This year’s Indy 500 pace car packs more punch than the race cars themselves

The Indy 500 just got its most powerful pace car in history, with the new 2024 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

Capable of hitting 233mph, this particular Corvette has the highest top speed of any car ever made in the US by an automaker.

This twin-turbocharged monster will be the 22nd Corvette to have the honor of being an Indy 500 pace car since the Corvette’s debut in 1953.

Pro Football Hall of Fame member and two-time Daytime Emmy Award winner Michael Strahan will be behind the wheel of this legendary pace car on Sunday, May 25.

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An Indy 500 Car tops out at less than 800 horsepower

A normal Indy Car has a 2.2L turbocharged V-6 engine, with about 700 horsepower at its highest boost setting.

A new hybrid system, which debuted in the series during the 2024 season, and will be making its Indy500 debut in 2025, adds an additional 60 horsepower.

This brings the typical Indy Car’s maximum to below 800 horsepower, give or take.

Enter the 2025 Corvette ZR1, which delivers 1,064 horsepower at 7,000 rpm from its 5.5L twin-turbo V8 engine.

Boasting almost 300 horsepower more than an Indy Car, this pace car certainly packs a mean punch.

Of course, horsepower alone isn’t everything.

While the new ZR1 can reach maximum speeds of 233mph, the fastest qualifying speeds for the Indy 500 do edge out the ZR1’s top speed.

For example, New Zealander Scott McLaughlin, driving for Team Penske, reached a top speed of 234.22mph in 2024.

Fastest Corvette ever made

For its pace car duties, the ZR1 is equipped with a Carbon Aero package, including dive planes on the front bumper, underbody aero strakes and the rear wing, which creates more than 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speeds.

The ZR1 is also capable of incredible acceleration, being able to go from zero to 60 mph in 2.3 seconds, and blitzing the quarter-mile in 9.6 seconds at 150mph.

This makes it the fastest Corvette ever made.

The pace car will be draped in Arctic White paint, with Jet Black accents.

The official Indy 500 logos pop in emerald green and gold, with matching racing stripes, and it even comes equipped with carbon fiber wheels.

“Chevrolet is proud that the 2025 Corvette ZR1, our fastest Corvette ever, will be the Official Pace Car for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500,” said Scott Bell, global Chevrolet vice president.

“With a top speed of 233mph, the Corvette ZR1 is the perfect fit to lead the Indy 500 field to green.”The post This year’s Indy 500 pace car packs more punch than the race cars themselves appeared first on Supercar Blondie.