Indy 500 Pace Cars
One of the most famous motor races in the world, the Indianapolis 500 is traditionally held each year on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. Since the first Indianapolis 500-mile race in 1911, a specially appointed pace car has led the field in formation to the green flag for the thrilling rolling start of the 500-mile race. It is an honor — for both driver and car — to be chosen to pace the start of this historic race, and many special-edition vehicles have been created over the years to commemorate the event.

2023 Indy 500 Pace Car
For the seventh-straight year — and for the 20th time overall — a Chevrolet Corvette will lead the field to the green flag for the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 28, 2023. Driven by NBA star Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, the 2023 Corvette Z06 hardtop convertible pace car is finished in Red Mist Metallic with Tech Bronze forged-aluminum wheels and a Carbon Aero package. The 2023 Corvette Z06 hardtop convertible pace car is powered by a new 5.5-liter LT6 V8 engine that produces 670 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The full list of Indy 500 pace cars and their drivers is a fascinating retrospective of auto legends and celebrities, so enjoy this look back at Indianapolis 500 pace cars through the years. Note: The Indy 500 was not run from 1917–18 and 1942–45 because of World Wars I and II, respectively.

1911: Stoddard-Dayton Model 11-A
Driver: Carl G. Fisher

1912: Stutz
Driver: Carl G. Fisher

1913: Stoddard-Dayton
Driver: Carl G. Fisher

1914: Stoddard-Dayton
Driver: Carl G. Fisher

1915: Packard Model 548
Driver: Carl G. Fisher

1916: Premier Model 656
Driver: Frank E. Smith

1919: Packard 335
Driver: Col. J. G. Vincent

1920: Marmon Model 34
Driver: Barney Oldfield

1921: H.C.S. Series 6
Driver: Harry C. Stutz

1922: National Sextet
Driver: Barney Oldfield

1923: Duesenberg Model A
Driver: Fred S. Duesenberg

1924: Cole V-8 Series 890
Driver: Lew Pettijohn

1925: Rickenbacker Eight
Driver: Eddie Rickenbacker

1926: Chrysler Imperial E-80
Driver: Louis Chevrolet

1927: LaSalle V-8 Series 303
Driver: “Big Boy” Rader

1928: Marmon ‘8’ (Model 78)
Driver: Joe Dawson

1929: Studebaker Series F-10 President
Driver: George Hunt

1930: Cord L-29
Driver: Wade Morton

1931: Cadillac 370 Twelve
Driver: “Big Boy” Rader

1932: Lincoln Model KB
Driver: Edsel Ford

1933: Chrysler Imperial (Phaeton)
Driver: Byron Foy

1934: LaSalle Model 350
Driver: “Big Boy” Rader

1935: Ford Model 48
Driver: Harry Mack

1936: Packard One-Twenty
Driver: Tommy Milton

1937: LaSalle Series 50
Driver: Ralph DePalma

1938: Hudson ‘112’
Driver: Stuart Baits

1939: Buick Roadmaster Series 80
Driver: Charles Chayne

1940: Studebaker Champion
Driver: Harry Hartz

1941: Chrysler-Newport (Phaeton)
Driver: A.B. Couture

1946: Lincoln Continental
Driver: Henry Ford II

1947: Nash Ambassador
Driver: George W. Mason

1948: Chevrolet Stylemaster Six-Series
Driver: Wilbur Shaw

1949: Oldsmobile 88 ‘Rocket’
Driver: Wilbur Shaw

1950: Mercury
Driver: Benson Ford

1951: Chrysler New Yorker V-8
Driver: Dave Wallace

1952: Studebaker Commander
Driver: P.O. Peterson

1953: Ford Crestline Sunliner
Driver: William C. Ford

1954: Dodge Royal 500
Driver: William C. Newburg

1955: Chevrolet Bel Air
Driver: T.H. Keating

1956: DeSoto Fireflite Pacesetter
Driver: L.I. Woolson

1957: Mercury Turnpike Cruiser
Driver: F.C. Reith

1958: Pontiac Bonneville
Driver: Sam Hanks

1959: Buick Electra 225
