Mario's Tribute to Chevy Camaro Indy 500 Pace Cars

1 1967 Camaro SS396. Chevrolet built two special cars with 396 ci 325 hp engines specifically to pace the race (primary + backup). The primary pace car was driven by Mauri Rose on May 30, 1967.

2 1967 Camaro SS396. Best-supported counts put ~81 RS/SS Pace Car–spec convertibles used around the Speedway and city for officials/press. The majority were equipped with 350 engines and were automatic but some big block 396’s with manuals were also included.

3 1967 Camaro SS396. Chevrolet also released replica RS/SS convertibles to capitalize on Indy, no official production total is documented estimates vary from approximately 200- 300. All have a dash on their trim tags.

4 1967 Camaro SS396. L35 396 CI 325 HP V8. Some dealerships also ordered replicas after the official cutoff date by which the replica had to be ordered however these cars received black nose strips as opposed to the blue nose stripes and lack the dash on the trim tag, these cars are not considered pace car replicas.

5 1969 Camaro RS/SS350. Besides the two specially prepared cars used for race duty with original 396 ci 325 hp engines, other pace car replicas were also used at Indy in May 1969 with 350 ci 300 hp engines. These cars that were at the track in 1969 are generally referred to as Festival or Parade cars.

6 1969 Camaro RS/SS350. In 1969 these cars were allocated as follows: • 5 to USAC • 7 to Speedway Officials • 43 to 500 Festival Committee members • 75 to other dignitaries (press, Chevy officials ..)

7 1969 Camaro RS/SS350. A very limited number of these cars are known today by their VINS however no "official" list of the cars used at Indy in 1969 is known to exist. It is believed and generally accepted that Chevrolet produced 3,675 replicas or one per dealership.

8 1969 Camaro RS/SS350. 350 CI 300 HP V8. The actual race prepared pace cars were built at the Norwood Ohio plant. Dealer replicas were built at either the Norwood (Nor on trim Tag) or Van Nuys plant (VN on Trim tag).

9 1982 Camaro Z28. Chevrolet launched the third-generation Camaro in 1982—lighter, more aerodynamic, and equipped with new technology—and celebrated by pacing the 66th Indianapolis 500. Astronaut John Glenn and former Indy winner Jim Rathmann drove the official pace cars.

10 1982 Camaro Z28. To mark the occasion, Chevrolet produced 6,360 replica Pace Cars, each finished in silver and medium blue two-tone paint with Indy 500 graphics, wing-tire emblems, and distinctive Z28 aero styling. Interiors featured Lear-Seigler sport seats trimmed in matching silver and blue cloth.

11 1982 Camaro Z28. Production replicas offered two 5.0L (305 ci) V8 engines: a 145 hp carbureted version with a 4-speed manual, or a 165 hp “Cross-Fire” fuel-injected version with a 3-speed automatic. While performance was moderate—0-60 mph in about 9 seconds—the focus was on handling and sleek aerodynamics. Built in Van Nuys, CA, and Norwood, OH, the Pace Car carried the internal option code Y82 and sold for about $13,700 new.

12 1982 Camaro Z28. LU5 twin-TBI ‘Cross Fire Injection’ 5.0-liter 305 ci V8 165 hp. The 1982 model year also marked major milestones: the debut of the new F-body platform, Motor Trend’s “Car of the Year” award for the Z28, and the first live, flag-to-flag Indianapolis 500 broadcast. Today, the 1982 Camaro Z28 Indy Pace Car is a sought-after collectible for its limited production, Indy 500 heritage, and distinctive 1980s styling. The actual Indy pace cars ran a special 5.7-liter aluminum small-block (~250 hp)—not available in the replicas—and carried John Glenn as an honorary passenger during pre-race ceremonies.

13 1993 Camaro Z28. Pace Car Production Number 645 built. With the all-new fourth-generation Camaro debuting in 1993, the latest Z28 was selected to pace the 77th running of the Indianapolis 500. The Camaro was the first model to be selected to pace the “500” four-times. 500 dealer replica cars, 125 festival cars and 20 for Canada resulting in 645.

14 1993 Camaro Z28. This one was equipped with a 275-horsepower 5.7-liter 350 CI V8 connected to a four-speed automatic transmission. The Z28 Camaro holds the distinction of having one of the more distinctive paint schemes of the Camaro pace cars. Each one was offered in a black and white two-tone color, with pink, teal, yellow, and red striping along the sides of the car. The multi-hue color scheme was also featured on the front seats with a similar striping and “confetti” patterns.

15 1993 Camaro Z28. One hundred and twenty-five pace cars took part in the Month of May festivities at the Speedway. Chevrolet produced 645 replicas that carried the same livery as the pace cars.

16 1993 Camaro Z28. 350ci LT1 with aluminum heads, EFI, and 275hp. Chevrolet General Manager Jim Perkins was selected to drive the pace car at the start of the race. Despite all the attention focused on 1992 Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell’s first race at the Speedway, it was another multiple Formula One World Champion that drove on to his second Indianapolis 500 title: Emerson Fittipaldi.

17 2009 Camaro SS. After an eight-year hiatus, the Camaro was back on the market. A newly retro-inspired design based on the first-generation Camaros of the late 1960s, the fifth-generation Camaro paced the 2009 Indianapolis 500, the was the first time a Camaro hardtop coupe would pace the race.

