Keanu Reeves, driver of the No. 92 BRZRKR Toyota GR86, compiled respectable results in the Toyota GR Cup races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Photo: Logan Skidan | The Podium Finish)
SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Keanu Reeves may have aided Sandra Bullock with driving the bus over 50 mph in the 1994 film, Speed, but he finally dropped the hammer this past weekend in a Toyota GR86 racecar at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Reeves is no stranger to high speed thrills as he won the celebrity racing event during the 2009 Long Beach Grand Prix. However, this past weekend’s Toyota GR Cup races at Indianapolis marked his genuine, professional motorsports in the midst of the Indianapolis 8 Hour race, a pinnacle event for the SRO Motorsports Group.
Taking the wheel of the No. 92 BRZRKR Toyota GR86 fielded by Eagles Canyon Racing powered by Fast Track, Reeves picked up pace with each session. Despite posting the 32nd fastest time in the two practice sessions, the 60-year-old native of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, picked up the pace.
Qualifying 31st in the 33-car field for Race No. 1 on Saturday, Reeves drove up to 21st before spinning near Turns 8 and 9 with 21 minutes and 22 seconds left. About 13 minutes later, Reeves briefly moved up to 21st before finishing 25th, 1:32.459 behind race winner Gresham Wagner.
The 2024 Lance Reddick Legacy Award winner reflected on his pro racing debut with his usual charsima.
Keanu Reeves was tenacious in Race No. 1 of the Toyota GR Cup Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Photo: Jake Barton | The Podium Finish)
“The first race, last was a blast. And my thanks to Toyota, my thanks to Fast Track and my thanks to Eagles Canyon Racing,” Reeves said.
Last Sunday’s event, Race No. 2 of the weekend, had a promising premise for Reeves as he qualified 29th. Methodical and calculative, Reeves steadily worked his way up the leaderboard like a skillful racer.
Just 17 minutes and four seconds into the 45-minute race, Reeves worked his way up to 25th. Inside the final 15 minutes, Reeves tenaciously battled Cody Jones. Dogging Jones, known as “The Tall Man” from Dude Perfect, a sports and comedy entertainment group, Reeves capitalized on the Texan’s bobble in Turn 13.
Once the 45-minute race wrapped up, Reeves placed 24th, trailing Wagner, the winner, by 1:31.201. While Reeves may have been flashy in Race No. 1, he showcased maturity and poise last Sunday.
Keanu Reeves was not at Indianapolis to simply use his celebrity status, but to be a genuine competitor. (Photo: Jake Barton | The Podium Finish)
Driving a nearly flawless race with limited experience in a Toyota GRR Cup racecar, Reeves embraced his maiden professional motorsports journey at the hallowed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Signing autographs and taking photos with fans to his effort in his Toyota GR86 car, Reeves, a racing aficionado, truly got the need for speed unlike Jack Travern, his character in Speed.
Before taking off to Los Angeles for a 30th anniversary screening of the hit action film with Bullock, Reeves reflected on his love of motorsports. True to his laid-back persona, he kept his thoughts straightforward and lighthearted.
“I don’t know. It’s fun. Racing’s fun. Everyone says it’s fun and it’s fun,” Reeves simply stated.
