The seventh-generation 2014 Corvette Stingray will be the official Indianapolis 500 Pace Car on Sunday, May 26, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This will be the 12th time a Corvette has served this role since 1978.
“It is an honor to help inaugurate the all-new Corvette Stingray at the hallowed Brickyard and further the legacy between Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500,” said Jim Campbell, GM vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “The 2014 Corvette Stingray’s performance was influenced by racing, making this prestigious assignment even more fitting.”
The selection of the Corvette Stingray as Pace Car extends Chevrolet’s partnership with the famous race following the brand’s return in 2012 as an engine supplier.
The Corvette Stingray Pace Car sports a Laguna Blue Tintcoat with official Indianapolis 500 graphics on the doors. Fitted with track-mandated safety features and strobe lights, the pace-car has no powertrain upgrades, with its 6.2-liter LT1 engine supplying 450 horsepower, enough for running in front of the IndyCar pack.
However, it does feature the track-capable Z51 package that includes an electronic limited-slip differential, dry-sump oiling system, integral brake, differential and transmission cooling plus a unique aero package aimed at improving high-speed stability.
The new generation of the Corvette coupe goes on sale this fall, with the convertible model to arrive a few months later. The convertible version has a fully electronic top that can be operated remotely with the key fob.
The 2013 Indianapolis 500 will also see the debut of another Chevrolet, the Camaro Hot Wheels Edition Convertible.
By Dan Mihalascu
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