The Indy 500's 12-hour blitz: 33 drivers in 17 cities

Thirty-three IZOD IndyCar Series drivers. Twelve hours. Seventeen cities.

By air, automobile, bicycle and boat, the drivers who comprise the starting lineup for the 96th Running of the Indianapolis 500 fanned out across the country May 21 to meet media and fans (see some photos below).

There were fun events, such as Graham Rahal karting in Manhattan, Takuma Sato preparing an onion volcano at a Japanese steak house in Columbus, Ohio, pole sitter Ryan Briscoe karting in Charlotte, N.C., against an AJ Allmendinger-led team, and Marco Andretti and JR Hildebrand guests on "Good Morning America" and other media outlets in New York.

Watch: Graham Rahal karting in NYC || Read: Team Briscoe wins karting challenge

Not to be outdone, Rubens Barrichello, Katherine Legge and Oriol Servia taking a relaxing boat trip on the Detroit River and toured Belle Isle – site of the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix a week after the “500.”

IZOD IndyCar Series points leader Will Power joined Scott Dixon and Charlie Kimball for some on-set antics at a Birmingham, Ala., TV station, and reigning series champion Dario Franchitti toured part of the American History Museum in Washington, D.C.

In Fort Worth, Texas, more than 5,000 Northwest ISD students filled the stands of Texas Motor Speedway in hopes of walking away the winner of a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro as part of the district's academic achievement incentive program.

Freshman Matt Boyd left the track the big man on campus as he successfully unlocked the driver’s side door. Winning the car was just part of the fun for Boyd as Indy 500 front-row starter James Hinchcliffe helped him break in his new ride. They jumped into the car for a ceremonial victory lap around the 1.5-mile oval.

"Man, has high school changed since I was a kid," Hinchcliffe said. "I guarantee you if there was a Chevrolet Camaro on the line when I was in school, I'd have perfect grades and perfect attendance.”

The IZOD IndyCar Series returns to Texas Motor Speedway on June 8-9 for the Firestone 550.

In Milwaukee, Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing’s Josef Newgarden and Bryan Clauson had a run-in with the Milwaukee Police Department’s Bike Squad. Nothing illegal on their part.

They learned what it takes to police the streets on two wheels.

The drivers mingled with the crowd in the Third Ward, a popular downtown area of restaurants and shops.

Clauson bravely volunteered to allow the officers to demonstrate the “Dutch technique” in which two officers confront a suspect from behind, with one swinging his bike around to the front and grab the individual in a choke hold.

Clauson came away laughing and unscathed.

The IZOD IndyCar Series returns to the Milwaukee Mile on June 15-16 for the Milwaukee IndyFest.