Jim Butler Auto Blog Extreme: Corvette Grand Sport Once Again Paces the Indy 500 Domain

This year on May 28th, the Corvette Grand Sport will be the official pace car for the biggest and most-anticipated annual racing event of the year: the Indy 500. This inspirational and one-of-a-kind auto creation will be poised to show drivers the way to the green flag, when the date marks the 101st running of this legendary contest. It comes as no surprise that it is the 14th time that a 'Vette has served as the official pace car, beginning just two years after the bicentennial in 1978. This is the car that has lead the way during the epic event more times than any other, and it is a symbol of just how strongly heritage and pride can drive a brand. The current 'Vette can complete the 0-60 MPH jump test in just 3.6 seconds, and can conquer the 1.4-mile in a mere 11.8.

There are several stand-out features that place this landmark vehicle in a category of its own, and guarantee it many dominant performances in the future. The 460-hp LT1 direct-injected V-8 engine roars under the hood proudly, while maximizing dry-sump oiling and active exhaust to properly get job done. The automatic transmission is utilized to its fullest potential with 8-speed paddle-shift function, and the car is equipped with available carbon-fiber ground effects package. The specific Grand Sport wheel design is a 19x 10-inch in the front, 20 x 12-inch in the rear, and standard magnetic ride control gives the driver a very unique spring and stabilized feel.

The limited-slip differential is electronic on the Grand Sport, and you can come talk to us at the dealership about the available Z07 package: with carbon ceramic-matrix brake rotors, and 285/30ZR19 front and 335/25ZR20 rear high-performance tires, it dominates anywhere from the Indy 500 itself, to the local two-lane stretch of your choice. The Brembo Carbon Ceramic brake system with 15.5-inch rotors and six-piston calipers are going to assure that you are able to stop with seamless grace, and that you won't ever have difficulty braking on any form of a dime or its counterparts. You can even select a unique Indy 500 graphics package, to be your own personal testament and memory of just how awesome this machine is.

The Chevrolet brand was founded in 1911, which was the year of the inaugural 500-mile race, and the company co-founder Louis Chevrolet was a competitor in early Indy 500 Races decades ago. Gaston Chevrolet actually won the 500 in 1920, ten years before the nation slipped into depression, and during the time that flappers were all the rage. Chevy Motors and the Indy 500 literally share one of the richest and longest-standing relationships in all of the driving industry, and this is the sixth consecutive year that Chevrolet is pursing the IndyCar manufacturer championship. There is really no place as legendary and all-around electrifying in the car world as the Indianapolis 500, and the Corvette's ability to lead the way once again will no doubt mark this annual event as a worldwide winner once again!