Packers’ Jayrone Elliott goes for ride with Mario Andretti

Elkhart Lake – Green Bay Packers linebacker Jayrone Elliott wasn't quite sure what he was getting himself into. The only thing he knew for sure was it was going to be a tight squeeze.

But it's not every day you're offered a ride in a two-seat Indy-car with Mario Andretti.

"When I was getting the details of it, they said I had to be 250 to get in the car, so I went and hit the sauna last night and tried to lose an extra couple pounds," said Elliott, who the Packers list at 6-foot-3, 255 pounds.

"I kind of did my research on it last night," said Elliott, who was offered the opportunity by marketing agent Mark Mayfield. "He told me Mario was a legend, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I took advantage of it."

Elliott admittedly knew little about racing or about Road America before he showed up for the advance day for Sunday's Kohler Grand Prix.

He was a tight squeeze in the stretched Honda-powered Dallara, especially compared to the Indy-car and Formula One champion in the seat ahead.

But Elliott wriggled out wearing a broad smile.

"It was smooth sailing," Elliott said. "Somebody told me it was going to be kind of like a roller coaster. I don't really like roller coasters, so I was nervous, but once we got going it was fun."

Most impressive?

"We was going probably 200 miles an hour and he just stopped on a dime at a corner," Elliott said. "I didn't expect that. But it was fun."

The 76-year-old Andretti regularly drives the two-seater used for promotional purposes by the Verizon IndyCar Series.

"I take the thing to the limit, as far as it'll go, but obviously keep it safe," Andretti said. "I don't keep much on the table. That's what I enjoy."

Andretti, considered alongside A.J. Foyt as one of the two greatest drivers of the 20th century, won five times on the 4.048-mile Road America layout.

Among Andretti's passengers have been contest-winners, media members and celebrities.

"The last one was Lady Gaga at Indianapolis and she quite the trouper actually because she too didn't know what to expect and it was almost a last-minute situation and she just loved it," Andretti said. "She has a wonderful voice. I thought she was singing the national anthem, but no, she was screaming."

Elliott, Andretti added, didn't scream.

Initially Elliott said he'd tune in to the NBC Sports broadcast Sunday if he could. He later talked with a series representative about attending the race. But even if Elliott doesn't make it, Wednesday was worth the trip for the ride with Andretti.

"It's definitely always good to be around a legend," Elliott said. "Hopefully he's a Packers fan." Dave Kallmann/JSOnline