A 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 70th Anniversary Edition will be the pace car for the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 29. Former IndyCar racer Sarah Fisher will be behind the wheel.
The 2023 Corvette Z06 pace car uses the same 670-horsepower 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 as the road-going version. It has the Z07 Performance Package that has additional features like Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 calibrations, carbon-fiber wheels with Michelin Sport Cup 2 R ZP tires, and carbon-ceramic brakes. The pack also adds carbon pieces to the body.
Gallery: 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 as 2022 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car
The pace car has the 70th Anniversary Edition package in White Pearl Metallic Tri-Coat. It includes wheels with red rims and anniversary center caps. The brake calipers are red. Coupes get a red engine cover. Inside, there's Ceramic two-tone leather with suede inserts and red contrast stitching on the seats and steering wheel
There are also some special touches on the pace car that aren't on the models available in showrooms. There's a black stripe over the center of the body with a separate red band on the driver's side. A logo on the roof shows "70 1953 - 2023," and there's "Z06" on the rear spoiler. Indy 500 graphics decorate each door.
Chevy plans to start building the 2023 Z06 this summer. At this time, the automaker doesn't yet have official pricing for the sporty model.
This marks the 19th time for the Corvette to be the Indy 500 pace car since its premiere appearance in 1978. It's also the sixth consecutive year for a 'Vette to have this duty. A Camaro had the job in 2016. The last time a non-General-Motors automaker had a vehicle as the pace car was the Dodge Viper GTS in 1996.
Sarah Fisher qualified for the Indy 500 nine times in her racing career. Her four-lap qualifying speed of 229.439 miles per hour in 2002 is still the record for a female driver. She has been the Indy 500 pace car driver during caution periods since 2017.
