2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible Named Pace Car for 105th Indianapolis 500
The 2021 mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette Stingray hardtop convertible is the pace car for the 105th Running of the 2021 Indianapolis 500. This marks the 18th time that a Corvette has served as the pace car for the race–and the 32nd time a Chevy has paced the field. The last time Corvette was the pace car was in 2008.
- Arctic White Stingray
- Sky Cool Gray and Strike Yellow upholstery
- Indianapolis 500 logos
- Exclusive stripe package
- Unique Stingray decals
- Four lights into each of the tonneau cover nacelles
- Strobe lights in the headlights, front louvers, and taillights
PRESS RELEASE: May 11, 2021, By Indianapolis Motor Speedway
2021 Mid-Engine Corvette Stingray Convertible to Lead Field to Green Flag of 105th Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge
This is the 18th time a Chevrolet Corvette has paced ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’
INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 11, 2021) – The 2021 mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette Stingray hardtop convertible will lead the 33-car field to the green flag for the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on May 30, 2021. The Arctic White Stingray will be the first convertible since 2008 to pace the iconic race.
Chevrolet and Corvette have led the starting field more than any other manufacturer and nameplate, respectively. The 2021 race marks the 32nd time for Chevrolet to pace, dating back to 1948, and the 18th time since 1978 for America’s favorite sports car.
“The Chevrolet team is privileged every time we’re invited to pace the Indianapolis 500,” said Steve Majoros, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. “We are confident the track-capable Corvette Stingray Convertible will catch every race fan’s eye as it leads the pack toward the Yard of Bricks. From the color scheme to the special race weekend decals and how the safety lighting is skillfully integrated into the nacelles of the hard-top convertible Corvette’s revolutionary appearance, we’re putting Chevrolet’s best on display for the fans.”
The exterior and interior of the Corvette Convertible will be on full display as the car fulfills responsibilities on and off track. Sky Cool Gray and Strike Yellow upholstery selected for the cabin influenced the racy exterior appearance of the Pace car. A close look at the car reveals Indianapolis 500 logos adapted specifically for pace car use, an exclusive stripe package, unique Stingray decals, and more.
For racers, highly visible safety lighting on the pace car is a top priority. Corvette designers prioritized form and function by incorporating four lights into each of the tonneau cover nacelles, in addition to strobe lights in the headlights, front louvers, and taillights. This maintains the Corvette Convertible’s signature silhouette and eliminates the need for a traditional lightbar.
“The 2021 Corvette Stingray hardtop convertible is such a world-class performance car that’s a perfect match to lead the talented field of 33 drivers to the green flag in ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “We continue to be grateful for our strong, enduring partnership with Chevrolet and its many contributions to the success of our events and the exciting appeal of competition at the Racing Capital of the World.”
The mid-engine 2021 Corvette Stingray was engineered first and foremost as a convertible. The convertible maintains the tunnel-dominant structure and use of high-integrity die-cast parts found in the Stingray coupe.
Like the coupe, the Stingray convertible’s design was inspired by fighter jets. The tonneau cover features aerodynamically shaped nacelles influenced by the housing used for jet engines. The nacelles, which were also used as inspiration on the Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle (CERV) I and II, as well as the Corvette SS and SR2 concepts, help reduce air recirculation into the cabin and provide a remarkably exotic profile with the top up or down. The tonneau also provides a rear power-adjustable window and a vent for mid-engine cooling.
The 2021 Corvette Stingray convertible is powered by the next-generation 6.2L Small Block V-8 LT2 engine, the only naturally aspirated V-8 in the segment. It will produce 495 horsepower (369 kW) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque when equipped with performance exhaust — the most horsepower and torque for any entry Corvette.
The LT2 is paired with Chevrolet’s first eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, which provides lightning-fast shifts and excellent power transfer. This transmission is uniquely designed to provide the best of both worlds: the spirited, directly connected feeling of a manual and the premium driving comfort of an automatic. The double-paddle de-clutch feature even allows the driver to disconnect the clutch by holding both paddles for more manual control.
When combined, the advanced propulsion system, revised chassis tuning, and retractable hardtop make the Stingray the most no-compromise Corvette convertible in history.
Chevrolet has a storied history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Chevrolet was founded in 1911, the year of the inaugural 500-mile race. Company co-founder and namesake Louis Chevrolet, along with brothers Arthur and Gaston, competed in the early Indy 500s. Arthur competed in the 1911 race and Gaston won in 1920.
Nine drivers with Chevrolet engines have combined to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” 11 times, with Rick Mears, Emerson Fittipaldi, Arie Luyendyk, Al Unser Jr., Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Juan Pablo Montoya, Will Power, and, most recently, Simon Pagenaud in 2019.
Team Chevy also has won the NTT INDYCAR SERIES manufacturer championship six times since 2012.
Visit IMS.com for more information about this year’s schedule.
The race will be televised live on NBC for the third consecutive year, with the pre-race show starting at 11 a.m. The INDYCAR Radio Network will provide live coverage of the race to its affiliates and on Sirius 211, XM 205, indycar.com, and the INDYCAR Mobile App powered by NTT DATA.
