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.
Justin Timberlake set to bring his The Forget Tomorrow World Tour to Australia in 2025
Xi visits political advisors, joins discussion at annual session
West accused of dragging Russia into arms race
Medics remove 150 MAGGOTS from a woman's mouth after dental procedure left her with rotting tissue
DPP authorities tell lies, conceal truth about fatal boat incident: Taiwan Affairs Office
Manila move a violation of sovereignty
West accused of dragging Russia into arms race
China envoy embarks on shuttle diplomacy
Cruise worker 'murders newborn son on board ship': Shocked co
Mainland, KMT seek common ground: Promoting exchange, opposing external interference