For the 15th time since 1978, the Chevrolet Corvette will serve as the pace car for one of the world’s most prestigious races, the Indy 500. In keeping with the occasion, we’re not going to be seeing just an ordinary Corvette in Indy; we’re seeing a 755-horsepower Corvette ZR1 with all the cosmetic bells and whistles of a fully functioning pace car.

If you think Chevrolet would waste an opportunity to showcase the new Corvette ZR1, you’re sadly mistaken. There’s no bigger stage to do it than the Indy 500 so, of course, you’re going to see the ZR1 in all its might. There’s also an element of history here, one that Chevy is proudly showcasing at the event by displaying all 15 pace cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "Chevrolet and IMS enjoy one of the longest-running and strongest bonds in motorsports," said J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president. "Seeing all of the incredible Corvettes that have paced the Indianapolis 500 on the track today is an exciting reminder of the rich history of this great relationship."

As for the actual 2019 Corvette ZR1 Pace Car, it’s going to wear a dark blue paint finish with matching red accents and the right amount of door-mounted livery. Thanks to a ZTK Performance Package, all the aerodynamic elements of the ZR1 are also present, most notably the can’t-miss splitter on the front end and the even-more-can’t-miss stanchion-mounted adjustable carbon fiber high rear wing at the back.

On the performance side of things, the Corvette ZR1 Pace Car is a beast. It packs a 62.-liter supercharged V-8 engine that produces 755 horsepower and 715 pound-feet of torque, making it the most powerful pace car to ever take the starting grid. It’s mated to an eight-speed, paddle-shift automatic transmission, which is responsible for sending the power to the two rear wheels. All that translates to a 0-to-60-mph time of just 2.85 seconds, 0-100 mph in 6.0 seconds, and a 10.6-second quarter-mile at speeds of 134 mph. In other words, the ‘Vette ZR1 is a monster on four wheels.

Chevrolet’s latest involvement in the Indy 500 stretches all the way back to the inaugural 500-mile race back in 1911. In fact, the brothers Chevrolet competed in early Indy 500 races, including Arthur, who participated in the first-ever race in 1911 and Gaston, who actually won the whole thing in 1920. Needless to say, if there was ever a car company that’s fit to send one of its own as the official pace car of the iconic race, it’s Chevrolet and the Corvette. It just so happens that there’s no better car for the job today than the 2019 ZR1.

“Chevrolet is proud to once again pace the Indianapolis 500,” said Steve Majoros, marketing director for Cars and Crossovers. “The ZR1 is the most powerful and fastest Corvette ever made. It’s the perfect choice to pace ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”

References

Read our full review on the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

Read our full review on the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Indianapolis 500 Pace Car.

Read more Chevrolet news.