Photos Via Team Chevy
About Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the world’s largest spectator sporting facility, has been the worldwide leader in motorsports entertainment since its opening in 1909. IMS is hosting the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500, presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 30, the world’s most prestigious auto race. The Month of May will start Saturday, May 15, with the GMR Grand Prix for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES on the IMS road course. The Speedway also will host the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NTT INDYCAR SERIES on the same weekend, Aug. 13-15, for three exciting races on the road course, including the first Cup Series race on the circuit Sunday, Aug. 15. IMS also will welcome the competitors of the Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli/GT Challenge World Challenge America and the ground-breaking Indy Autonomous Challenge on separate event weekends in October 2021. IMS, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and IMS Productions are owned by Penske Corporation, global transportation, automotive, and motorsports leader. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit ims.com.
About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries, with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, a design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features, and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
Danica Patrick will drive the Corvette Pace Car at the 105th Indianapolis 500
Former professional racing driver Danica Patrick will be the driver of the 2021 mid-engine Arctic White Chevrolet Corvette Stingray hardtop convertible at the 105th Indianapolis 500. The event is scheduled for Sunday, May 30.
The Corvette Pace Car, driven by Patrick, will lead the field of 33 cars to the green flag for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on the 2.5-mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(You can watch the live coverage of the race starting at 11 a.m. (ET) on NBC and the INDYCAR Radio Network.)
We might add that this will be the first Corvette convertible since 2008 to pace the world’s most prestigious auto race.
“I am very honored to drive the Corvette Stingray Pace Car this year at the Indy 500,” Patrick said. “It is even more special because of the past year we have all endured, and it will be so nice to see fans back in the stands. I’m also excited to again be a part of the NBC broadcast team for the race.”
“I have always loved Chevy vehicles, and the Corvette convertible is such a beautiful car. Maybe they will let me drive it home!”
Danica Patrick will also serve as a studio analyst for NBC’s live race broadcast with host Mike Tirico and fellow analyst Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion competing this season in road street-course events in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
On March 25, 1982, Danica was born in Beloit, Wisconsin; she grew up in Roscoe, Illinois. She has achieved numerous milestones during her eight Indianapolis 500 starts from 2005-11 and in 2018. Danica also achieved the best starting spot for a female driver, fourth, as a rookie in 2005. She electrified the racing world that year by becoming the first female driver to lead laps in the race. Patrick finished third in 2009 – which is the best result ever for a woman in the “500”. She also holds the race record for laps led by a female, 29.
“We’re happy to welcome back Danica to the place where she made motorsports history as the first female driver to lead ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “She will provide a unique perspective for NBC viewers while behind the wheel of the powerful Corvette Stingray convertible.”
We note that Danica Patrick made the last of her eight Indy 500 starts in 2018, driving a Chevrolet-powered car. She also competed for the first five seasons of her six-year NASCAR career in a Chevy. In 2013, Danica became the only female driver to win the Daytona 500 pole.
“We’re honored that Danica Patrick will pace the field at this year’s Indianapolis 500,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet Performance & Motorsports. “It’s going to be great to see Danica back at the Speedway that she knows so well, behind the wheel of our 2021 Corvette convertible.”
Source: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Country Music Star Jimmie Allen To Perform National Anthem at 105th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge
INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 18, 2021) – Chart-topping, platinum-selling country recording artist Jimmie Allen will perform the national anthem before the start of the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 30, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Allen will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” just before the 33 drivers are called to their cars to begin “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” NBC’s telecast of this year’s historic edition of the world’s most iconic race begins at 11 a.m. (ET).
Allen made history in 2018 as the first Black artist to launch a career with two consecutive No. 1 hits on country radio, with “Best Shot” and “Make Me Want To” both hitting the top of the charts.
His most recent release, “Bettie James,” is named in honor of his late father and late grandmother, who were both great influences on his music career. The EP is a star-studded collaboration featuring Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Mickey Guyton, Nelly, Noah Cyrus, The Oak Ridge Boys, Rita Wilson, Tauren Wells, and Tim McGraw.
“We are excited to welcome Jimmie to the Racing Capital of the World for a memorable and emotional Memorial Day Weekend performance,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “The national anthem is a signature pre-race moment, and this year’s rendition carries extra meaning as we prepare to welcome fans back to the Indy 500 and honor our frontline heroes.”
In April, Allen won New Male Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, where he also performed his current hit single, “Freedom Was A Highway,” with Paisley. On July 13, Allen will publish his debut picture book, “My Voice Is a Trumpet,” with Flamingo Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers.
Follow Allen on Twitter @JimmieAllen, on Instagram @jimmieallen, and on YouTube at youtube.com/jimmieallen. For more information, visit www.jimmieallenmusic.com.
Visit www.IMS.com to purchase tickets for the 105th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 30, and for more information on the complete Month or May schedule at IMS.
You might also enjoy seeing what this year’s 500 Festival parade car looks like.
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