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.
Bella Hadid goes braless in a thigh
Billy Baldwin mercilessly MOCKS wife Chynna Phillips's 'luxury life'
Pennsylvania school district's decision to cut song from student concert raises concerns
In Cannes, Francis Ford Coppola talks Trump, self
Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to Maryland ban on rifles known as assault weapons
Scottie Scheffler is back to business as usual as the World No 1 shoots opening four
Peterka has goal, 3 assists in Germany's 8
Hundreds of people flock to Ireland
A warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest was requested. But no decision was made about whether to issue it
Transgender girl faces discrimination from a Mississippi school's dress code, ACLU says
Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection after closing some restaurants
Some of the Catholic Church's best