The 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1 coupe has been confirmed as the official pace car for the 109th Indy 500. The race will take place on Sunday, May 25th, 2025, at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway and will be broadcast live on Fox.
The American supercar will be piloted by Pro Football Hall of Fame member Michael Strahan. Strahan played a long career as a defensive end for the New York Giants from 1993 to 2007 and has been an active media personality since then, including as an analyst on Fox NFL Sunday.
“Michael is an impressive addition to the lineup of all-star athletes and celebrities to serve as honorary Pace Car driver for the Indianapolis 500,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “From the gridiron to the broadcast studio, Michael is no stranger to leading a fast-paced field. As we kick off a new era of INDYCAR and the Indy 500 on FOX, Michael will have one of the best seats in the house for the start of the world’s greatest race.”
The livery for the Corvette ZR1 pace car is forthcoming. The C8 ZR1 is an obvious choice for next year’s Indy 500 pace car due to its multiple milestone achievements, including being the first Corvette with a four-digit horsepower rating from the factory and the fastest American production car of all time with a top speed of 233 mph.
Per our previous reporting, ZR1 ordering will open in February 2025, so orders will be well under way by the time the green flag drops at the next Indy 500. Although GM has yet to release an official MSRP number, a GM Authority poll shows that the majority of readers believe it will be between $175,000 and $200,000.
In addition to a new exterior style that offers an iconic split rear window design and an optional high-downforce aero kit, the new ZR1 is motivated by the twin-turbocharged 5.5L V8 LT7 gasoline engine, which is rated at 1,064 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 828 pound-feet of torque at 6,000 rpm. Making the boost are the largest passenger car twin turbochargers currently on the market.
Under the skin, all C8 variants ride on the GM Y2 platform, while production takes place at the GM Bowling Green plant in Kentucky.
Comments
GM, it takes big guts to fool the public as if the ZR-1 will be available to order or purchase this soon. You can’t fill the orders for the Z06! I’ve been on the list since the vehicle was unveiled and still sitting at 3000 status, and no Z06. I ordered a 2023 Stingray 3LT, and have recently sold it, with only 3,333 mi, while waiting for the next level up. The C8 corvette is an awesome vehicle to drive. Come on GM, get it together, step up your game and get your Z06 customers riding!
Literally February.
something must be on constraint. call a dealer in michigan. lafontaine or les stanford
You’re at the wrong dealer, plain and simple!
I second that. Wrong dealer.
….. GM must have taken the cushion out to fit him under the roof …..
what has he done for racing…nothing…wrong choice
Just like what Bubba has done for NASCAR.
Pace cars should be driven by current or former NASCAR, Indianapolis or Grand Prix drivers. Especially when the Pace Car has 1064 hp.