The 2017 Camaro SS is the New Indy 500 Pace Car

BOLD RIDE

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Posted by Zach Doell 

 

                               

                                      

 

Just over a month away, the famed Indianapolis 500 is set to celebrate its 100th running at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Chevrolet has announced the event will be paced by a legend, in fact, two. 

Earlier this week, Chevrolet revealed it has prepared a new 2017 Camaro SS 50th Anniversary Edition to pace the historic centennial race, which will be driven by none other than Roger Penske, founder and longtime owner of Team Penske—the winningest team in Indy 500 history, with 16 wins.

In an announcement from Chevrolet, the Detroit automaker says it will send four identical cars to support the race, all dressed in Abalone White with Indy 500 graphics on the doors. But while you can’t buy one of those, you can buy a standard Camaro 50th Anniversary Edition, which will arrive later this summer.

Available for both the 2LT (2.0-liter turbo, 3.6-liter V6) and 2SS (6.2-liter V8) coupes and convertibles, the 50th Anniversary Edition Camaros come dressed in Nightfall Gray Metallic paint, and feature a unique appearance package that includes 20-inch wheels, a reworked grille, body-color front splitter, orange brake calipers, an orange-stitched black leather interior, along with special stripes and badging. All convertibles come exclusively with a black top.

It certainly isn’t the first time a Camaro has paced the Indy 500—the classic pony car has lead the event nine times since 1967, with Chevrolet pacing the race a total of 27 times since 1948. Neither is it Penske’s first go. Team Penske’s Indy 500 winning record began in 1972 at the hands of legendary racer Mark Donohue, who had already made the Camaro and Team Penske names famous in Trans-Am racing.

The race kicks off at 12:20pm EDT on May 29th.