Corvette to Pace Indianapolis 500
As Part of 50th Anniversary Celebration, Chevrolet’s Corvette, an international performance icon, was named Official Pace Car for the 86th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 26, 2002.
Chevrolet will pace the Indy 500 a record 13th time, and Corvette will perform the pace car duties for the fifth time since 1978 – the most pace car appearances by a single brand.
In addition to the 2003 Corvette pace car and 2002 Corvette and Camaro track and festival cars, an additional sixty-six 2002 Corvettes were used as part of the Indy 500 festivities. Thirty-three Millennium Yellow and thirty-three Quicksilver Corvette convertibles decorated with the 2002 Indy 500 logo and American flags were used during the pre-race parade laps to honor our veterans. These cars were part of a dealer promotion and were distributed to Chevy dealers around the North Central region to be sold to the public after the race.
Production Corvette incorporates advanced technology
The Corvette that provides the platform for the Indy 500 Pace Car is equipped with a standard 5.7-liter LS1 V8 engine that produces 350 horsepower in production trim. Corvette incorporates advanced technology such as hydroformed frame rails, Active Handling System, driver-selectable suspension modes and optional Head-Up Display.
“The cars that compete in the Indianapolis 500 are finely built machines that are designed for maximum speed,” said Baldick. “Corvette is just as purposeful in its own right. For 49 years, Corvette has remained true to its two-seat sports car heritage. Corvette combines power, performance, handling and technology – while delivering the maximum amount of driving pleasure to those who value high performance.”
Chevrolet Indianapolis 500 Pace Cars of the Past
Chevrolet has paced the Indianapolis 500 more times than any other brand: (last updated 2008)
- 2008 Corvette (Emerson Fittipaldi, driver) 500 production replicas – coupes and convertibles
- 2007 Corvette (Patrick Dempsey, driver) 500 production replicas – all convertibles
- 2006 Corvette (Lance Armstrong, driver) first Corvette Z06 pace car; no production replicas produced
- 2005 Corvette (Colin Powell, driver) no production replicas produced
- 2004 Corvette (Morgan Freeman, driver) no production replicas produced
- 2002 Corvette (Jim Caviezel, driver) 2003 model graphics available through SPO, approximately 300 sets sold. sixty-six 2002 Corvettes were used as part of the Indy 500 festivities.
- 1999 Monte Carlo (Jay Leno, driver)
- 1998 Corvette (Parnelli Jones, driver) 1,158 production replicas produced
- 1995 Corvette (Jim Perkins, driver) 527 production replicas produced
- 1993 Camaro Z28 (Jim Perkins, driver)
- 1990 Beretta (Jim Perkins, driver)
- 1986 Corvette (Chuck Yeager, driver) all 7,315 production convertibles were considered pace cars
- 1982 Camaro Z28 (Jim Rathmann, driver)
- 1978 Corvette (Jim Rathmann, driver) Chevrolet produced 6,502 production replicas
- 1969 Camaro (Jim Rathmann, driver)
- 1967 Camaro (Mauri Rose, driver)
- 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air (T.H. Keating, driver)
- 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster (Wilbur Shaw, driver)
Chevrolet returns to Indy car compeititon with all-new Chevy Indy V8 engine
The 86th running of the Indianapolis 500-mile race will also mark the return of Chevrolet to the most hallowed ground in American motorsports. Chevrolet will compete in the Indy 500 for the first time since 1993 with the all-new Chevy Indy V8 racing engine. Chevrolet won 86 Indy car races, including six Indianapolis 500 victories, and five series championships in 1986-93.
“We are proud that Corvette has been named Official Pace Car of the 86th Indianapolis 500,” said Kurt Ritter, Chevrolet general manager. “The excitement that builds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway from opening day until the checkered flag falls mirrors the excitement that is building around Corvette’s 50th anniversary.
“Chevrolet’s racing heritage began with company co-founder Louis Chevrolet, who gained international fame as an engineer and race car driver,” Ritter noted. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the bronze statue of Louis Chevrolet that stands outside the Hall of Fame Museum was smiling at the news about Corvette and Chevy’s return to the Brickyard.”
Specifications and Features
