This Year's Indy 500 Pace Car Will Be The 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Apr. 20, 2018 3:50 PM ET by Mark Stevenson Motorsport / 14 Comments

Chevrolet's fastest and most powerful Corvette will lead drivers at this year's race around the Brickyard.

Chevrolet is guaranteed to lead the opening lap no matter the qualifying order at this year's Indy 500, scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 27. For the 15th time in the race's 102-year history, the Chevrolet Corvette will pace the 33 IndyCar competitors around the famous track, this time in ZR1 spec with a 755-horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged V8 to stay in front of all the eager open-wheelers. "No other vehicle has served as the Pace Car more than the Corvette," claimed Chevrolet in its announcement.

"Chevrolet is proud to once again pace the Indianapolis 500," said Steve Majoros, marketing director for Chevy cars and crossovers, in a release. "The ZR1 is the most powerful and fastest Corvette ever made. It's the perfect choice to pace 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.'" Aside from the obvious graphics package signifying its purpose on the track at this year's race, the ZR1 Pace Car is fitted with an 8-speed automatic transmission; the ZTK Performance Package with carbon-fiber rear wing, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and performance suspension; Magnetic Selective Ride Control; Brembo carbon ceramic brakes; electronic limited slip differential; and a fully integrated strobe light system.

Additionally, the car is equipped with Corvette's available Performance Data and Video Recorder, so there might be a chance of us seeing from footage of it in use on race day. The ZR1 Pace Car isn't the only Chevrolet on track for the Indy 500. Chevrolet powers 17 of the 37 drivers in IndyCar this year. The remaining racers get their high-revving motivation from Honda engines. In the first three races of the IndyCar season for 2018, the two street-course rounds were won by Honda, while Chevrolet took the win for the sole oval race. Expect possible commemorative edition ZR1 Pace Cars to follow. Chevrolet didn't specify if its cupholders can hold a square quart glass bottle of milk.