Top 10 Indy 500 Corvette Pace Cars of All Time!

Since 1978, Corvette pace cars have lead the Indy 500 17 times. In honor of number 18, here the 10 ‘Vettes that blew us away!

Though the Corvette debuted in 1953, it had to wait almost 30 years before leading the field of 33 on the greatest stage of Memorial Day weekend, the Indy 500. In between, Chevy fielded a ’55 Bel Air, a ’67 Camaro, and a ’69 Camaro SS. Meanwhile, Cadillac sent the unlikeliest ride to pace the field in 1973, when the Eldorado was chosen.

However, the 1978 Indy 500 welcomed its first Corvette for pace-car duty. The 2021 running this Memorial Day weekend will be the 18th time the powers that be bestowed the honor upon the ‘Vette. Thus, we give you our 10 favorites to lead the field of 33 around Indiana’s most famous track.

10) 1978 – 62nd Indy 500

The very first Corvette Indy pace car held it down for the 62nd Indy 500 in 1978, driven by 1960 Indy 500 winner Jim Rathmann. Chevy itself was so excited to build the special ‘Vette, it planned to make 2,500 copies before deciding on a minimum of 6,200, one for every one of the Bow Tie’s dealerships at the time.

According to Corvsport, 6,502 were ultimately built, and go for $40,000 to $50,000 on the auction block today.