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.
Inquiry slams UK authorities for failures that killed thousands in infected blood scandal
Barcelona extend Cubarsí contract to 2027
EMILY PRESCOTT: Emma Stone's got a black belt in red carpet appearances
Kanye West, 46, and wife Bianca Censori, 29, stop at Denny's for low
Bella Hadid goes braless in a thigh
Mariners get fine start from Luis Castillo, use late charge to rally past Orioles 4
Fans joke Eddie Howe's Newcastle assistant Jason Tindall 'needs to LEARN' from Kevin Nolan
Heavy rains set off flash floods in northern Afghanistan, killing at least 84 people
Yvette Fielding says her Most Haunted co
Why US Catholics are planning pilgrimages in communities across the nation
Musa scores a goal, Paes has 7 saves as Dallas and Dynamo tie 1