Mario's Tribute to Indy 500 Pace Cars 1946 - 2023

Mario on May 30, 2021 said:

Happy Memorial Day today to all the Gearheads!

In Honor of the Indy 500 Memorial Day Race today I am posting all the post WWII Indy 500 Pace Cars from 1946 thru 2021.

The First Indy 500 Race was in 1911 and I was fortunate to see the track not in 1911 (I'm not that old!) but in the early 2000's.

Enjoy! Mario

Mario on May 30, 2021 said:

And the 2021 Indy 500 Winner is...........Helio Castroneves 4th Time Winner Indy 500 Race!

He won in 2001, 2002, 2009 amd now 2021.

Congratulations Helio!

57timemachine on Jun 1, 2021 said:

I will take the 1955 Chevy and the 1967 Camaro Pace cars. You guys can take the rest. Cheers.

Mario on Jun 2, 2021 said:

Those are great choices George. I would also take the 69 Camaro since I used to own one, not the Pace car edition though.

I am also inclined to go with the new mid-engine 2021 Corvette. That's a real beauty! Cheers.

azmusclecar on Jun 1, 2021 said:

I must say, that is one eclectic collection of Pace Cars, From a Fiero to a Bravado to a Viper.

Nice work Mario........as usual. We've come to expect nothing less than your best.

Mario on Jun 2, 2021 said:

I was just as surprised as you Rob when I was looking into the different Pace cars! What a crazy combo of cars. I didn't expect the Bravado!

The Corvettes have solidly taken over the top spot in the last several years but the new mid-engine ones are awesome!

Cheers!

Mario on Jun 23, 2021 said:

Thanks Rob, I enjoy looking back at the history of our beloved "time machines" and opening up discussions on different topics. Your contributions are dearly welcomed. Cheers!

57timemachine on Jun 2, 2021 said:

Some of the later choices are kind of funny actually. In reality there just were no good choices to pace anymore. Sadness over came the industry. Cheers.

57timemachine on Jun 19, 2021 said:

Looks like GM owned the pace car domain for the last many years.

Mario on Jun 21, 2021 said:

Yes George you're quite correct. GM has ruled the Pace Car for the last 25 years!

The last non GM Pace Car was in 1996 a Dodge Viper. And Corvette has been the Pace Car for 15 of those 25 years.

I guess one can say the Corvette is the true Pace Car of all time. Cheers.

57timemachine on Jun 21, 2021 said:

What is up with NASH using a four door to pace and everyone else used a rag top for many years. NASH had a rag top but I wonder why they never used one. I wonder what the story is with the guy who slammed the 71 Challenger into the pit area. Maybe a bit too much to drink that day. Did anyone get hurt there at the time.

Mario on Jun 21, 2021 said:

Eldon Palmer, a local Indianapolis-area Dodge dealer, lost control of the Dodge Challenger pace car at the south end of the pit area, and it crashed into a photographers' stand, injuring 29 people, two seriously.

Mario on Jun 21, 2021 said:

As far as the Nash sedan pace car here is what I found out:

The reason why a closed car was chosen was simple. Nash didn't offer a convertible in 1947. The Nash was for the most part a bone-stock 1947 Ambassador four-door trunk sedan, a handsome body style that was rapidly displacing the Slipstream fastback sedan in popularity. Cheers!

57timemachine on Jun 22, 2021 said:

Mario, thanks for the insight. As always it is very much appreciated. Cheers.

Mario on Jun 23, 2021 said:

Thanks George you always have good questions and good comments. There's so much history in our cars and so much to learn or recall. Cheers!

Mario on May 20, 2022 said:

The new 2022 Indy Pace Car is a 2023 Corvette Z06 5.5L 670hp.

Sarah Fisher is driving the Pace Car. Sarah is an American retired professional race car driver (Indy and NASCAR) and current Team owner.

Mario on May 29, 2022 said:

May 29, 2022 Marcus Ericsson wins 2022 Indianapolis 500 in a two-lap shootout after late red flag.

He and Kenny Bräck are the only drivers from Sweden to win the race in 106 years of the race.

Ericson, 31, entered Sunday with two career IndyCar wins. Both came in 2021, at Detroit and Nashville, respectively.

Mario on May 2, 2023 said:

Which car will be the Indy 500 Pace Car for 2023? The Race is scheduled for May 28, 2023. Rumors are that it may be the Camaro SS. We'll have to wait and see. The Camaro has been the Indy 500 Pace Car for 9 years so far!

57timemachine on May 9, 2023 said:

Mario, was that Eldon Palmer dufuss charged for almost killing a number of people with his absurd stupidity. If not he should have been.

Mario on May 9, 2023 said:

He was not charged, it was an accident. The flag was moved on the ground where he was supposed to slow down causing the accident. Palmer died in 2016 at the age of 87.

Mario on May 9, 2023 said:

The 2023 Corvette Z06 Hardtop Convertible is the Pace Car for the 2023 Indy 500 Race. This is the first generation of Corvette Z06 to offer a hardtop convertible.

Mario on May 10, 2023 said:

The 2023 Corvette Z06 HT Convertible is now the 20th Corvette chosen as the Indy 500 Pace Car! See the video I posted on the HT Convertible.

Mario on May 29, 2023 said:

Josef Newgarden USA has won the May 28, 2023 Indy 500 Race in a wild finish after three crashes and three red flags in the last 16 laps.

He passed Marcus Ericsson (2022 winner) in the final lap by going high on the track. He said he was either going to win the race or hit the wall. Luckily he won and did not hit the wall. Cheers, Mario