We dropped the rumor last week that Guy Fieri is in contention to be the pace car driver at this year’s Indianapolis 500 and today we learned that its official. The celebrity chef and Corvette owner will be driving the 2013 Corvette ZR1 to start the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 27th.

In addition to owning and operating a string of restaurants and his TV hosting duties on the Food Network, Guy is a car collector who seems to have a thing for Chevy’s. Fieri owns a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette, as well as a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible, 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454, 1967 Chevrolet C10 pickup, 2006 Chevrolet Kodiak C4500 4?4, 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV.

?There are races and then there are races,? Fieri said. ?And without a doubt, the Indy 500 is the race that I?ve always wanted to attend. And now, to be driving the Corvette Pace Car … this is going to be unbelievable.?

?We look forward to welcoming Guy Fieri to the Indianapolis 500,? said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and chief executive officer. ?He’s full of energy and is a longtime ?car guy? – a perfect match for ?The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.? I’m sure he?ll remember forever the moment he fires up the incredible 2013 Corvette ZR1 and paces the field to the green flag.?

Said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports, Chevrolet: ?We are excited to have Guy Fieri drive the Corvette ZR1, the official Pace Car for the 2012 Indianapolis 500. Guy will bring his genuine enthusiasm as he leads the starting field to the green flag for the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500. We are humbled by his passion for Chevy and ?The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.??

The 2013 Corvette ZR1 that is serving Pace Car duties at the Indianapolis 500 is the most powerful production car to ever pace the historic race. Featuring the 6.2L LS9 V8 that generates 638 horsepower, the arctic White ZR1 should have no problem running out in front of the IndyCars to set the pace.

Here’s a video that shows the 2013 Corvette ZR1 Pace Car laying down a lap on the famous oval at Indianapolis:

The 96th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for noon (ET) Sunday, May 27. Live coverage on ABC and the IMS Radio Network will start at 11 a.m.

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