For party-goers, McMurray designates himself driver

INDIANAPOLIS -- When you're Jamie McMurray and Crown Royal is your sponsor, you have responsibilities: yeah, to drink a lot of Crown.

Ha, kidding, that's not true. J-Mac is way too into his health right now to be boozing it up before the Brickyard, so he offered to be sober driver Thursday night in Indianapolis for a handful of NASCAR fans too tipsy to scoot themselves home after a few Crown-infused beverages of their own.

As part of his sober driver initiative, McMurray piloted a No. 26 purple and gold Ford Fusion around the streets of downtown Indianapolis for a handful of fans who were able to chat up the driver from the back seat while he dropped them safely at their doorstep.

This sober reporter went along for the ride to see how McMurray handled the task.

Jamie McMurray returns a fan home safely in Indianapolis.

Q: So Jamie, what's the most annoying thing about being a sober designated driver?

McMurray: Well no one wants to be the sober driver, but probably realizing what idiots people are when they're drunk. And then thinking, man, I hope I'm not that annoying.

Q: What's in your purple velvet Crown Royal bag?

McMurray: Umm usually golf tees, golf balls.

Q: Do you drunk dial?

McMurray: Yeah that was something I did when I was younger, I think back then we called it a bootie call.

Q: What's your best hangover remedy?

McMurray: Exercise ... sweating it out.

Q: Brickyard weekend in Indianapolis is a huge party weekend. Where do you like to go when you're in town?

McMurray: Gosh, downtown Indianapolis is probably one of my favorite downtowns. I like to go to that dueling piano bar, Howl at the Moon.

Q: Everyone has a signature drink. What's yours?

McMurray: Crown and ginger ale mostly, but I do like to make the Crown Royal slushy from time to time.

Q: Your Crown Royal commercials where you learn how to become a cab driver are stellar. I heard something pretty funny happened while shooting in Concord, N.C.

McMurray: When we were filming, a lady was driving by and staring at us out the window and rear-ended the car in front of her. The whole set started cracking up. She was only going about 10 mph but it was still funny. I loved working with the guy who played the cab driver, mostly because I was about a foot taller than him and I'm never taller than anyone!

Q: Do you think you could ever be a cab driver?

McMurray: Nah, if I wasn't a racecar driver, I'd probably be a fabricator.

Q: What is your personal car and how does the Ford Fusion handle?

McMurray: I drive a black Ford Expedition, but I bought my mom a Fusion and she loves it. They're good cars.

Q: What was your last Crown-worthy moment and what are the chances you'll toast to a victory at the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday?

McMurray: My last Crown-worthy moment was my win in Daytona for sure. We were joking about the Brickyard and someone told me I should shave my head if I win. I said I'd pretty much do anything to win the Brickyard.