The Indy 500’s Pace Car Has More Power Than the Race Cars

The C8 Corvette ZR1’s incredible 1,064 horsepower brings with it a number of superlatives. Add this unexpected one to the list: More powerful than the race cars it’ll pace to green at this year’s Indy 500.

An IndyCar’s 2.2-liter turbocharged V-6 makes about 700 horsepower on its highest boost setting, give or take a few horsepower. According to the Indianapolis Star, the hybrid system that debuted in the series partway through the 2024 season and making its 500 debut this year, adds around 60 horsepower. So figure somewhere near or below the 800-hp mark.

Photo by: Penske Entertainment

This might be the first time ever the Indy 500 pace car has more power than cars it’s pacing. And not a little more horsepower, over 250 more horsepower. 

Obviously, the Corvette is not faster than an Indy 500 machine. The new ZR1 can top out at 233 mph, but in qualifying, the fastest cars running the 500 should average that sort of speed around four laps of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That’s the benefit of much lower weight, slick tires, and downforce. Still, it’s a funny reflection on the state of modern performance cars, and the monster output of the ZR1 that the one with a VIN has more power. 

Chevrolet has provided Indy 500 pace cars exclusively since 2002, and they’ve been Corvettes since 2017. Former football pro and Good Morning America host Michael Strahan is the celebrity guest pace-car driver this year—a strong choice, given that he’s a huge car enthusiast with a nice collection. The pace car wears a classy livery of green and gold over white, and naturally, it gets the ZR1’s Carbon Aero package, for maximum downforce. 

If you want to see the pace car in action—as well as what is sure to be a top-notch race—the Indy 500 is set for Sunday May 25th with the broadcast starting at Noon on Fox.