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.
Jessica Biel CHOPS her long locks into a bob after book signing in Studio City
Drama teacher, 78, at prestigious £51,000
At least 20 dead after a ferry sinks in Central African Republic, witnesses say
Cruise worker 'murders newborn son on board ship': Shocked co
London police apologize after threatening to arrest 'openly Jewish' man near pro
John Sterling honored by Yankees for 36 seasons and 5,631 games as radio voice
Shooting injures 2 at Missouri high school graduation ceremony
Student fatally shot, suspect detained at Georgia's Kennesaw State University
Jordan Montgomery shines in his delayed season debut with the Diamondbacks