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. |
The Padres have put pitcher Yu Darvish on the 15Tip leads to arrest in cold case killing of offMegan Thee Stallion, Patricia Arquette, and Busy Philipps lead the pro9 facing charges in what Canada police say is biggest gold theft in country's historyClippers preparing to have Kawhi Leonard for Game 1 against MavericksJim Harbaugh takes fans inside his RV! New Chargers coach, who earns $16mSalvador Perez's homer lifts Royals over White Sox 4Mel B continues to fuel Spice Girls reunion rumours as she teases a tour: 'It's going to happen'9 facing charges in what Canada police say is biggest gold theft in country's historyMarquette hires Cara Consuegra away from Charlotte to replace Megan Duffy