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IRL: McGehee and Unser ham it up on popular MTV show

17 December 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

McGehee, Unser serve as judges for upcoming episode of karaoke program

INDIANAPOLIS- Indy Racing League drivers Robby McGehee and Robby Unser saw their names in lights in New York last week when they appeared as celebrity judges for upcoming episodes of the hit show "Say What? Karaoke" on MTV.

The show, hosted by Dave Holmes, serves as a platform for courageous and crazy contestants to display their karaoke skills in front of a studio audience and panel of celebrity judges.

McGehee and Unser appeared on two episodes that will be televised on the week of Jan. 10. The show is broadcast at 5 p.m. (EST) daily Monday through Thursday of each week.. "The Robbys" hammed it up for fellow MTV fans but didnt sing a note.

1999 Indianapolis 500 Bank One Rookie of the Year McGehee put his judging skills to work in the "accuracy" category, picking which of the contestants sang, danced and looked the most similar to the actual singer or band. He sat on a panel with two other well-known athlete judges, including Tamika Davis of the WNBA and Ryan Jacklone, an in-line skating champion. "It was very entertaining, and the winner was actually very good," McGehee said.

1998 Indy Racing League Rookie of the Year Unser was involved in a different episode of the show, one that took a little walk on the wild side.

All three celebrity judges decided to dress up in crazy outfits for the show. Unser, wearing a pink wig and straw hat, judged the contestants overall performance along side Jeanette Lee, #2 billiard player in the world and Michael Weiss, a BMX world champion.

"We have enough of the good guys (in the Indy Racing League), so we need a few rebels," Unser said about his costume choice. "I had a great time doing the show. It was really a lot of fun."

Watch for McGehee and Unser - with his pink wig -- in their MTV debuts on "Say What? Karaoke" at 5 p.m. (EST) the week of Jan. 10, 2000.

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.