Chevy Camaro SS is the 2016 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car
By Will Sabel Courtney/The Drive
This article was originally published on The Drive on April 5, 2016. Check out thedrive.com for everything cars, culture and the people who made both.
A Chevrolet Camaro SS will serve as the pace car for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 29, driven by none other than racing legend Roger Penske. If that doesn't seem particularly shocking, well, it shouldn't: the Camaro has served as the Indy 500 pace car on eight previous occasions. But unlike many Indy pace cars of years past, the 2017 Camaro SS won't wear the livery equivalent of a plaid velour bowling shirt.
The Indy 500 is celebrating its centennial, news that's likely to monopolize the anniversary-related headlines, but it's also a big year for both the Camaro and for Penske. This year marks the 50th year that the Camaro has been available to purchase (it first went on sale on September 29, 1966), as well as Penske's fifth decade as a racing team owner.
Chevrolet
As such, the muscle car tasked with leading the IndyCar pack isn't any old 2017 Camaro. It's one of the 50th Anniversary models, which come complete with unique 20-inch wheels, orange brake calipers, a new grille with satin chrome accents, red and black graphics, and a super-classy, orange-and-black leather-and-microsuede interior laden with "50th Anniversary" accents.
Chevrolet
Unlike the consumer version of the 50th Anniversary Camaro, which wears Nightfall Gray metallic paint, the four Indy 500 pace cars are clad in Abalone White, a GM favorite. They also wear massive black-and-gold Indianapolis 500 logos on the doors, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway logos on the rear quarter panels...in case, we suppose, viewers forget what they're watching.
