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The Chevrolet Corvette has served as the official pace car of the Indy 500 18 times since 1978. That accounts for half of the 32 times that Chevrolet has been given the honor since 1948, which only highlights the sports car’s endearing legacy. Interestingly enough, this C8 Corvette convertible is the first Indy 500 pace car to have a drop-top since the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro.
2009 marked the 16th time that Chevrolet has paced the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and the fifth consecutive time Corvette has led the pack. Chevrolet's pacing tradition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway also extends to the Indianapolis 500 where Chevrolet has paced that esteemed race 20 times with Corvette leading the field 10 times.
A 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 led the starting field of the 96th Indianapolis 500 to the green flag Sunday, May 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. With 638 horsepower, the Corvette ZR1 is the most powerful production car ever to serve as the Pace Car during the Indianapolis 500. Restaurateur, best-selling author and host of the Food Network’s hit show “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” Guy Fieri was the driver.
The 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport served as the official Pace Car for the 101st Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil and led drivers to the green flag on May 28. 2017 marked the 14th time a Corvette has served as the Indianapolis 500 Pace Car, starting in 1978, and the 28th time a Chevrolet has led the field, dating back to 1948, when a 1948 Fleetmaster Six convertible paced the race.
The 2023 Corvette Z06 pace car uses the same 670-horsepower 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 as the road-going version. It has the Z07 Performance Package that has additional features like Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 calibrations, carbon-fiber wheels with Michelin Sport Cup 2 R ZP tires, and carbon-ceramic brakes. The pack also adds carbon pieces to the body.
NEXTEL Cup drivers Tony Raines and Jeff Green, along with hundreds of fans in Daytona Intemational Speedway's acclaimed NEXTEL FANZONE, got the first look at the 2007 Daytona 500 pace car with a special unveiling during the NASCAR Jackson Hewitt Preseason ‘Thunder Fan Fest. Corvettes were also used as Track cars and other support vehicles during the event activities at that years Daytona Speed Weeks. Corvettes were also used as Track cars and other support vehicles.
Known for their charismatic designs and superior performance, the pack-leading Pace Cars share a special place in Indianapolis 500 lore. History was made at the 2008 Indianapolis 500 when a pair of distinctive yet highly differentiated Corvette models served as the Official Pace Cars — one highlighting a commitment to fuel solutions and the other marking 30 years of Corvette's Pace Car heritage.
The all-new, seventh-generation 2014 Corvette Stingray served as the Indianapolis 500 Pace Car, leading the field to green at the start of the 97th running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” on Sunday, May 26 2013. It marked a record 12th time the Corvette served as the Pace Car, starting in 1978. Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, drove the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Pace Car
2008 Corvette Daytona Pace Car
With defending Daytona 500 Champion Kevin Harvick at the unveiling, surrounded by Chevrolet, General Motors and Daytona International Speedway officials, hundreds watched the much-anticipated unveiling of the 2008 Corvette Z06 Daytona 500 Pace Car ~ the Official Pace Car of The Daytona 500, NASCAR's biggest race. Apart from its special paint and the addition of a integrated light bar, it is almost identical to the street version.
1993 ZR-1 COrvette
The C4 ZR-1 Corvette, even some 30 years after its initial year of production, carries indisputable performance merit, the likes of which few can deny. In fact, the ZR-1 is often cited as the car which helped fend off threats, both foreign and domestic in origin, to the Corvette's elite performance car status. However, after only 6,939 ZR-1 Corvettes were built, and 6 years of production had passed, the program was terminated, falling victim to decisions regarding pricing.