Appropriately red 2020 Corvette Stingray to pace Indy 500
The 2020 Indianapolis 500 is a bit of a mixed bag this year. Several of the hallmarks of the event—the May race date, the pilgrimage of thousands of race fans to the Brickyard—have fallen victim to a year of pandemic-related flux.
Thankfully, in a year of so much change, there’s a familiar model pacing the IndyCar pack: a Corvette. A red one, because, even in 2020, some things must remain sacred.
The 2020 C8 pace car sports the Z51 package in addition to a high-flying rear spoiler and the full Carbon Flash exterior accent package. In addition to the Indy 500 livery, Chevy’s also bolted in a pair of GT2 bucket seats.
Corvettes have paced the Indy 500 more than any other model, a heritage upon which Chevrolet duly prides itself. “It’s truly an honor to have the opportunity to be behind the wheel of the mid-engine Corvette Pace Car at such a historic race as the Indy 500,” says GM President Mark Reuss.
In addition, a Chevy engine has powered nine Indy 500 winners, including the rides of Rick Mears, Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser, Jr., and, most recently, Simon Pagenaud.
Though our experience of the 2020 Indy 500 will remain entirely virtual this year, we’re consoling ourselves by remembering that the C8 pace car may well foreshadow some slick graphics packages for future mid-engine Vettes.
? RACE FANS ?
Get your first ? at the official @TeamChevy Corvette Stingray that will lead the field to green at this year's #Indy500! ???#INDYCAR | #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/SvAsPxkvvU
— Indianapolis Motor Speedway (@IMS) August 12, 2020
