The Chevrolet Corvette’s fastest production car, ever, will be on full display at the Indianapolis 500 next month. Chevy announcing today that the 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X will be the pace car for the 110th Indianapolis 500. The 2026 ZR1X pace car will be decorated with a patriotic theme to honor the United States’ 250th birthday, this summer. The Corvette ZR1X delivers 1,250 horsepower across all four wheels, combining a 186 hp electric motor on the front axle with a 5.5L twin-turbo V8 putting 1,064 hp to the rear wheels. For Pace Car duty, the ZR1X is equipped with the Carbon Aero package, including dive planes on the front bumper, underbody aero strakes and the rear wing, which creates more than 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed.
Indiana University Head Football Coach Curt Cignetti, in celebration of IU Football’s undefeated National Championship season, has been named honorary Pace Car driver and will pace the field of 33 drivers in the Corvette ZR1X to start “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
“America’s hypercar will be front and center at the Indianapolis 500, and it has the speed to stay there,” Corvette Executive Chief Engineer Tony Roma said. “The ZR1X is made for the race track. This Corvette, inspired by America’s 250th anniversary, will absolutely give Coach Cignetti and the fans a thrill.”
The 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X Hypercar
The 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X will do 0-60 in under two seconds. The ZR1X is the most advanced Corvette ever. The ZR1X takes the LT7 twin-turbo V8 with 1,064 horsepower and adds a compact electric motor on the front axle with 186 horsepower, for a total of 1250 horsepower. The amazing thing is that there is no physical connection between the two power sources.
ZR1X features:
- Electrified all-wheel-drive
- LT7 twin-turbo V8 with 1,064 horsepower and 828 lb.-ft. of torque
- Front-axle motor adds 186 horsepower and 145 lb.-ft. of torque
- GM-estimated 0-60: Under 2 seconds
- GM-estimated ¼ mile: Under 9 seconds
- Not a plug-in: ZR1X charges through regenerative efforts from the front drive unit
“From day one, we designed the mid-engine Corvette architecture with ZR1X in mind,” said General Motors senior VP Ken Morris. “This is the most revolutionary platform in Corvette history, supporting the widest range of American sports cars and delivering world-class performance at every level.”
The ZR1X can reach speeds of 233 mph. That incredible speed is close to the speeds that race cars reach on the track.
This 2026 Corvette ZR1X is Specially Designed for the 110th Indianapolis 500
“As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, this pace car design reflects both where we’ve been and where we’re headed,” Chevrolet Global Executive Design Director Phil Zak said. “Every element – from the badging to the colors – were deliberately crafted to honor this milestone while expressing a forward‑looking vision of Chevrolet design.”
Designed in tandem with the Stars and Steel Collection, the Pace Car features the stars‑and‑stripes decals running across the car. This exclusive ZR1X was custom painted, appearing Arctic White from the driver side and Admiral Blue from the opposite profile. Every detail was considered, including the painted striping running down the ZR1X’s carbon fiber spine on the rear hatch.
“Having America’s sports car, the Corvette, pacing the field feels especially fitting this year as we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary,” INDYCAR and IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “With race car-like performance, the Corvette ZR1X is the perfect choice to pace the field of 33 in the Indianapolis 500.”
Corvettes Have Paced the Race More than Any Other Vehicle
GM says, “Corvette is the longest-running car nameplate in automotive industry history, so it’s no surprise Corvette has paced “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” more times than any car.” The 2026 race marks the 37th time for Chevrolet to pace dating back to 1948 and the 23rd time overall, all since 1978, for a Corvette to lead the field..
The 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled to take place Sunday, May 24th, 2026.
Image by Chevrolet
About the Author
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin. Follow Mary at @MaryConwayMedia on X and on Facebook, and send her car news tips for future stories. Mary Conway is an esteemed automotive and business reporter who was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2019. Mary is a member of the Automotive Press Association, Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, Society of Professional Journalists, and NATAS.
Set Torque News as Preferred Source on Google
Follow us today...
