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. |
China biggest contributor of green technologies: WIPO chiefMore Southeast Asians trust Chinese firmsArtists take part in art competition in Vancouver, CanadaColorful lights and lanterns light up to celebrate upcoming Lunar New Year in SingaporeChinese private space company joins Taobao to experiment delivering onPeople in traditional costumes celebrate traditional Flower Festival in FujianVillagers rehearse dragon and lion dance in Andi Village, ShanxiAI crucial to NEV supremacy, agree auto execsPeople in traditional costumes celebrate traditional Flower Festival in FujianApple CEO highlights Chinese supplier's contribution to carbon emission reduction