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.
Election 2024: Biden and Trump bypassed the Commission on Presidential Debates
Married at First Sight's love guru reveals the biggest faux pas people make on a first date
Steven Stamkos scores twice, Lightning avoid elimination with 6
Vanessa Feltz's love interest Stefan
A warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest was requested. But no decision was made about whether to issue it
Christine Quinn claims estranged husband Christian Richard put quarter
Anne Hathaway shares details about 'explicit' intimate scenes in her upcoming Prime Video rom
PSG fails to win the French league after drawing with struggling Le Havre
The government wants to buy their flood
Simbine upstages Coleman and Kerley to win 100
Children are evacuated from school 'during an exam' after threat made via email
Katie Price's Mucky Mansion is surrounded by her huge car collection