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In 2005, the Corvette was chosen as the official pace car of the 47th Daytona 500. The car was based on a 2005 production model Corvette and it presented an excellent opportunity for the 2005 Corvette to showcase its true capabilities. The pace car was designed to honor the heritage of the historic Corvette race cars of yesteryear. It was finished in millennium yellow with over-the-top black racing stripe that runs from the hood to the trunk lid. It is powered by a 6.0L V-8 LS2 engine with 400 horsepower.
2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Daytona 500 Pace Car
The Corvette Z06 that served as the Daytona 500 pace car was mechanically identical to those available at Chevrolet dealerships. It was the fastest vehicle ever offered by Chevrolet and General Motors. With 505 horsepower (377 kw) and 470 lb.-ft. of torque (637 Nm) from its 7.0L all-aluminum, racing-inspired engine, the Corvette Z06 leaps from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 198 mph. The Corvette Z06 Daytona 500 wears a unique paint scheme.
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.
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.
A Torch Red 2020 Corvette Stingray coupe will serve as the Official Pace Car for the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, continuing Chevrolet’s tradition of leading the field to the green flag. The Pace Car will be driven by GM President Mark Reuss. This marks the 17th time a Corvette has served as the Pace Car, starting in 1978, and the 31st time a Chevrolet has led the field dating to 1948 when a Fleetmaster Six convertible held the honor.
The Corvette skipped a year and returned to the Indy 500 in 2015. NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon drove the 'Vette for the first lap, and the car had a fairly simple body with the race decals on the doors and sponsor stickers at the front end. Gordon, who grew up in nearby Pittsboro, Indiana, is no stranger to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He won the first NASCAR race in the history of the famed 2.5-mile oval and has won four more times.
The 2019 Corvette ZR1 was the official Pace Car for the 2018 Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil and led drivers to the green flag on Sunday, May 27, for the 102nd running of the legendary race. It marks the 15th time a Corvette has served as the official Pace Car since 1978, and the 29th time a Chevrolet has led the field dating back to 1948, when a 1948 Fleetmaster Six convertible paced the race.
The 2019 Corvette ZR1 was the official Pace Car for the 2018 Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil and led drivers to the green flag on Sunday, May 27, for the 102nd running of the legendary race. It marks the 15th time a Corvette has served as the official Pace Car since 1978, and the 29th time a Chevrolet has led the field dating back to 1948, when a 1948 Fleetmaster Six convertible paced the race.
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
The 2005 Corvette Pace Car paced at the 89th Annual Indianapolis 500 on May 29, 2005. It was driven by Retired Army General and former Secretary of State Colin Powell. There were three Pace Cars produced. Eight Track/Festival convertibles painted Victory Red Corvette were used on race day. These Track/Festival Pace Cars did not have the center silver stripe, logo-embroidered headrest, and graphics that were on the actual pace car. There were two replica pace cars produced.
Millions of spectators, broadcast viewers and listeners from around the world will be focused on the western region of France as one of Chevrolet’s fifth-generation family of Corvettes (referred to as C5) will pace an international field of sports cars as the Official Pace Car of the 67th running of the Le Mans 24 Hour race on June 12-13, 1999.
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 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.
Corvette performed Indianapolis 500 Pace Car duties for a record sixth time. It marks the third consecutive year and 15th time overall that a Chevrolet product has served as the Official Pace Car – the most appearances by any brand. The 2004 Corvette that will serve as the Indy 500 Pace Car is virtually identical to the Convertibles available today through local Chevrolet dealerships.
For 50 years, Chevrolet Corvette has represented American performance. In 2002, Corvette also led the pack at two important racing venues: the Indy Racing League (IRL) and the 86th running of the Indianapolis 500. In its IRL pace duties, Corvette wore a two-tone white and Millennium Yellow paint scheme with checkered-flags graphics forming a V for victory.
Corvette’s decision to become the official pace car of the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona is a key component of Chevrolet’s strategy to reinforce Corvette’s image as "America’s Performance Icon." Jim Campbell, Corvette brand manager, is responsible for developing this strategy, and he’s the guiding force behind Corvette’s return to the racetrack.
A Chevrolet Corvette Z06 paced the field for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday, July 29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A Chevrolet has performed pace car duties for all 14 editions of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, one of NASCAR's most highly anticipated events since the inaugural in 1994. Also, Chevrolet once again supplied event support vehicles, including Silverado pickup trucks, for on track activities.
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.
It was announced on July 23rd, 2010 that the 2010 NASCAR Brickyard 400 will be paced by this Green and White Corvette Grand Sport Coupe while Arctic White Corvette Grand Sport Convertibles wil serve as Festival (parade) cars. Camaro Coupes will also be used as support vehicles. The color is reminiscent of Bowling Green Metallic, last seen in 2001. This marked the 17th time that Chevy paced the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.
A 2006 specially outfitted Corvette Z06 served as the Official Pace Car of the 13th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday, Aug. 6 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Chevrolet cars have paced the prestigious NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at each of the 12 previous events, but the Corvette has never before been the Chevrolet brand chosen to lead the field to the green flag at the historic 25-mile IMS oval track. There's a first time for everything.
A 2007 Chevrolet Corvette convertible paced the 91st running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 27, 2007. As it was selected as the Official Pace Car, Chevrolet supplied several identically prepared and uniquely trimmed Corvette convertibles – in new Atomic Orange paint with distinctive gold ribbon graphics – that served in the official pace duties of the race, as well as supporting activities. This year, the driver of this Pace Car was Patrick Dempsey.
Two racing icons will unite when Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France winner, drives the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 pace car to lead the field to the start of the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 28, 2006. For a record 17th time, a Chevy will pace the race, and it's the eighth time for a Corvette to be leading the pack. The only changes made to prepare it for this year's role were the addition of strobe lights and racing safety gear.
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.
2008 marks the 15th time that Chevrolet has paced the Alstate 400 at the Brickyard and the fourth consecutive time Corvette has led the pack. Chevrolet's pacing tration at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway also extends to the Indianapolis 500 where Chevrolet has paced that esteemed race 19 times with Corvette leading the field 10 times.
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.
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.