Dempsey was driving the No. 40 Mazda RX-8, and while returning to the track after a harmless spin in the final session, a Daytona Prototype slid off course and into the grass, directly into his path.

Dempsey normally races a Mazda RX-8 in the Rolex Grand-Am GT series. About the weekend and the difference in racecars, Dempsey said, “I’m thrilled to be able to race near my Los Angeles home.

At that time, Dempsey was dividing his time between starring on the ABC television drama, “Grey’s Anatomy,” acting in films and racing a Mazda RX-8 in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

Patrick will squeeze in the trip to France between racing his own Dempsey Racing Mazda RX-8 at Watkins Glen the week before and at Road America two weeks later.

Now we have video footage of the 787B’s exhibition run with Hollywood actor Patrick Dempsey, an avid Mazda fan and RX-8 racer and team owner in American’s Grand-AM series, sitting behind the ...