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. |
East China City Offers Support to Families with Multiple ChildrenSpring Ploughing and Seedling Raising Start in SW China's GuizhouHexi District of Tianjin Sets up University for Senior CitizensPeople Enjoy Chinese Lunar New Year Holiday Across ChinaNingbo Holds Series of Activities to Enrich Night Life of Citizens, TouristsAcross China: Competition in SW China's Chongqing Inspires Students to Innovate, Start businessesChina Records 226 Mln Passenger Trips in Spring Festival HolidayTourists Take Part in Lantern Parade to Celebrate Chinese New Year in E China's AnhuiSpring Ploughing and Seedling Raising Start in SW China's GuizhouPeople Greet Longtaitou Day Across China