TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 15 (UPI) -- President Bush, having started the Daytona 500 with a hearty, "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines," ended Sunday at an expensive Tampa, Fla. restaurant.
Bush watched about 102 of the 200 race laps from the stands before embarking again on Air Force One, swooping low over the race track on the way out just as the plane had done on the way in, United Press International reported.
The president did two broadcast interviews at the track and in one, said he was a surprised as anyone to see that superstar Alex Rodriguez appeared to be leaving the team he ran, the Texas Rangers, for the New York Yankees.
The president had dinner at a steak house with former Florida Gov. Bob Martinez, former Tampa Mayor Dick Grego and White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card.
Monday President Bush visits a Tampa business firm for a discussion of the economy with its employees.
