LeBron James named honorary starter for 24 Hours of Le Mans

By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer

LE MANS, France (AP) — NBA superstar LeBron James has been named the official starter for the centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend. This year it is welcoming American teams to the world’s most prestigious endurance race. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer says he’s honored to be included in the celebration of 100 years at Le Mans. The role of honorary starter has since 1949 typically been given to a celebrity. Previous honorary starters include Rafael Nadal, Brad Pitt and Steve McQueen. The twice-round-the-clock race begins Saturday.