Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and the Indy 500. The Chevrolet Corvette is quickly becoming an icon to race fans at the World's most prestigious car race... The Indianapolis 500.

Chevrolet & the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced Friday, March 12, 2004  The 88th running of the Indianapolis 500 to be held on May 30 will bring together the two most powerful symbols known to both auto enthusiasts and racing fans from around the world – Chevrolet and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – as a 2004 Corvette Convertible will serve as the Official Pace Car of this May's Classic. A fitting tribute to a legendary car that is in its last year before an all-new model hits the streets in 2005.

Corvette will perform Indianapolis 500 Pace Car duties for a record sixth time... a feat no other car or manufacturer can claim. 2004 also marks the third consecutive year and 15th time overall that a Chevrolet product has served as the Official Pace Car – the most appearances by any brand.

“The Indianapolis 500 and Chevrolet have had a long relationship,” said Tony George, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “It’s an honor to have Corvette lead the field and also to have the Chevy Indy V8 competing 
for the win on May 30.”

“We’re proud that this year’s Memorial Day classic will showcase America’s favorite sports car at the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’” said Brent Dewar, Chevrolet general manager. “As the 2004 model year is the last of Corvette’s 
current design, pacing the Indy 500 acknowledges the significance the vehicle has played in American culture.”

The 2004 Corvette that will serve as the Indy 500 Pace Car is virtually identical to the Convertibles available today through local Chevrolet dealerships.

Like race cars, the duties of a Pace Car can be long and strenuous. During the last two Indianapolis 500’s, for example, the Chevy Pace Cars led the field for a combined 84 laps (210 miles) of the total 400 race laps (1,000 miles) run, at an average lap speed of 75 mph. Even during green-flag race conditions, the Pace Cars patiently run at idle, ready for action at a moment’s notice.

Very few modifications will be needed to the Corvette to prepare it for this year’s role: heavy-duty transmission and power steering coolers, a lower restriction muffler system, four-point racing-type safety belts and a safety strobe light system.

The 2004 rendition will feature a white-and-blue, two-tone 
paint treatment that incorporates Americana-theme graphics, tying into Chevrolet’s new “An American Revolution” marketing theme. The theme captures Chevrolet’s pride and passion for innovation, and for success not only in 
motorsports, but also as it launches 10 new car and truck products in 20 months...including an all-new Corvette in 2005

Also making its speedway debut will be the new lower displacement IRL Race engine. IRL officials have lowered the displacement to 3.0 Liters from 3.5 Liters. A rash of high-speed spectacular racing and test accidents, one killing upstart driver Tony Rena, prompted the change in displacement to slow the speeds down & insure more driver safety.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been the site of many memorable events since the facility opened in 1909. Similarly, Chevrolet has a rich heritage in racing that extends back to company co-founder and namesake Louis Chevrolet, a gifted engineer and talented race car driver who competed in the Indianapolis 500 four times. More recently, Chevy Indy V8 engines have won 103 open-wheel races, including seven Indianapolis 500 victories.

Year Car

2004 Corvette Convertible

2003 Chevy SSR

2002 Corvette 50th Anniversary

1999 Monte Carlo

1998 Corvette

1995 Corvette

1993 Camaro Z28

1990 Beretta

1986 Corvette

1982 Camaro Z28

1978 Corvette

1969 Camaro

1967 Camaro

1955 Bel Air

1948 Fleetmaster