The Chevrolet Corvette has been the Indianapolis 500 Pace Car 20 times, but this weekend’s 107th running of the race will still be a first for the iconic American sports car.
The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will be the first hard-top convertible version of the car has led the field to the green flag. Its role as Indy 500 Pace Car really highlights the evolution of the Corvette through the decades, with the latest version the first mid-engine model, with all previous front-engine Corvette’s using a fabric soft-top.
Chevrolet has a long history of supporting the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing’, with the American brand first getting involved back in 1948, with the Chevrolet Fleetmaster Six. Since then the Bel Air, Beretta, Allanté, Monte Carlo, SSR and Camaro across 34 appearances.
While other brands have had the Pace Car role, Chevrolet has locked out the position since 2002, with the Corvette used exclusively since 2017.
“As we celebrate the rich history of the Corvette Pace Car at IMS, it’s amazing to see the evolution of these cars on and off the track,” said J. Douglas Boles, IMS president. “The hardtop convertible on the 2023 Corvette Z06 is just another example of the Chevrolet innovation that translates from track to street.”
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