A Classic Returns To 93rd Indy 500

Today I was watching the webcast from Indianapolis Motor Speedway where the Pace Car for the 93rd Indianapolis 500 was unveiled. You might think as many races as I’ve covered over the years that a Pace Car is nothing special. Well there’s a difference, this is the Indy 500 Pace Car. The car, it’s paint scheme and packaging is a piece of racing history that is just unfolding. The manufacturer will release an Indianapolis 500 edition that collectors will be snapping up, even at a time when cars aren’t rolling off the dealership’s lots. In a few years you know that this car or one the ‘civilian editions’ will be bringing top dollar at a collector auto auction like Barrett-Jackson, because this the Indy 500 we are talking about. The Indy Pace Car is a motor sports time capsule for that year. Car people can always name the Pace Car from past Indy 500 races, but are not be able to tell you who won that year.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro Pace Car - Replica

This year the car tapped to lead the field to the green flag on May 24th is the Chevrolet Camaro. The Camaro was also the Pace Car for the 1967, 1969, 1982 and 1993 Indianapolis 500 races. The 1969 Camaro was one of the most revered and coveted of Pace Cars and now forty years later it will be making a return to the Brickyard. Only one other car has appeared as the Pace Car more than the Camero and that is the Corvette which has made ten races.

I’m really glad to see the Camaro return to the Chevy product line, even in age where Detroit muscle cars aren’t as vogue as they were in the past. The style of the 2010 Camaro is a tip of the hat to the era when street muscle was an art form. Fast, stylish rides are part of the American fabric. While the Camaro may not get the gas mileage of Honda, we really need a new dream car to put on the “bucket list”.

Another thing any die hard race fan has on their “bucket list” is attending an Indianapolis 500. The Indianapolis 500 tickets for May 24, 2009 are one the most affordable of the major races in the world. The size of the facility can accommodate hundreds of thousands of fans and the track is a day’s drive away from a large part of the nation’s population and there are plenty of hotels in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway area. “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” is a once in a lifetime experience and seeing the new Camaro leading the field across the starting line will make seeing this year’s race a larger experience.