Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. to lead Indianapolis 500 field in Corvette pace car
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.
Related articles
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf is spotted on the streets of Gavin and Stacey's hometown Barry
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf has shocked onlookers after being spotted on the streets of Barry in Wal2024-05-21Marston's losses narrow amid hopes of summer sporting calendar boost
Marston's expects major sporting events to revive sales this summer as the pub operator posted anoth2024-05-218 watches owned by F1 great Michael Schumacher fetch more than $4 million at auction in Geneva
GENEVA (AP) — Eight watches belonging to auto racing icon Michael Schumacher sold Tuesday for nearly2024-05-21Top US and Chinese officials begin talks on AI in Geneva
GENEVA (AP) — Top envoys from the U.S. and China huddled in closed-door talks in Geneva on Tuesday t2024-05-21Mystery artist who erected signs comparing pothole
A defiant resident infuriated by the potholes in their road has taken revenge on the council by erec2024-05-21Former University of Missouri frat member pleads guilty in hazing that caused brain damage
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A former member of a University of Missouri fraternity has pleaded guilty in th2024-05-21
atest comment