During the 102nd running of the iconic race, the 2019 Chevy Corvette ZR1 will be leading drivers as the official Indy 500 pace car. This will be the 15th time a Chevy Corvette will act as an Indy 500 pace car, and the 29th time a Chevy has held the honor. Last year, The Walking Dead actor Jeffery Dean Morgan was behind the wheel of a 2017 Corvette Grand Sport, but the highly anticipated C7 ZR1 will arguably show up the star in fandom during the 2018 pace car run.
Presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, the 2018 Indianapolis 500 will take place on Sunday, May 27th with the 2019 Corvette ZR1 leading the way to the green flag. The first Corvette acted as the Indy pace car back in 1978, and no other model has held the title more often. To celebrate America’s favorite sports car’s connection to the event, the 2019 Corvette ZR1 and the 14 other Corvette pace car models came out to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, displayed on the front straightaway for the announcement.
The 2019 Corvette ZR1 is the fastest Corvette in history, powered by a 755 horsepower LT5 6.2L engine, and is capable of sprinting to 60 miles per hour in 2.85 seconds with a top speed of 212 miles per hour. The ZR1 pace car at Indy will have the following options:
- 8-speed 8L90 automatic transmission with paddle-shifter
- ZTK Performance Package, that offers a stanchion-mounted adjustable carbon-fiber high back wing, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and performance suspension system
- Magnetic Selective Ride Control
- Brembo Carbon Ceramic brakes
- ZR1 chrome-aluminum wheels that are 19” up front and 20” at the rear
- Standard Performance Traction Management
- Electronic Limited-Slip Differential
- Unique Indy 500 graphics package with a special 102nd designation
- GM Design fully integrated safety strobe system
- Performance Data and Video Recorder
The ZR1 is already hitting dealerships and streets, and is starting to prove itself. A recent video revealed that GM may have underrated the horsepower figures, and the car is shaping up to be one of the most popular Corvettes ever made. We suspect that after it struts around in front of millions of NASCAR fans watching next month, it’ll have a few more admirers.
Elizabeth is a hardcore horsepower enthusiast with unmatched intensity for making things faster and louder. She wakes up for power and performance and only sleeps to charge up for the next project that’s heading to the track. From autocross to drag racing, Elizabeth is there with you, so stay tuned for her unique perspective on horsepower news, builds, tech info, and installs — with her, it’ll never be boring!
