Rain delays start of NASCAR's Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - It's raining at Daytona International Speedway, delaying the start of the Daytona 500.

NASCAR officials pushed back the start of the race about a half hour before the green flag was scheduled to drop.

They intend to wait as long as possible and try to get the 500-mile race in Sunday. The track takes about two and a half hours to dry, but the process can't be started until it stops raining. No Daytona 500 has ever been postponed.

The forecast calls for intermittent showers most of the afternoon, and even worse weather is on tap for Monday.

NASCAR went ahead with driver introductions and the national anthem, so once the track is dry racing can commence.

NASCAR says Fox is committed to broadcast the race Sunday, even it means going head to head with the NBA All-Star game and the Oscars.