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
Why US Catholics are planning pilgrimages in communities across the nation
A long-planned series of Catholic pilgrimages has begun across the United States this weekend, with2024-05-21Gujarat crashes to 89 all out against Delhi, loses IPL game by 6 wickets at home
AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — Gujarat Titans crashed to their lowest-ever score of 89 as Delhi Capitals no2024-05-21Meghan's fruity flop? Only THREE unfamous faces out of 50 chosen jam
So, who is Number One?That's the burning question, now that Meghan Markle has launched the first off2024-05-21North Carolina University system considers policy change that could cut diversity staff
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The future of diversity, equity and inclusion staff jobs in North Carolina’s pu2024-05-21Jessica Biel CHOPS her long locks into a bob after book signing in Studio City
Jessica Biel unveiled a dramatic hair transformation - from chest-length locks to a short bob - on S2024-05-21Alaska Airlines has brief ground stop due to technical issue
SEATTLE (AP) — Alaska Airlines briefly grounded all flights Wednesday due to a technical issue.The S2024-05-21
atest comment