The traditional Memorial Day race that we all love and admire is the Indianapolis 500. This year marks the 103rd running of this legendary race which has offered us a variety of amazing cars and results throughout the years. Every year, one of the most asked questions is which vehicle will be the Official Pace Car for the race. For this running of the Indy 500, the pace car will be one that we’ve seen at this race more than any other, a car that’s become a heritage model and one that we love and admire; a Chevrolet Corvette.
Chevrolet Offers a Tradition of Pacing the Race
There has been a Chevrolet model as the pace car for the Indy 500 thirty times. The first was in 1948 when a 1948 Fleetmaster Six convertible was the pace car that was chosen for the task of leading the cars to the start line and leading during the caution laps. This year will mark the sixteenth time that a Corvette has served as the pace car, which started in 1978, making the Corvette the car that’s been chosen for this task more often than any other single car model.
Chevrolet Shows Up in the Parade
There’s a parade before every one of the Indy 500 races and this year, the IPL 500 Festival Parade will feature 33 different 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray models that will take to the roads of Central Indiana. These cars will be perfect for featuring prominent businessmen, dignitaries, and others who will ride along in the Corvette models during the parade. This is another signature part of the partnership between the IPL and Chevrolet that allows us to enjoy the beauty and pure sport of the Corvette models that will be used during Memorial Day weekend.
The Specific Chevrolet Pace Car Used
The Official Pace Car of the Indianapolis 500 is the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport. This car features Long Beach Red Metallic paint with the Indy 500 decal package included. You’ll see dual racing silver stripes that add to the beauty of this car. Under the hood is the 6.2-liter V8 engine that makes 460 horsepower and 365 lb.-ft. of torque. The transmission is an eight-speed automatic that shifts quickly and makes the drive amazing for you. There is a Performance Data Recorder included to record lap times when desired.
A Fitting Car to Continue the Tradition
The most traditional car for the race will be the one to pace the laps at the most traditional race in America. If you added a stand that was selling nothing but apple pie, you’d have some of the most American icons all in one place. Make sure you take time during Memorial Day weekend to honor those that have fallen to protect our freedoms, but also make sure you spend some time checking out this race and the gorgeous Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport that will lead the way during the start and during the caution laps.
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.
