When they chose him weeks ago to drive the pace car, officials and sponsors of the Indianapolis 500 could not have dreamed Donald Trump would become America's leading "birther" and perhaps the nation's most polarizing potential presidential candidate.

They did know that the celebrity they placed on a pedestal for the 100th anniversary race carried lots of baggage as a businessman and socialite and was the stuff of tabloids and standup comedy.

More appropriate candidates, big names from racing backgrounds, abounded. They might have drawn less attention to the event than the host of "The Apprentice;" but then, this could be an exception to the show business adage that there's no such thing as bad publicity.

Initiated by dubious race fans and joined by those who object to Trump's snarky speculation about President Barack Obama's origins and academic record, a clamor is building on Facebook and elsewhere to have the guest chauffeur fired.

He has his fans as well; and it is not as if being a flamboyant, controversial, even inflammatory politician disqualifies one from an entertainment extravaganza.

All of which leaves the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, its sponsors, and organizers of the 500 Festival Parade in a public relations quandary.

An IMS spokesman says his shop has gotten an earful from both sides and is "monitoring" the situation. A festival spokeswoman says it's customary to invite the guest pace car driver to ride in the parade, but stresses that this should not be taken as an endorsement of anyone's political views.

That's reasonable, especially given the fact that Trump's views were pretty much unknown back in early April and will be anyone's guess by Race Day.

Understandably, however, there are many who will not set aside the politics of a 100th anniversary honoree whose disparagement of the president has drawn national and local outcries. Trump and his defenders may insist he's no bigot, but there's no doubt his presence will bring double meaning to "race."

What to do? Trump's hosts, it would seem, are stuck. They invited him, he accepted. Trump, on the other hand, could extricate them from this predicament by begging off.

Consider it a business decision. If an employee of a Trump enterprise, regardless of motives, were bringing embarrassment and distraction to the company, what would the self-styled toughest boss in the nation say to him or her?

You guessed it. The Donald needs to hear it from himself.

REPRINTED FROM THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR