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.
Saudi Arabia is going to sponsor the WTA women's tennis rankings under a new partnership
Capitol rioters' families draw hope from Trump's promise of pardons
Petrobras reaches highest market value in history: BRL 552 bi
Northern Irish political leader Jeffrey Donaldson quits over charges of historical sex offences
Mystery artist who erected signs comparing pothole
Tourism likely to raise BRL 9 bi during Carnival
VOX POPULI: Not everyone loves school lunch but it’s still vital for many
The fightback begins: Boss of London's Queen Mary University tells pro
Li Keqiang death: Former Chinese premier dead at 68 after heart attack, state media says
Yu Darvish extends scoreless innings streak to 25 in Padres' 9
Production of oil, natural gas hits record high in November