Driver: Sam Hanks

1960: Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight
Driver: Sam Hanks

1961: Ford Thunderbird
Driver: Sam Hanks

1962: Studebaker
Driver: Sam Hanks

1963: Chrysler ‘300’
Driver: Sam Hanks

1964: Ford Mustang
Driver: Benson Ford

1965: Plymouth Sports Fury
Driver: P.M. Buckminster

1966: Mercury Comet Cyclone GT
Driver: Benson Ford

1967: Chevrolet Camaro
Driver: Mauri Rose

1968: Ford Torino GT
Driver: William C. Ford

1969: Chevrolet Camaro SS
Driver: Jim Rathmann

1970: Oldsmobile 4-4-2
Driver: Rodger Ward

1971: Dodge Challenger
Driver: Eldon Palmer

1972: Hurst/Olds Cutlass
Driver: Jim Rathmann

1973: Cadillac Eldorado
Driver: Jim Rathmann

1974: Hurst/Olds Cutlass
Driver: Jim Rathmann

1975: Buick Century Custom ‘Free Spirit’
Driver: James Garner

1976: Buick Turbocharged V-6
Driver: Marty Robbins

1977: Oldsmobile Delta 88
Driver: James Garner

1978: Chevrolet Corvette
Driver: Jim Rathmann

1979: Ford Mustang
Driver: Jackie Stewart

1980: Pontiac Turbo-Trans Am
Driver: Johnnie Parsons

1981: Buick Regal V-6
Driver: Duke Nalon

1982: Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Driver: Jim Rathmann

1983: Buick Riviera Convertible
Driver: Duke Nalon

1984: Pontiac Fiero
Driver: John Callies

1985: Oldsmobile Calais
Driver: James Garner

1986: Chevrolet Corvette
Driver: Gen. Chuck Yeager

1987: Chrysler LeBaron
Driver: Carroll Shelby

1988: Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Driver: Gen. Chuck Yeager

1989: 20th Anniversary Pontiac Trans Am
Driver: Bobby Unser

1990: Chevrolet Beretta
Driver: Jim Perkins

1991: Dodge Viper RT/10
Driver: Carroll Shelby

1992: Cadillac Allante
Driver: Bobby Unser

1993: Chevrolet Camaro Z-28
Driver: Jim Perkins

1994: Ford Mustang Cobra
Driver: Parnelli Jones

1995: Chevrolet Corvette
Driver: Jim Perkins

1996: Dodge Viper GTS
Driver: Robert A. Lutz

1997: Oldsmobile Aurora
Driver: Johnny Rutherford

1998: Chevrolet Corvette
Driver: Parnelli Jones

1999: Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Driver: Jay Leno

2000: Oldsmobile Aurora
Driver: Anthony Edwards

2001: Oldsmobile Bravada
Driver: Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp

2002: 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
Driver: Jim Caviezel

2003: Chevy SSR
Driver: Herb Fishel

2004: Chevrolet Corvette C5
Driver: Morgan Freeman

2005: Chevrolet Corvette
Driver: Gen. Colin Powell

2006: Chevrolet Corvette C6
Driver: Lance Armstrong

2007: Chevrolet Corvette
Driver: Patrick Dempsey

2008: Chevrolet Corvette
Driver: Emerson Fittipaldi

2009: Chevrolet Camaro
Driver: Josh Duhamel

2010: Chevrolet Camaro SS
Driver: Robin Roberts

2011: Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
Driver: A.J. Foyt Jr.

2012: Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Driver: Guy Fieri

2013: Corvette Stingray
Driver: Jim Harbaugh

2014: Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Driver: Dario Franchitti

2015: Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Driver: Jeff Gordon

2016: 50th Anniversary Chevrolet Camaro
Driver: Roger Penske

2017: Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
Driver: Jeffrey Dean Morgan

2018: Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Driver: Victor Oladipo

2019: Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
Driver: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

2020: Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
Driver: Mark Reuss

2021: Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
Driver: Danica Patrick