Camaro Paces Indy...Again!
by Hib Halverson, Content Director

Continuing a tradition that began in 1969, once again, a special-edition Camaro Convertible will be the Official Pace Car of the Indy 500.

The Indianapolis 500 Mile Race ranks as one of the greatest sports happenings on Earth. With a crowd typically 350,000-400,000, it is the largest one-day sporting event in the world. It is the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" and the world's oldest automobile race, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. If all that doesn't qualify the Indy 500 as an American icon, we don't know what does.

Another American icon which hits its "hundredth" this year is Chevrolet. The storied car company and the Indianapolis 500 have an association which goes back almost to the beginning. Louis Chevrolet, who co-founded the "Chevrolet Motor Car Company" in 1911, raced at Indy four times starting in 1915.

The modern era Chevrolet and the Indy 500 have a marketing partnership going back 63 years. Starting in 1948, a Chevrolet has been Official Pace Car 22 times–more than any other brand. Since 1967, Camaro has been the Pace Car seven times and, at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale car auction on January 21st, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Chevrolet announced the 2011 race will mark the famed, sporty four-seater's eighth appearance ahead of the 500's field of 33 cars.

“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Chevrolet name have long been associated with one another beginning with Louis, Arthur and Gaston Chevrolet’s participation as competitors in the 500,” said Indianapolis Motor Speedway President and CEO Jeff Belskus. “It is fitting in this 100th year for both brands that we reinforce that relationship through this year’s Camaro Pace Car, which resembles what many argue is the most famous pace car in IMS history, the 1969 Camaro. We are looking forward to seeing this car on track, pacing the greatest 33 drivers in the world on May 29.”

Image: GM Communications

“It's an honor for Chevrolet to pace the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, especially during this landmark year,” said Chris Perry, GM Vice President for U.S. Marketing. “This is also a great opportunity for us to build on Camaro’s strong momentum, while supporting an important charity.”

Fifty Convertibles will be built for the "Indianapolis 500 Festival Committee". The first, was auctioned for $225,000 by Chevroelt at Barrett-Jackon Scottsdale. The proceeds were donated to the David Foster Foundation, a charity devoted to supporting families with children needing lifesaving organ transplants. Another those 500 will be the car which actually paces the race. Forty-eight more will be used by the Festival Committee in their work organizing and promoting the event for the "Indianapolis 500 Festival Committee". After the race those 48 will, be sold by Chevrolet dealers. After this article was posted in late January, Chevrolet spokesperson, Dave Caldwell, told the Camaro Homepage on Feb. 10 that GM has decided to build another 450 2011 Camaro Indy Pace car replicas for retail sale

The Pace Car, along with the matching festival cars, features a Summit White exterior accented with orange stripes and door graphics. The interior is trimmed in orange leather, including front seat headrests embossed with the Indy 500 logo, along with white door panels. Instrument panel trim is predominately white but features extensions of the orange exterior stripes. This exterior and interior combination is similar to the design used on the 1969 Camaro Indy Pace Car, replicas of which have become some of the most popular Camaros with collectors.

Image: GM Communications

The actual Pace Car needs no performance modifications to fulfill its duties in front of the racing field because all 50 of the Festival Committees cars will be SS Convertible models fitted with the 400-horsepower L99 Small-Block V8 and a six-speed automatic transmission. The cars also will get the RS package, which includes HID headlamps and unique tail lamps and the 2SS equipment package which comes with the following standard features:

• Four-wheel disc brakes with Brembo four-piston calipers

• StabiliTrak electronic stability control with competitive/sport mode

• Twenty-inch polished aluminum wheels and tires

• Head-up Display

• Center console auxiliary gauge package.

 Additional information about the 2011 Camaro Convertible is available in the CHpg's article on the Convertible introduction.

Interested in ordering a 2011 Camaro Indy Pac Car? Contact one of the country's most experience Camaro dealers, Tom Henry Chevrolet by clicking here.