For the first time in the history of Corvette, a hardtop convertible Z06 will lead the field to the green flag for the 107th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 28, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The exterior and interior of the 2023 C8 Corvette Z06 Convertible will be on full display as the car fulfills responsibilities on and off the track.
C8 Corvette Z06 Indy 500 Pace Car: Details
This is the first generation of Corvette Z06 to offer a hardtop convertible (the C7 Z06 Convertible was soft-top only), greatly expanding the convertible’s ability to serve on track at any speed and provide open roof comfort on the street. The car is finished in a Red Mist Metallic exterior paint and two-tone Jet Black and Sky Cool Gray with Torch Red accents on the interior. This color scheme pairs nicely with the Indianapolis 500 logos. Spider-design forged aluminum wheels finished in Tech Bronze complete the car’s iconic, race-ready look.
Image copyright Manoli Katakis, Muscle Cars & Trucks.
Corvette is the longest-running car nameplate in the automotive industry, so it’s no surprise that it has paced “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” more times than any car. The 2023 race marks the 34th time for Chevrolet to pace, dating back to 1948, and the 20th time overall and since 1978 for America’s favorite sports car. In its 70-year history, Corvette has become synonymous with American sports cars, and the Z06 is the definition of America’s supercar. It’s authentic, optimistic, proud, young at heart, and ingenious, all values synonymous with the Indy 500.
Whoever gets behind the wheel of the 2023 Chevrolet Z06 convertible pace car will have to show extreme restraint since the Z06 features the 5.5L LT6 flat plane crank V8 engine, which creates 670 horsepower at a wailing 8,600 RPM, making it the highest-horsepower naturally aspirated V8 ever to hit the market in any production car. Moreover, all that power will be held to the track with the Carbon Aero package, providing 734 pounds of downforce at 186 mph, the top speed of the C8 Z06, and is more than any other Corvette before it. Though sadly, we doubt the car will be reaching that speed while setting the pace for the racers leading to the green flag that starts the race.
