There’s no denying that the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 looks good on a racetrack, especially when it features a racing paint scheme.
I think the best-looking GT racecar at the moment is the Corvette C7.R and although the production Z06 doesn’t look as menacing, it still manages to make a good impression on a racetrack.
Maybe this is one of the reasons (besides tradition) for which the Corvette Z06 has been chosen as a pace car for the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 mile race, scheduled on May 24 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Corvette Z06 pace car will be driven by five-time Brickyard 400 winner and four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon. It is the 13th time a Corvette has served as the official pace car since 1978, and the 26th time a Chevrolet has led the pack for the famous race. The Corvette has served as the pace car more than any other vehicle in the race’s history.
The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 doesn’t need mechanical upgrades to keep up with the IndyCar racers, which is why the pace car is a production-spec model with a 650hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine mated to a seven-speed manual transmission and a track-capable chassis system. The Corvette Z06 features an Arctic White exterior and Adrenaline Red interior, with only the unique Indy graphics package and safety strobe lights distinguishing it from other production models.
“Indy is hallowed ground for racers like me and I couldn’t be more thrilled to drive the Corvette Z06 pace car around the track that helped drive my success over the years,” Gordon said. “I’ve won five NASCAR races at IMS and the track will always be a special place for me, so to be able to participate in such a historic day will be something I remember for the rest of my life,” he added.
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