18 2009 Camaro SS. This Camaro carries a 426 horsepower, 6.2-liter LS3 V8, paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Two thousand and nine marked the centennial anniversary of the construction of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and along with the race logo on the doors, this Camaro carries special “Centennial Era” logos on the front quarter panels. The silver and red livery was created by the General Motors Design Division.

19 2009 Camaro SS. Television and film actor Josh Duhamel led to field of thirty-three starters to the green flag of the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500. Team Penske driver Helio Castroneves took the checkered flag 200 laps later to claim his third Indianapolis 500.

20 2009 Camaro SS. 6.2‑liter 376 cu in LS3 all‑aluminum V8 engine 426 hp. There were 25 pre-production Camaro parade cars also at the track in 2009.

21 2010 Camaro ZL550. For the first time in back-to-back years, the 2010 Camaro was selected to pace the 94th running of the Indianapolis 500. Despite being the same model year as the 2009 pace car, the 2010 pace car contained a few different features than its 2009 counterpart. This Camaro contained a 426-horsepower 6.2 liter V8 combined with a six-speed automatic transmission.

22 2010 Camaro ZL550. For the first time since 1993, Chevrolet offered a special run of pace car replicas to the public. Each of the 294 replicas contained the same “inferno orange metallic with diamond rally stripes” exterior color found on the official pace cars. Other special touches on both replicas and the official pace cars were the Indianapolis 500 graphics both appearing on the doors as well as embroidered on the seat headrests. A special “heritage grill” was standard on all 2010 Camaro Pace Cars, and unlike previous years, a special integrated light bar was installed in the back window instead of the top of the roof.

23 2010 Camaro ZL550. Good Morning America host Robin Roberts led the field to the start of the Indianapolis 500, with Scotsman Dario Franchitti winning his second Indianapolis 500 title.

24 2010 Camaro ZL550. 6.2 L 376 ci 426 hp. 2010 pace car build numbers • 294 total were built and not numbered • 200 were sold by 187 different dealers • 50 went to Indy (numbered Parade cars) • 44 were done for the Canada Market ~6 were manual transmissions

25 2011 Camaro SS. For the first time since 1969, a convertible Camaro SS paced the field for the Indianapolis 500. The convertible option for the fifth-generation Camaro debuted for the 2011 model year. Carrying the legendary “dover white with hugger orange stripes” paint scheme, the 2011 Camaro is a modern example of the iconic 1969 pace car. This Camaro carried a 426-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 mated with a six-speed automatic transmission.

26 2011 Camaro SS. For the second straight year, integrated strobe-lights were installed on the pace car. Chevrolet offered a limited run of 500 replicas that were offered to the public with special touches including the 100th anniversary of Indianapolis 500 logo embroidered on the front headrests: Indianapolis 500 door seal plates, and race decals on the doors.

27 2011 Camaro SS. To mark the 100th anniversary of the first “500” back in 1911, four-time winner A.J. Foyt led the field of 33 qualifiers to the green flag. Foyt carried a special passenger, longtime Chairman of the Board of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and friend of Foyt, Mari Hulman-George riding along with Foyt. Englishman Dan Wheldon captured his second Indianapolis 500 title after a thrilling last-second pass of “Rookie” J.R. Hildebrand.

28 2011 Camaro SS. 6.2 L 376 ci 426 hp. Build numbers for the 2011 pace car: • 6-speed automatic transmission) 323 • 6-speed manual transmission) 127 • Indy Pace Car -U.S.) 450 • Indy Pace Car – Canada) 50

29 2014 Camaro Z28. For 2014, the fifth-generation Camaro was selected to pace the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500. The first-generation Z/28 Camaro found success in SCCA Trans Am road racing, with future “500” winner Mark Donohue capturing the Trans-Am Championship twice for Team Penske in 1968 and 1969. Chevrolet used this heritage when engineering the ultimate “track-day” Camaro.

30 2014 Camaro Z28. Chevrolet developed the Z/28 Camaro with reduced weight, upgraded suspension, 15-inch carbon ceramic brakes, and race designed Pirelli tires. For the die-hard “track-day” consumer, Chevrolet offered an air-conditioning and radio “delete” option to reduce weight. This example was driven by recently retired 3-time “500” winner Dario Franchitti.

31 2014 Camaro Z28. After daring late race pass with only 4 laps to go, Ryan Hunter-Reay held off Helio Castroneves at the finish line by only .64 thousandths of a second to win his first Indianapolis 500.

32 2014 Camaro Z28. 6.2 L 376 ci 426 hp.

33 2016 Indy 500 had a 2017 50th Anniversary Camaro Pace Car. Only a year after the introduction of the new sixth-generation Camaro, the 2017 50th anniversary edition was selected to pace the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2016.

34 2016 Indy 500 had a 2017 50th Anniversary Camaro Pace Car. To celebrate the Camaro’s 50th anniversary, Chevrolet produced four specially built 50th anniversary editions to pace this historic race. Unlike the production 50th anniversary editions that were only offered in “nightfall gray metallic”, these four pace cars carried a special “abalone white” exterior with bold 100th Running logos on the doors.

35 2016 Indy 500 had a 2017 50th Anniversary Camaro Pace Car. Longtime car owner Roger Penske, celebrating his own 50-year anniversary with the creation of Team Penske, was selected to drive the pace car at the start of the race.

36 2016 Indy 500 had a 2017 50th Anniversary Camaro Pace Car. 6.2 L 376 ci 455 hp. American Alexander Rossi became the first “rookie” since 2001 to win the “500” after a daring fuel strategy that had Rossi coasting by on no fuel as he crossed the finish line.