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Indianapolis Star
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
How fast does the pace car go at the Indianapolis 500? Michael Strahan, Tom Brady's roles
After a brief delay due to light rain, the 109th Indianapolis 500 officially kicked off with all the drivers heading to the start line behind the pace car. Those who are new to the race festivities may be wondering what a pace car is — and more importantly, how fast it goes. Here's what to know about the Indy 500 tradition. A pace car leads the field through several warm-up laps prior to the start of the race, and it also leads field during caution periods to slow the cars on the track. Cars are not allowed to pass each other — and definitely not the pace car — during caution periods. The pace car has been used at every Indy 500 since its inception in 1911. The Indy 500 pace car drives at about 110 mph. This year's celebrity pace car driver was Pro Football Hall of Famer and television host Michael Strahan. Former New England Patriots quarterback and Fox Sports analyst Tom Brady joined famous NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson in the two-seat IndyCar ahead of the race as well. Strahan drove the 2025 Chevrolet Corvett ZR1, which delivers 1,064 horsepower from its 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, making it the most powerful V8 engine ever produced in the U.S. by an automaker. Indy 500 live updates: Fun report from the Snake Pit, Coke Lot, red carpet and more
Indianapolis Star
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
What is a pace car? What to know about the Indy 500 pace car and driver
Every year before the Indy 500, drivers start their engines and the pace car leads them to the starting line. But what is a pace car? And who drives it? Here's everything you need to know about the racing tradition: A pace car leads the field through several warm-up laps prior to the start of the race, and it also leads field during caution periods to slow the cars on the track. Cars are not allowed to pass each other – and definitely not the pace car – during caution periods. The pace car has been used at every Indy 500 since its inception in 1911. Typically, a celebrity starts out in the Indy 500 pace car prior to the start of the race. Past Indy 500 celebrity pace car drivers have included Lance Armstrong (2006), Guy Fieri (2012), Jeff Gordon (2015), Victor Oladipo (2018), Danica Patrick (2021), Sarah Fisher (2022), Tyrese Haliburton (2023) and Ken Griffey Jr. (2024). After the race begins, a professional driver takes over. For several years, former IndyCar driver and team owner Sarah Fisher has had that duty. This year's celebrity pace car driver is Pro Football Hall of Famer and television host Michael Strahan. The 2025 Chevrolet Corvett ZR1 delivers 1,064 horsepower from its 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, the most powerful V8 engine ever produced in the U.S. by an auto maker. For its pace car duties, the ZR1 comes with the carbon aero package, including dive planes on the front bumper, underbody aero strakes and a rear wing that helps create more than 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speeds. This year's pace car can go from 0-60 mph in 2.3 seconds and hit a quarter-mile in 9.6 seconds at 150 mph as the quickest Corvette ever. Indy 500 pace cars: The 10 worst Indianapolis 500 pace cars of all time The Indy 500 pace car runs about 110 mph. Yes. The brakes of the Dodge Challenger, pacing the 1971 Indy 500 field, locked up after it peeled into the pits. It hit a camera stand at about 60 mph, IndyStar sports columnist Gregg Doyel wrote in 2016. Russ Lake, a photographer in the stand when it happened, fell about 8 feet and was hospitalized for six weeks after breaking a leg and hip. 2025: Michael Strahan: Former NFL player, television host and Fox NFL analyst 2024: Ken Griffey Jr: Baseball Hall of Famer 2023: Tyrese Halliburton: Pacers player 2022: Sarah Fisher: Former race car driver 2021: Danica Patrick: Former race car driver 2020: Mark Reuss: President