Indy 500 Pace Cars over The Years...a Mixed Bag

05/22/96

There has been an official pace car for the famous Indianapolis 500 mile race ever since the event started in 1911. When the tradition began, a car manufacturer would provide just that...A pace car. Now to become the "official" pace car the car maker must provide (loan) about 30 pace cars for drivers and officials, a "hot" car for on track activities and about 20 trucks. Some of the pacers include:

1911     Stoddard-Dayton
1915     Packard "6"
1920     Marmon V-16
1921     HCS "6"
1922     National
1923     Duesenberg
1924     Cole V-8
1927     Lasalle V-8
1925     Rickenbacker
1930     Cord
1947     Nash
1950     Mercury
1956     Desoto
1958     Pontiac
1959     Buick
1962     Studebaker
1961     Ford
1974     Olds
1982     Camaro
1986     Corvette
1990     Beretta
1991     Dodge Viper
1992     Cadillac Allante
1994     Mustang Cobra
1995     Corvette
1996     Viper coupe

Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel