David Lindquist | IndyStar

Clark Wade, Clark.Wade@Indystar.com

Academy Award winners Matt Damon and Christian Bale will wave the green flag at the start of this year's Indianapolis 500.

Damon and Bale were announced Thursday as honorary starters for the 103rd running of the race on May 26.

The actors will participate in Indy 500 festivities to promote an upcoming film based on the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race.

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"Ford v. Ferrari," scheduled to arrive in theaters Nov. 15, is inspired by the quest of Henry Ford II to end Ferrari's dominance at Le Mans. Damon portrays car designer Carroll Shelby, and Bale portrays driver Ken Miles.

This will be the second time two people have shared Indy 500 green-flag honors. In 2017, Jake Gyllenhaal and Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman were in the flag stand to promote the film “Stronger.”

Damon, a best screenplay Oscar winner for 1997's "Good Will Hunting," is known for his acting in "The Departed," the Jason Bourne series of films and "Ocean's Eleven" movies. He earned Academy Award nominations for his work in "Good Will Hunting," "Invictus" and "The Martian."

Bale, a best supporting actor Oscar winner for 2010's "The Fighter," portrayed Batman in three films and his work in "Vice," "The Big Short" and "American Hustle" earned Academy Award nominations.

"The Indianapolis 500 is the largest single-day sporting event on Earth, so it’s fitting that global icons Matt Damon and Christian Bale will be in the flag stand on May 26 to send the field of 33 cars charging toward Turn 1," Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles said in a statement. "Matt and Christian are used to performing in the brightest spotlight so we know they will enjoy this special role at the world’s greatest race."

The Damon-Bale announcement means actors will wave the Indy 500 green flag for the fifth consecutive year, following Patrick Dempsey (2015), Chris Pine (2016), Gyllenhaal (2017) and Chris Hemsworth (2018).

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The 103rd running of the Indy 500 is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. May 26.