Mind Power: Daytona 500 2014: Start time, lineup, TV schedule, live streaming

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Daytona 500 2014: Start time, lineup, TV schedule, live streaming - USA TODAY

Daytona International Speedway hosts the 56th annual Great American Race Sunday.(Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)

Story Highlights

Actor Gary Sinise will wave the green flag at 1:30 p.m. ET
Jimmie Johnson won both races at Daytona last year
Rookie Austin Dillon will start on the pole in the iconic No. 3 car

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — It's NASCAR race day at Daytona International Speedway, and we've got some essential information you need to get ready for the biggest race of 2014: the Daytona 500.

START TIME: Chris Evans, the Captain America actor, will instruct drivers to start their engines at 1:18 p.m. Eastern time. Then, after a few pace laps, actor Gary Sinise will wave the green flag at 1:30 p.m. ET. So if you want to skip the pre-race show and just tune in for the actual event, flip on your TV at 1:30 p.m.

RACE DISTANCE: The Daytona 500 is a 500-mile race around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway, which will require drivers to complete 200 laps. This is the 56th annual Daytona 500.

NATIONAL ANTHEM: Aloe Blacc, whose voice was heard on Avicii's smash Wake Me Up and also has a solo hit with I'm The Man, will perform the anthem prior to today's race.

ON THE VERGE: Blacc has the 'Spirit' of a star

TV/RADIO SCHEDULE: FOX will broadcast today's race and has a pre-race show beginning at noon ET. The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will call the race on the radio.

LIVE STREAMING: If you aren't able to get in front of a TV, you can still watch the race for free on the FOX Sports Go app. No authentication is required for today's race.

VIEWERS' GUIDE: How to watch the Daytona 500

WEATHER: The unofficial NASCAR weatherman, Brian Neudorff, said temperatures should be in the 70s with a chance of scattered showers developing in the late afternoon. Neudorff said there's an 80% chance the race will get started on time.

LAST TIME: Jimmie Johnson opened up his eventual sixth championship season by winning his second Daytona 500. Then, in July, Johnson returned to Daytona for the Coke Zero 400 and won again.

STARTING LINEUP: Austin Dillon will start from the pole using the No. 3 car — the first time the 3 has appeared in a Sprint Cup Series race since Dale Earnhardt died in the 2001 Daytona 500.

Here's the starting lineup for today's Daytona 500: