About 35 runners in the Boston Marathon who were denied the opportunity to cross the finish line April 15 because of the twin explosions ceremonially completed their race by crossing the most famous finish line in sports -- the Yard of Bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- minutes before the start of the 97th Indianapolis 500.

Boston Marathon participants from Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky and Michigan completed a half-mile run. All of the participants in the ceremonial run at IMS were halted short of the finish of the 26.2-mile race by officials after two explosions near the finish line on Boylston Street in Boston.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials extended the invitation for runners to the Boston Athletic Association, which contacted non-finishers in Indiana and surrounding states.

Pace Car driver Harbaugh 'loves everything' about the race

San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh welcomed some coaching from three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Johnny Rutherford in driving the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Pace Car around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Jim Harbaugh and Johnny Rutherford"First time I went around, I knew I had more work to do. Johnny Rutherford has been coaching me up," said Harbaugh, the ceremonial Pace Car driver for the Indy 500. "My confidence grew a lot once I got more practice."

Harbaugh, a co-owner of Panther Racing, quickly exited the vehicle following the pace laps on the 2.5-mile oval so Rutherford, the Pace Car driver for all INDYCAR events, could take over behind the wheel.

"I love everyting about (the race)," said Harbaugh, a former Indianapolis Colts quarterback who led the 49ers to the Super Bowl in February. "The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the greatest racing track that there is. You just love everything about it. So many things in terms of the tradition, you know, the people, the sport itself.

"The fact that they drink milk afterward. It's the trophy -- it is the best trophy there is in sports. Just there's so many things. The athletes that drive these cars -- I mean, the myth that these guys aren't athletes is just so far from the truth. It's to the point where you don't know how they do what they do. It doesn't seem doable what these guys do in a race car."

'This thing is crazy,' says honorary starter

Michael Pena, among the voice-over talents in the DreamWorks Animation feature film "Turbo," was the honorary starter. He grew up in Chicago, but this was his first year to attend the "500."

"I’m going to be coming back every year, because this is thing is crazy," he said. "The energy, it’s like a three-day party, to be honest.”

"Turbo," about a snail whose dream of competing in the Indianapolis 500 comes true after a freak accident gives him super speed, will be in theaters July 17.

Upcoming computer racing simulation to feature IZOD IndyCar Series

Image Space Incorporated has licensed the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the current Dallara IZOD IndyCar Series chassis for its upcoming rFactor 2 computer racing simulation.

Other iconic Indianapolis 500 cars to be added to the simulation include the Reynard 95i, March 86C, Eagle Mk4, Cooper T54 and Watson roadster.

Of note

Buddy Lazier's No. 91 car was renamed the "Spirit of Oklahoma." The team is hoping to use the race to raise money for the American Red Cross disaster relief efforts. Text REDCROSS to 90999, which lets you send a $10 donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund. ... Reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski was a visitor in the Team Penske garage in the morning. He flew to Charlotte, N.C., to compete in the stock car race at night. ... Cpl. Barry Walton was the passenger in the Honda "Fastest Seat in Sports" two-seater driven by Mario Andretti that paced the field before the green flag.