2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible Is The New Indy 500 Pace Car

May. 13, 2021 6:12 AM ET by Martin Bigg Motorsport / 2 Comments

This is the first convertible Indy 500 pace car since 2008.

Chevrolet has been enjoying a lot of spotlight on the race track recently. Last week, the carmaker presented the new Next-Gen Camaro ZL1 Nascar racer, which more closely resembles the Camaro road car. The Camaro is also the pace car for this year's Nascar Xfinity Series.

And now it has been announced that the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible will be the pace car for the 105th Indianapolis 500 race, replacing the red fixed-roof Corvette Stingray that served as last year's Indy 500 pace car.

Finished in Arctic White, the Stingray will be the first convertible pace car at the Indy 500 since 2008. Indianapolis 500 logos adorn the exterior along with an exclusive stripe package, and unique Stingray decals. Four lights feature in each of the tonneau cover housings and strobe lights are incorporated into the headlights, front louvers and taillights, eliminating the need for a lightbar.

"The Chevrolet team is privileged every time we're invited to pace the Indianapolis 500," said Steve Majoros, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. "We are confident the track-capable Corvette Stingray Convertible will catch every race fan's eye as it leads the pack toward the Yard of Bricks. From the color scheme, to the special race weekend decals and how the safety lighting is skillfully integrated into the nacelles of the hard-top convertible Corvette's revolutionary appearance, we're putting Chevrolet's best on display for the fans."

Like the regular road car, the 2021 Corvette Stingray Convertible pace car is powered by a naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 generating 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

"The 2021 Corvette Stingray hardtop convertible is such a world-class performance car that's a perfect match to lead the talented field of 33 drivers to the green flag in 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,'" said Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles. "We continue to be grateful for our strong, enduring partnership with Chevrolet and its many contributions to the success of our events and the exciting appeal of competition at the Racing Capital of the World."

This will be the 32nd time a Chevrolet pace car has appeared at the Indy 500 since 1948 and the 18th time the Corvette has been used for pace car duty - the most times for any manufacturer or car model. You'll get to see the new Corvette Convertible pace car in action at the Indianapolis 500 on May 30 on NBC.