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
Siblings trying to make US water polo teams for Paris Olympics
WALNUT, Calif. (AP) — Chase Dodd started swimming when he was just a kid. Once he began playing wate2024-05-21Roundup: Experts warn hunger, food insecurity rising in Africa
ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition are on the rise in Africa2024-05-21Kremlin calls Biden's remarks on Putin unacceptable
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. [Photo/Agencies]Russia condemned US President Joe Biden for compari2024-05-21Chinese company spurs economic revival in Botswana's mining town
GABORONE, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The setting up of Pipe World, a Chinese company that specializes in th2024-05-21NBA playoffs: Edwards leads Wolves to 98
DENVER (AP) — Anthony Edwards overcame a slow start and the Timberwolves roared back from a 20-point2024-05-21One year of war in Sudan, thousands killed, millions displaced amid imminent famine
KHARTOUM, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The deadly war in Sudan, leaving thousands of people dead and million2024-05-21
atest comment