THE 2021 MID-ENGINE CORVETTE STINGRAY CONVERTIBLE WILL LEAD THE FIELD OF THE 105TH INDIANAPOLIS 500, PRESENTED BY GAINBRIDGE
The Corvette will pace the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500 – “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” – this Memorial Day Weekend. The car, a 2021 mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette Stingray hardtop convertible will lead a 33-car field to the green flag at the start of the race, which is scheduled to begin at 12:45pm CST on Monday, May 30, 2021. The Stingray convertible will be finished in an Arctic White livery with black and yellow accents and the traditional “INDY 500” door badging synonymous with past pace cars from this famous event.
This race marks the first time that a Corvette convertible has paced the Indianapolis 500 since 2008. Chevrolet (and the Corvette) has led the starting field of this historic race more time than any manufacturer (and brand). This weekend’s race marks the 32nd time that Chevrolet has led the Indy 500 since 1948 and it mrks the 18th time that the Corvette has paced the field. The Corvette’s first appearance at Indy as an official pace car was at the 1978 race, when a special black-and-silver Corvette coupe livery did the honors. It remains one of the most iconic of all the Corvette Indy pace cars.
“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 interior of this beautifully appointed mid-engine Corvette convertible is finished in Sky Cool Gray and Strike Yellow. These colors adorn the car’s upholstery and served as the inspiration for the car’s exterior colors. The car features the aformentioned Indianapolis 500 logos that were adapted specifically for pace car use, an exclusive stripe package, unique Stingray decals and a number of other, subtle elements that make the car a one-of-a-kind beauty. The car is also equipped with highly-visible lighting to ensure drivers can easily spot the car regardless of weather or driving conditions.
Corvette’s designers worked the pace lights into each of the tonneau cover nacelles, and placed special strobe lights in the car’s headlights, front louvers and taillight assemblies. The careful placement of these lights allowed the Corvette convertible to maintain its signature silhouette and eliminated the installation of a special lightbar, which has often been a detractor to many of the earlier pace car models.
“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. Its design was inspired by the signature look and lines of current military fighter aircraft. The tonneau cover features aerodynamically shaped nacelles influenced by the housings 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 produces 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 level 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 shift feature even allows the driver to disconnect the clutch by holding both paddles for more manual control.
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.
