VIDEO: Gerard Butler tells Daytona drivers to start engines

"THIS IS DAYTONA!!!!''

Gerard Butler screamed the command to more than 100,000 fans, a tweaked version of the actor's famous ''This is Sparta'' line from the 2006 hit movie ''300.''

He gave the command for drivers to start their engines, and the Daytona 500 got under way a few minutes later.

Rookie Chase Elliott led the 40-car field to the green flag. Joey Logano is the defending champion