The 2007 91st Running of the Indianapolis 500 - Paced by a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible!

An Atomic Orange 2007 Chevrolet Corvette convertible paced the 91st running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 27, 2007. There were 500 Replicas offered for sale to the public for the first time since 1998. Of those 500 Replicas, the first 57 Replica Convertibles produced were sent to the Speedway to act as Festival/Track support Vehicles for race activities. Actor Patrick Dempsey was the Honorary Pace Car driver that led the field to the green to start the 92st Running of the Indianapolis 500!

February 1, 2007

A 2007 Chevrolet Corvette convertible will pace the 91st running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 27, 2007. As it was selected as the Official Pace Car, Chevrolet will supply several identically prepared and uniquely trimmed Corvette convertibles – in new Atomic Orange paint with distinctive gold ribbon graphics – that will serve in the official pace duties of the race, as well as supporting activities.

Five hundred production replicas of those official cars will be offered to the public – all of them convertibles. They’ll be available beginning this spring.

The distinguishing features of the pace car replica convertibles include:

• Atomic Orange exterior color, including door handles
• 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
• Z06 rear spoiler
• New aluminum “split-spoke” wheels in Sterling Silver
• Ebony seats with embroidered Indianapolis 500 logos
• Interior trim plate and pods painted Atomic Orange
• Atomic Orange engine covers

All of the pace car replicas are equipped with the Corvette’s standard LS2 small-block V-8 and Z51 performance package. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, with the six-speed paddle-shift automatic optional. The navigation system with Bose audio, as well as OnStar, is standard.

Pricing for the pace car replica convertible is $66,995 MSRP, including destination. The paddle-shift six-speed automatic is the only option, which brings the price to $68,245.

The performance-bred Corvette handles its official pace duties in nearly factory-stock trim, with little more than race track-required safety equipment and strobe lights added – as well as, of course, the eye-catching graphics. In years past, many Indy pace cars required extensive modification to perform their on-track tasks. The 2007 Corvette’s powertrain and suspension, including the 400-horsepower (298 kW) LS2 small-block V-8 engine, are more than adequate to maintain the speed, acceleration and handling required to lead the pack around the famed “Brickyard” race track.

This year marks the ninth time 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.

Photos below courtesy of the Speedway and Chevrolet.

This year the Chevrolet Corvette convertible returned to pace the Indianapolis 500 (it's ninth Indy Start) and in honor of being selected there were 500 replicas made for sale to the public. But the 57 cars used at the track were the very first to be produced out of the total run of 500 replicas. The remainder of the replica production began in early June. Indeed these will be collector cars as they were built in time to be used as Track / Festival cars for this year's race. The bulk of the group (48) arrived at the Speedway on March 15th, with the last nine coming in on the 17th. In all, two of the loads were shipped open carrier and the rest were shipped enclosed per GM orders from Detroit. In addition to the Pace Car graphics package, these 57 Corvettes were specially marked at the Speedway with an event car decal and a two color sequence number assigned to them on the windshield and a matching black number placed behind the license plate. Can you identify some of the differences between the actual Pace car pictured in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and the Replicas seen here?? First, on the actual Pace car, there is a larger "Wing and Wheel " graphic on the front fenders, while the Replicas have a stunning 3-dimensional Emblem. Secondly, the actual Pace car does not have an onboard Navigation system. Third, the steering wheel trim is Orange on the actual Pace car, where on the Replicas it is the standard silver. What else will we find??? These Corvettes were assigned to the Speedway/VIPs and Indy 500 Festival personnel and were used from April 4th until May 30th, 2007, after which they were turned back to General Motors for distribution to dealers for sale to the public.   Pictured left is this year's Grand Marshal, Peyton Manning This year's 500 Festival Queen was Danielle Sylvester.