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Indy Pace Car

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The Indy 500 pace car is a safety car that limits the speed of competing cars on a race track, in case of a major accident or obstruction on the track. The Indy 500 pace car is also deployed for weather reasons. At every Indy 500 since 1911, an American automobile has been chosen to be the Indy 500 pace car and lead the pack at the Indy 500. The Indy 500 pace car represents the best in American automotive technology.

Officials at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway have been the ones to select the Indy 500 pace car and an Indy 500 pace car driver every year. The first Indy 500 pace car was a Stoddard-Dayton, driven by Carl G. Fisher. Chevrolet models have been chosen as the official Indy 500 pace car several times.

The Indy 500 pace car is selected two months before the Indy 500 race. That allows the manufactures of the selected Indy 500 pace car to produce replicas of that year’s Indy 500 pace car. Indy 500 pace cars are sold at a marked premium to collectors and race fans. Indy 500 pace car replicas are often seen on Indianapolis streets weeks before the race is held. Automakers compete for the honor of having the opportunity to have one of their models selected as that year’s Indy 500 pace car. This is also done for publicity.

This Indy 500 pace car strategy failed for Chrysler Corporation and the local Indianapolis Dodge dealers in 1971. Eldon Palmer was driving a Dodge Challenger as the Indy 500 pace car, lost control of it, and crashed the 1971 Indy 500 pace car into a photograph stand, injuring several people. The cause of that Indy 500 pace car crash was undetermined at the time, but officials later realized that an orange cone or flag, which was supposed to be used to identify Palmer’s braking point, was actually removed.

In the last 50 years, the Pontiac Trans Am, Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Corvette, Oldsmobile Cutlass, and the Ford Mustang are the only Indy 500 pace car models that have been selected as Indy 500 pace cars three or more times. The pace car is also used during the Indy Racing League season. Johnny Rutherford is the normal drivers of the IRL Pace Car for all series events, including driving the Indy 500 pace car.

Celebrity drivers are used to captain the Indy 500 pace cars, but only for the start of the race. Afterwards, Johnny Rutherford takes over the driving. Former celebrity Indy 500 pace car drivers include Jay Leno, Lance Armstrong, General Colin Powell, Morgan, Freeman, and Anthony Edwards, just to name a few.

On Point is an independent Indy 500 travel package and ticket broker that specializes in sports travel packages and tickets to high demand events worldwide.  The sports travel packages we offer can be catered to your individual desires and are sure to be an unforgettable experience. Though we offer pre-planned Indy 500 travel packages, with the many options we have available, On Point can arrange customized Indy 500 packages that no one else in the industry can provide. 

To request a quote for an Indy 500 package or to discover more of what On Point can do for you and your private party, contact us today at 713-227-8888 to speak with one of our executive travel consultants.  You can also call our Travel Agent Hotline at 800-809-1277 or e-mail us at info@onpointevents.com.