By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

NEWPORT - Sarah Fisher will drive her Chevy from the Levee to the ballgame Thursday as part of a daylong promotion for Sunday's Belterra Casino Indy 300 at the Kentucky Speedway.

Fisher, Scott Sharp, Robbie Buhl and other professional drivers slated to compete in Sunday's Indy Racing League event will appear at the Festival of Speed, which runs from noon to 10 p.m. at Newport on the Levee.

After a 5 p.m. autograph session featuring the drivers - Fisher, who drives a car equipped with a Chevy engine - will take an Indy race car modified for street travel from Newport on the Levee's east parking lot across the Taylor-Southgate Bridge and over to Great American Ball Park, where she will deliver the game ball for the Reds-Arizona Diamondbacks game.

"We're always looking for opportunities to create excitement about the race and bring racing to the people" said speedway spokesman Tim Bray.

"This event gives people a chance to not only meet some of the league's best drivers, but with the simulators and interactive displays we'll have at the levee, fans can also see what its like to drive an Indy car at 200 mph and to see how hard is to change the tire on an Indy car in just a few seconds."

Other festival events and activities include:

• The Fan Experience, which includes a racing simulator, a pit stop challenge and an area for kids.

• Live music from Robin Lacy & DeZydeco and the Big Ham Blues Band.

• Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford will sign copies of his autobiography, Lonestar Jr., at 7 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble bookstore.

If you go

What: Kentucky Speedway Festival of Speed

Where: Newport on the Levee, Newport, Ky.

When: Noon-10 p.m. Thursday.

What: Interactive displays, race simulator, driver autograph sessions, live music

Information: 888-652-RACE, www.kentuckyspeedway.com, www.newportonthelevee.com

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E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com