of General Motors 2019: Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Former race car driver 2018: Victor Oladipo: Pacers player 2017: Jeffrey Dean Morgan: Actor 2016: Roger Penske: Racing team owner, businessman 2015: Jeff Gordon: Race car driver 2014: Dario Franchitti: Race car driver 2013: Jim Harbaugh: NFL player, NFL and college coach 2012: Guy Fierei: Celebrity chef 2011: A.J. Foyt (Mari Hulman George passenger): Former race car driver 2010: Robin Roberts: Broadcaster, morning show host 2009: Josh Duhamel: Actor 2008: Emerson Fittipaldi: Race car driver 2007: Patrick Dempsey: Actor 2006: Lance Armstrong: Former professional bicycle racer 2005: General Colin Powell: U.S. Secretary of State, chairman joint chiefs of staff 2004: Morgan Freeman: Actor 2003: Herb Fishel: General Motors' racing executive director 2002: Jim Caviezel: Actor 2001: Elaine Irwin Mellencamp: Supermodel 2000: Anthony Edwards: Actor 1999: Jay Leno: Comedian, Tonight Show host 1998: Parnelli Jones: Former race car driver 1997: Johnny Rutherford: Race car driver 1996: Bob Lutz: Automotive executive 1995: Jim Perkins: Automotive executive 1994: Parnelli Jones: Race car driver 1993: Jim Perkins: Automotive executive 1992: Bobby Unser: Race car driver 1991: Carroll Shelby: Race car driver, designer 1990: Jim Perkins: Automotive executive 1989: Bobby Unser: Race car driver 1988: Chuck Yeager: Test pilot, Air Force general 1987: Carroll Shelby: Race car driver, designer 1986: Check Yeager: Test pilot, Air Force general 1985: James Garner: Actor 1984: John Callies: Automotive executive 1983: Duke Nalon: Race car driver 1982: Jim Rathmann: Race car driver 1981: Duke Nalon: Race car driver 1980: Johnnie Parsons: Race car driver 1979: Jackie Stewart: Race car driver 1978: Jim Rathmann: Race car driver 1977: James Garner: Actor 1976: Marty Robbins: Country music singer, NASCAR driver 1975: James Garner: Actor 1974: Jim Rathmann: Race car driver 1973: Jim Rathmann: Race car driver 1972: Jim Rathmann: Race car driver 1971: Eldon Palmer: Indianapolis-area car dealer 1970: Rodger Ward: Race car driver 1969: Jim Rathmann: Race car driver 1968: William Clay Ford Sr.: Executive chairman of Ford motors 1967: Mauri Rose: Race car driver 1966: Benson Ford: Automotive executive 1965: P.M. Buckminster: Automotive executive 1964: Benson Ford: Automotive executive 1963: Sam Hanks: Race car driver 1962: Sam Hanks: Race car driver 1961: Sam Hanks: Race car driver 1960: Sam Hanks: Race car driver 1959: Sam Hanks: Race car driver 1958: Sam Hanks: Race car driver 1957: F.C. Reith: Automotive executive 1956: L.I. Woolson: Automotive executive 1955: Thomas H. Keating: Automotive executive 1954: William C. Newburg: Automotive executive 1953: William Clay Ford Sr.: Automotive executive 1952: P.O. Peterson: Automotive executive 1951: David A. Wallace: Automotive executive 1950: Benson Ford: Automotive executive 1949: Wilbur Shaw: Race car driver, president of IMS 1948: Wilbur Shaw: Race car driver, president of IMS 1947: George W. Mason: Automotive executive 1946: Henry Ford II: Automotive executive 1941: A.B. Couture 1940: Harry Hartz: 1939: Charles Chayne: Automotive executive 1938: Stuart Baits: Race car designer 1937: Ralph DePalma: Race car driver 1936: Tommy Milton: Race car driver 1935: Harry Mack: Automotive executive 1934: Willard 'Big Boy' Radar: Long distance test driver 1933: Byron Foy 1932: Edsel Ford 1931: Willard 'Big Boy' Radar: Long distance test driver 1930: Wade Morton: Race car driver 1929: George Hunt 1928: Joe Dawson: Race car driver 1927: Willard 'Big Boy' Radar: Long distance test driver 1926: Louis Chevrolet: Race car driver, founder of Chevrolet 1925: Eddie Rickenbacker: Race car driver, owner of IMS 1924: Lew Pettijohn: Test driver 1923: Fred Duesenberg: Founder of Duesenberg 1922: Barney Oldfield: Race car driver 1921: Harry C. Stutz: Founder of Stutz 1920: Barney Oldfield: Race car driver 1919: Jess G. Vincent: Engine designer 1916: Frank E. Smith 1915: Carl Fisher: Created IMS 1914: Carl Fisher: Created IMS 1913: Carl Fisher: Created IMS 1912: Carl Fisher: Created IMS
