The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has announced that the Chevrolet Corvette convertible will pace the Indianapolis 500 for the fourth straight year. It will also be the ninth time – an overall record — that thefiberglass sports car has been selected to pace race. The 2007 Corvette pace car, which made its bow at the Chicago Auto Show on Wednesday February 7, will be powered by the awesome LS-2 small-block V-8. Chevrolet announced at that time that it will produce 500 specialedition replicas of the pace car for sale to the public. The Indy 500 cars will be available starting this spring. Chevrolet will also supply several identically-prepared and uniquelytrimmed Corvette convertibles - in a new Atomic Orange paint color – to be used in official pace duties before and during the race. The cars will have distinctive gold ribbon graphics
The distinguishing features of the 500 Indy Pace Car replica convertibles will include the same Atomic Orange exterior color, which will even cover the exterior door handles. The cars will also include Indianapolis 500 exterior graphics (including gold ribbon graphics that flow outward from the front fender vents and "Indianapolis 500" door logos); special Indianapolis 500 fender badges; a Z06-style rear spoiler; new aluminum "splitspoke" wheels in Sterling Silver; Ebony seats with embroidered Indianapolis 500 logos; an interior trim plate and pods painted Atomic Orange and Atomic Orange engine covers.
All of the pace car replicas will be equipped with the Corvette’s standard LS2 small-block V-8 and Z51 performance package. A six-speed manual transmission will be standard, with a six-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission as optional equipment. The navigation system with Bose audio, as well as OnStar, will be standard.
The window sticker on the pace car replica will be $66,995 including destination charges. The paddle-shift six-speed automatic – the only available option – will raise the price to $68,245.
The performance-bred Corvette will handle its pace duties in nearly factory-stock trim, with little more than racetrack-required safety equipment and strobe lights added. The 400-hp LS2 can easily maintain the speed, acceleration and handling required to lead the pack around the famed "Brickyard."
This marks the ninth time the Corvette has served as the Official Pace Car of the Indianapolis 500. The previous years were 1978, 1986, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006. It also is a record fourth consecutive turn for the Corvette, as well as a record 18th time for a Chevrolet, to be selected as the pace car.
Production replicas were not offered every time the Corvette was selected as the pace car. In fact, 2007 marks the first time Chevrolet has offered a regular-production replica since 1998. But along with the regular-production models, several dozen copies of all the pace cars have been used for official activities in support of their respective Indianapolis 500 races, such as parades. These cars - known as "festival" cars - have become prized collectibles, along with the limited-edition regular production replicas.
