Scrubs' McGinley named grand marshal for Indy

NORTHBROOK, Ill. -- Actor John C. McGinley, best known for his role as the sarcastic Dr. Perry Cox on the long-running network comedy Scrubs, has been announced as grand marshal for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27.

NBC

John C. McGinley

This year will mark the historic 15th running of the race, one of the highest-profile events in all of motorsports, and will kick off a block of 17 consecutive Sprint Cup Series telecasts on ESPN and ABC.

As a guest of Allstate, McGinley will be on-site at the famed Brickyard to headline pre-race activities, including the ceremonial waving of the green flag. As a continued family tradition of the speedway, IMS Chairman of the Board Mari Hulman George will deliver the legendary command given before every motorsports event at the track, "Gentlemen, start your engines."

McGinley is most recently known for his role as Dr. Cox, the often critical and harsh senior attending physician and Residency Director on Scrubs. The Emmy and Peabody Award-winning comedy-drama, which has spent the past seven years as a staple on NBC's primetime comedy lineup, is moving to ABC this fall for its eighth season. McGinley's extensive film career includes feature roles in Platoon, Wall Street, Office Space, The Rock, Are We Done Yet? and Wild Hogs.

McGinley will take Brickyard grand marshal baton from Desperate Housewives' actor James Denton, who served in this role during last year's race.