cars news 10: 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS 50th Anniversary Edition to Pace Indy 500

The 100^th running of the Indianapolis 500 will be paced by a 50^th Anniversary Edition of the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS, the automaker announced. The 50^th Anniversary Camaro SS will be driven by Roger Penske during his 50^th year as a race team owner.

The 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS 50^th Anniversary Edition pace car will be the ninth Camaro and the 27th Chevrolet model to pace the famous race since 1948.

“Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500 have a long, storied history and it’s an honor to mark the respective milestones of the Indy 500 race and the Camaro simultaneously,” said Chevrolet’s Mark Reuss, in a release. “It’s also a privilege to have Roger Penske perform the driving duties, as his team has helped Chevrolet earn four consecutive IndyCar manufacturer titles since 2012.”

2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS 50th Anniversary Edition Indy 500 Pace Car front three quarter with Roger Penske 01

2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS 50th Anniversary Edition Indy 500 Pace Car front three quarter 01

2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS 50th Anniversary Edition Indy 500 Pace Car top view

2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS 50th Anniversary Edition Indy 500 Pace Car front three quarter 06

2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS 50th Anniversary Edition Indy 500 Pace Car front end 02

While the standard Camaro 50^th Anniversary models available to the public feature a unique Nightfall Gray exterior color with orange accents, the pace cars come in an exclusive Abalone White paint and has “100th Running of the Indianapolis 500” door graphics and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway logo on the rear quarter panels. The four identical pace cars also feature all the standard bits from the Camaro 50^th Anniversary model.

Although the regular 50^th Anniversary package is available on both the 2SS and 2LT coupe and convertible models, which comes standard with a turbo 2.0-liter I-4 and has the option of a 3.6-liter V-6, all pace cars are coupe only and sport the 455-hp 6.2-liter LT1 V-8 engine of the SS.

Last year, Chevy-powered cars took the top four spots during the 2015 Indianapolis 500 with Juan Pablo Montoya of Team Penske taking the first place finish. This year’s race takes place on May 29.

Below is a list of past Chevrolet Camaro pace cars.

1967 – RS/SS convertible

1969 – RS/SS convertible

1982 – Z28 coupe

1993 – Z28 coupe

2009 – SS coupe (2010 model)

2010 – SS coupe

2011 – SS convertible

2014 – Z/28 coupe

2016 – Camaro SS (2017 50th Anniversary Edition)

Source: Chevrolet

2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS 50th Anniversary Edition Indy 500 Pace Car front end 01