Indiana Pacers Star Victor Oladipo Will Drive 2019 Corvette ZR1 Pace Car At Indy 500

Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo will lead a field of 33 drivers at the 102nd Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 27th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, behind the wheel of the 2019 Corvette ZR1 Pace Car.

This marks the 15th time that a Corvette has held official Pace Car duties, and the 29th time that a Chevrolet model has led the field, a tradition dating back to 1948 when a Fleetmaster Six convertible held the job.

The 2019 Corvette ZR1 Pace car is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine, putting down 765 PS (755 HP) and 715 lb-ft (968 Nm) of torque. Together with an eight-speed automatic, it can accelerate from zero to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 2.85 seconds, before maxing out at 212 mph (341 km/h).

Features include the ZTK Performance Package (adjustable rear wing, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, performance suspension), Magnetic Selective Ride Control, Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, chrome-aluminum wheels, unique Indy 500 graphics and more. On paper, this is the fastest Corvette ever built.

When it comes to athletes, Oladipo is also known for his tremendous speed on the basketball court, being able to get to the rim or to his preferred shooting spots with ease. The Pacers guard averaged 23.1 points per game in the 2017-2018 NBA season, earning him his first All-Star appearance.

“This is a tremendous honor for me,” said the former Hoosier. “I’m so thankful Indiana continues to embrace me, from Indiana University to the Pacers and now the Indianapolis 500, the greatest race in the world. I would like to thank Chevrolet, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Pacers for allowing me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Excited is a huge understatement to how I feel about this. I can’t wait!”