Former NASCAR and IndyCar driver Danica Patrick will serve as the pace car driver for the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500 this month.
Patrick, who drove Chevy-powered vehicles for a good chunk of her career, will pilot a C8 Corvette Convertible pace car at Indy, which the automaker showed off in a series of images released earlier this month. The C8 Corvette pace car features an Arctic White exterior, Strike Yellow accents and a matching Strike Yellow/Sky Cool Grey interior.
“I am very honored to drive the Corvette Stingray Pace Car this year at the Indy 500,” Patrick said in a prepared statement. “It is even more special because of the past year we have all endured, and it will be so nice to see fans back in the stands. I’m also excited to again be a part of the NBC broadcast team for the race.”
“I have always loved Chevy vehicles, and the Corvette convertible is such a beautiful car,” she added. “Maybe they will let me drive it home!”
In addition to driving the pace car, Patrick will also serve as a studio analyst for NBC’s live coverage of the 500-mile race, joining host Mike Tirico and fellow analyst Jimmie Johnson in the booth.
Patrick at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2015
While Patrick never won the Indy 500 herself, she finished third in the so-called’ Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ back in 2009 – the best-ever finish for a female driver in the event. The Roscoe, Illinois native also holds the record for the most Indy 500 laps led for a female driver at 29. Her last Indy 500 start came in 2018 and unfortunately ended with her crashing out of the race on Lap 68.
“We’re honored that Danica Patrick will pace the field at this year’s Indianapolis 500,” added GM’s VP of motorsports, Jim Campbell. “It’s going to be great to see Danica back at the Speedway that she knows so well, behind the wheel of our 2021 Corvette convertible.”
Qualifying for the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500 will be held this weekend ahead of the green flag at 12:45 pm. on Sunday, May 30th.
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Comments
Barf!
The only thing that got me excited about this article is Sam McEachern referring to the Indy 500 as the “so called” Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Is there a greater spectacle in racing? If we’re talking about car racing, what other race comes close to this?
500 mile race, 2.5 mile oval
Lap speeds above 220 mph
Straightaway speeds about 250 mph
Flat track, only 9 degrees banking in turns
Why?
Is it a salute to irrelevance?