Indianapolis 500 Corvettes - Pace Setters

This '86 Yellow Corvette convertible is the real McCoy that paced the Brickyard on May 31, 1986, but all Corvette 'verts built that year-in all colors-were considered replica pace cars. They came with the pace-car graphics package, which could be installed at the owner's discretion. A total of 732 Yellow Corvette convertibles were sold to the public during the 1986 model year.

The '86 Official Pace Car leads 33 race cars around the track for the 70th Annual running of the Indy 500.

Chevrolet celebrated "Sky's the Limit" with the '86 Corvette convertible, so it was only natural that IMS execs would tap USAF general and test pilot Chuck Yeager to be the Official Pace Car's driver. According to the IMS, Yeager was one of the most popular figures to ever pace the race.

Chevy provided four '95 Vettes prepped for Official Pace Car duty, as shown here shortly before the 79th Annual Indy 500 began.

Sure, he drove a '70s Firebird in the NBC show The Rockford Files, but actor James Garner looks just as comfortable as the celebrity driver of this Official Pace Car, a '95 Corvette. Photo by Jim Haines

Here's a rare opportunity to see the '95 Official Pace Cars as the race drivers did: from the rear. Chevy added special light bars to the Vettes as part of its contractual obligation to make the cars track worthy.

Festival cars take a parade lap prior to the start of the 82nd Annual Indy 500. Photo by Leigh Spargur

The '98 Official Pace Car leads the field under yellow following an accident during the race. Photo by Steve Snoddy

The C5 ushered in a whole new generation of Corvette, and a brand-new look for pacing Indy. Golfer Greg Norman was contracted to pace the race, but when an injury and subsequent surgery sidelined him, 1963 Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones took over the driving duties.