DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Jay Leno, Angie Harmon, a pair of Olympic gold medalists and two standing ovations turned a routine NASCAR driver meeting into a gala affair at the Daytona 500.

The celebrities turned out for NASCAR's biggest race of the year Sunday, filling a vacant garage to capacity as the drivers were given instructions before their season-opener.

The meeting, routinely lasting about five minutes at most events, went more than 20 as NASCAR president Mike Helton took time to recognize the stars. The Daytona 500 is the one NASCAR race each year that draws glitz and glamour.

Leno, host of The Tonight Show and an avid car collector, was introduced as the pace car driver for the start of the race.

Harmon, an actress formerly from "Law & Order" drew the most attention from the drivers and the biggest gaffe from Helton, who mistakenly introduced husband Jason Sehorn of the New York Giants as "Jason Shelton."

"I guess I was daydreaming and getting ready to change his name to Helton because of Angie," he said over a roar of laughter. "It's just one of those things, I know."

Ross Powers and Kelly Clark, snowboarding gold medalists, were introduced and drew a standing ovation from the drivers.

"I've never been to a race and I don't know much about it," Clark said. "I hear this is a pretty good race to come to."

The second standing ovation came when Helton thanked driver Dave Marcis for his contribution to the sport. Marcis made his 33rd and final start in Sunday's race. He's retiring after the race.

The meeting was not without its usual formalities. There was a strict emphasis on safety -- race director David Hoots urged the drivers to use their hand signals to communicate, check their rearview mirrors often and "tighten your seat belts every chance you get."

"This is the first race of the 2002 season, let's all show good respect and judgment and have a good race," he said.