The 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS will have the honour of leading the inaugural lap of the 100th Indianapolis 500. This 50th anniversary of the Camaro will be driven by motorsport legend Roger Penske who, much like the Camaro, has 50 years of experience in the industry.
The Camaro has a long history of serving as a pace car for the Indy 500 with this being its ninth run around the oval and 27th Chevrolet to grace this title. It was therefore a logical decision to have the Camaro and the Indy 500 share their anniversaries with one another this year.
Four of these pace cars will be on the track and will feature “100th Running of the Indianapolis 500” decals on the doors with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway wing-and-wheel logo on the quarter panels as well as detailing found on 50th anniversary models set to be sold in a few months time.
Roger Penske was the ideal candidate to pilot the pace car because of the success his teams have experienced at Indianapolis. Since 1972 the team has managed to claim 16 victories at the Brickyard as well as several wins in other competitions such as the Trans-Am with the help of the Chevrolet Camaro.