Griffey has been to Indianapolis Motor Speedway as a photographer and is eager to return to be a part of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
“Driving the pace car and leading the field to start the Indy 500 is one of the coolest experiences,” Griffey Jr. said in a news release. “I came to the track a few years ago as a photographer and look forward to seeing the race from a different perspective.”
Griffey, 54, hit 630 career home runs and earned 10 Gold Gloves as an outfielder while playing for the Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Griffey will drive the hybrid Corvette E-Ray, a 6.2-liter V-8 that comes with an electric motor to deliver an additional 160 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque through the front wheels to combine for 655 total horsepower.
The Corvette's electric all-wheel drive helps deliver speedy acceleration – from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds and a quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds. Its 'Stealth Mode' allows the sports car to run wholly on electric power for up to 4 miles at up to 45 mph.
Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. will be the honorary pace car
pace car
The safety car is driven by a professional driver (since 2000, by Bernd Mayländer), accompanied by a co-driver to assist with operations and communications.
What is the pace car for the 2024 Indy 500? It's a hybrid. The Speedway unveiled the Corvette E-Ray as this year's pace car. The 6.2-liter V-8 comes with an electric motor that delivers an additional 160 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque through the front wheels to combine for 655 total horsepower.
It was announced this week that the green flag wavers for the 2024 Indy 500 will be actors Austin Butler and Jodie Comer, who are promoting their new movie, "The Bikeriders," which will be in theaters in June.
Ken Griffey Jr., a renowned figure in the world of baseball, has established an impressive financial standing over the years. His net worth has soared to approximately $90 million as of 2024, making him one of the most financially successful personalities in baseball.
He finished out his career as a valuable bench player for the White Sox and Mariners before retiring early in the 2010 season. He finished with a .284 batting average, including 2,781 hits, 1,662 runs scored and 1,836 RBI. Griffey was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2016.
But Griffey and his wife, Melissa Griffey, are also at the center of their own ad with Geico. In it, they are happy homeowners, though they have an opinionated neighbor, who is shown to be an umpire. Here's what you need to know about the commercial.
After a rain delay, the 2024 Indy 500 green flag is scheduled to drop at 4:44 p.m. ET. McLaughlin is the +450 favorite in the latest 2024 Indy 500 odds. Newgarden, the defending Indy 500 champion, follows at +500, followed by Power and Kyle Larson at +650. Castroneves is among the intriguing Indy 500 longshots at 35-1.
General admission for the 2024 Indy 500 is listed at $60, but are $50 in advance. Tickets are currently as low as $52 on the secondary market. A general admission ticket will get you access to infield viewing mounds and different vantage points around the infield.
“We are proud to announce the E-Ray, which is the first electrified and quickest production Corvette ever, will be pacing the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500,” Scott Bell, Global Chevrolet Vice President said.
Since 1936, the winner of the race has traditionally been awarded a pace car. In some years, and in most cases for the past several decades, the winner is actually presented with one of the official street-legal pace car replicas.
The demolished front end has been restored, leaving no trace of the mayhem this Dodge Challenger caused, the terror it struck at the 1971 Indianapolis 500. It sits today in a warehouse in Fishers, low to the ground but long, sleek, its hood jutting over the grill like the overbite of a tiger shark.
Introduction: My name is Carlyn Walter, I am a lively, glamorous, healthy, clean, powerful, calm, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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