Chevrolet’s Corvette will again pace this year’s Indianapolis 500.  But, parting from tradition, there will be two pace cars this year, one of which will also be produced by Chevrolet in a limited edition for customers.

The lead pace car will be an E85 powered Z06, designed to showcase Chevy’s commitment to ethanol.  The second car, painted in a silver and black color scheme reminiscent of the first special edition Corvette Pace car, which was a 1978 model, will be produced in a quantity of 500 for sales to the public.  That car commemorates the thirtieth anniversary of the Corvette as an Indy 500 pace car.
   
The race will be held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 25th, next year.  Emerson Fittipaldi, twice winner of the 500, will drive the E85 pace car.  There’s a reason why he was selected, apart from his ability to turn left:

“Although not a production FlexFuel vehicle, the Corvette Z06 E85 concept Pace Car is a high-performance example of Chevrolet’s gas-friendly to gas-free initiative, demonstrating viable fuel solutions,” according to Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. “As an ethanol refiner in his native Brazil, Emerson Fittipaldi is the fitting Chevrolet champion to help support GM’s efforts with E85 and celebrate 30 years of the Corvette pacing the Indianapolis 500.”

Though it is designed to showcase the technology, the E85 Corvette isn’t a production model.  But it is suggestive.  Chevrolet earlier showed a similarly powered Z06 at SEMA, a car designed with Tonite Show host Jay Leno.