most significant victory came in 2004 at the Indianapolis 500, driving for Rahal Letterman Racing. Beyond IndyCar, Rice also competed in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, where he secured a win at the 2009 24 Hours of Daytona with Brumos Racing.