INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. will drive the pace car for the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.
Griffey has attended “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in his second career as a photographer, but now his job will be much more visible. He’ll be behind the wheel of the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray that brings the field of 33 cars — led by record-setting pole sitter Scott McLaughlin — to the green flag at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“Driving the Pace Car and leading the field to start the Indy 500 is one of the coolest experiences,” Griffey said Monday. “I came to the track a few years ago as a photographer and look forward to seeing the race from a different perspective.”
The pace car driver has been a coveted job among athletes, actors and other celebrities since the 1970s, when actor James Garner and singer Marty Robbins handled it. Others that have driven the car include Jay Leno, Morgan Freeman and Patrick Dempsey and, in more recent years, NBA players Victor Oladipo and Tyrese Haliburton.
Minnesota Uber and Lyft driver pay package beats deadline to win approval in Legislature
BMW to further invest $2.8 bln in NE China production base
Taylor Swift celebrates the success of The Tortured Poets Department with behind
Two Iraqi military bases bombed by unknown aircraft near Baghdad
Insider Q&A: CIA's chief technologist's cautious embrace of generative AI
Indonesian and Singaporean leaders hold annual talks, joined this year by their successors
Ashley Graham puts on a busty display and shows off her curves in a plunging bathing suit in Cannes
BMW to further invest $2.8 bln in NE China production base
Mohammad Mokhber: Who is Iran’s acting president?
Bayer Leverkusen's late escapes are keeping Xabi Alonso's team unbeaten this season
Not so Cool Britannia! Noel Gallagher gives damning verdict on Keir Starmer
Two Iraqi military bases bombed by unknown aircraft near Baghdad