Staff report

USA TODAY Sports

INDIANAPOLIS -- The outspoken and controversial owner of the Dallas Mavericks and "Shark Tank" reality star Mark Cuban will serve as the honorary starter of this year's Indianapolis 500.

He is a former Indiana University student and technology expert who became a billionaire after he and a friend developed an audio Internet streaming system so they could listen to IU basketball games from afar.

ABC, which also airs ''Shark Tank,'' begins its coverage of Sunday's race at 11 a.m. ET.

Cuban, 55, has owned the Mavericks since 2000.

They were eliminated from this year's NBA playoffs in the first round, losing to the San Antonio Spurs in a best-of-seven series 4-3.

LeAnn Rimes is on tap to sing the National Anthem, and Jim Nabors has said this year will mark his final performance of ''Back Home Again in Indiana.''

Contributing: Curt Cavin, Indianapolis Star; The Associated Press







