Chevrolet’s ZR1X to Lead the 110th Indianapolis 500
The Corvette ZR1X will pace the 110th Indianapolis 500 on May 24, 2025, marking a historic moment for Chevrolet. The hybrid, all-wheel-drive supercar boasts a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 paired with a front electric motor, delivering a combined 1,250 hp (1,267 PS).
Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary
The ZR1X’s livery honors the United States’ 250th birthday, featuring a split design with Arctic White on one side and Admiral Blue on the other. Red accents, stars-and-stripes graphics, and matching interior elements—including Santorini Blue seats and red seat belts—reinforce the patriotic theme.
Unprecedented Performance for a Pace Car
This year’s pace car is no ordinary vehicle. The ZR1X can reach a top speed of 233 mph (375 km/h), approaching the 230–240 mph (370–386 km/h) speeds of IndyCar racers during qualifying. While it won’t match lap times—due to IndyCars’ lightweight construction and oval-specific tires—the ZR1X underscores Chevrolet’s engineering prowess.
The powertrain consists of a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 (1,064 hp / 1,079 PS) driving the rear wheels, supplemented by a front-mounted electric motor (186 hp / 189 PS). Combined output of 1,250 hp (1,267 PS) is sent through all four wheels for maximum traction.
Chevrolet claims the ZR1X can accelerate from 0–60 mph (0–96 km/h) in under 2 seconds, rivaling open-wheel race cars in straight-line performance.
Race-Ready Aerodynamics
For its pace car duties, the ZR1X is equipped with the Carbon Aero package, which includes:
- Dive planes
- Underbody aero strakes
- A large rear wing generating over 1,200 pounds (544 kg) of downforce
Indiana University’s Curt Cignetti to Drive
Curt Cignetti, head football coach at Indiana University, will pilot the ZR1X during the race, leading the 33-car field to the green flag. This marks another chapter in Chevrolet’s long-standing relationship with the Indianapolis 500, where Corvettes have paced the event since 2017—and many times before.
For the first time, the gap between pace car and race car feels smaller than ever, at least in terms of straight-line speed.
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