Indy 500 Pace Cars
Photo | YEAR | CAR | DRIVER |
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2018 |
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 755 hp LT5 6.2L Supercharged V-8 |
Victor Oladipo - NBA Pacer |
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2017 |
Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport 430hp LT1 V-8 |
Jeffrey Dean Morgan - Actor |
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2016 |
Chevrolet Camaro SS 455hp LT1 6.2L V-8 |
Roger Penske - Owner Penske Corp & Penske Racing |
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2015 |
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 650hp LT4 6.2L Supercharged V-8 |
Jeff Gordon - Retired NASCAR champion |
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2014 |
Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 505hp 7L V-8 |
Dario Franchitti - Retired IndyCar Champion |
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2013 |
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 638hp 6.2L LS9 Supercharged V-8 |
Jim Harbaugh - NFL Coach, ex-quarterback |
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2012 |
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 638 hp 6.2L Supercharged V-8 |
Guy Fieri - Celebrity Chef |
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2011 |
Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible 426hp 6.2L V-8 500 copies made Some convertible Camaros feature leather seats which need to be protected from the elements and unexpected rain showers. While owners may not want to cover their beautiful leather seats with seat covers, seat covers for cars can be useful in protecting against rips and accidental spills. |
A.J. Foyt Jr. - 4-time Indy 500 Winner |
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2010 |
Chevrolet Camaro SS 426 hp 6.2L V-8 |
Robin Roberts - Morning show co-host |
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2009 |
Chevrolet Camaro 426hp 6.2L V-8 |
Josh Duhamel - Actor |
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2008 |
Chevrolet Corvette Z-06 Green-yellow-red prism paint Will run on E85 Ethanol fuel The black car is a 30th anniversary edition - 500 copies to be made. |
Emerson Fittipaldi - 2-time Indy 500 winner, 2-time F1 Champion |
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2007 |
Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 400hp 363 c.i. V-8 |
Patrick Dempsey - Actor |
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2006 |
Chevrolet Corvette Z-06 505hp 7L V-8 |
Lance Armstrong - 7-time Winner of Tour de France |
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2005 |
Chevrolet Corvette 400hp 6L V-8 |
General Colin Powell - U.S. Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff |
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2004 |
Chevrolet Corvette C5 345hp 5.7L V-8 |
Morgan Freeman - Academy Award-winning actor |
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2003 |
Chevy SSR 290hp 5.3L V-8 Convertible pickup ![]() |
Herb Fishel - Exec. Director of GM Racing |
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2002 |
Chevrolet Corvette 345hp 5.7L V-8 |
Jim Caviezel - Film actor |
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2001 |
Oldsmobile Bravada 270hp inline V-6 SUV |
Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp - Supermodel |
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2000 |
Oldsmobile Aurora 250hp 4L V-8 |
Anthony Edwards - Film and TV actor |
Photo | YEAR | CAR | DRIVER |
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1999 |
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 215hp 3.4L V-6 FWD |
Jay Leno - Talk Show Host, Comedian, Car Collector |
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1998 |
Chevrolet Corvette 345hp 5.7L V-8 |
Parnelli Jones - 1963 Indy 500 Winner |
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1997 |
Oldsmobile Aurora 250hp 4L V-8 |
Johnny Rutherford - 3-time Indy 500 Winner |
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1996 |
Dodge Viper 450hp 8L V-10 |
Robert A. Lutz - Chairman of GM |
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1995 |
Chevrolet Corvette 300hp 5.7L V-8 |
Jim Perkins - GM of Chevrolet |
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1994 |
Ford Mustang Cobra 235hp 5L V-8 1000 "Rio Red" Cobra SVT w/manual tranny made for sale. 107 "Rio Red" Mustang GT Festival Cars with automatics made. |
Parnelli Jones |
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1993 |
Chevrolet Camaro Z-28 275hp 5.7L V-8 4th generation Camaro |
Jim Perkins |
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1992 |
Cadillac Allant� 295hp 4.6L Northstar V-8 |
Bobby Unser - 3-time Indy 500 Winner |
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1991 |
Dodge Viper 400hp 8L V-10 ![]() |
Carroll Shelby
The Dodge Stealth was to be the pace car, but the UAW didn't like the joint venture between Chrysler and Mitsubishi, forcing Dodge to use the as-yet unreleased Viper. |
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1990 |
Chevrolet Beretta 180hp 2.3L Quad 4 FWD |
Jim Perkins |
Photo | YEAR | CAR | DRIVER |
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1989 |
Pontiac Trans Am GTA 250hp 231c.i. Turbo V-6 1500 replicas produced |
Bobby Unser - 3-time Indy 500 Winner |
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1988 |
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 250hp 138c.i. Turbo 4-cyl Front-wheel-drive |
Gen. Chuck Yeager - Test Pilot, 1st to fly at Mach 1 |
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1987 |
Chrysler LeBaron 230hp 135c.i. Turbo 4-cyl |
Carroll Shelby - Racing and Automobile Design Legend |
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1986 |
Chevrolet Corvette 230hp 350c.i. V-8 1st Vette ragtop in 15 years |
Gen. Chuck Yeager |
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1985 |
Oldsmobile Calais 215hp 2.7L 4-cyl Front-wheel-drive 4-passenger Calais converted to an open roof |
James Garner - Film and TV actor |
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1984 |
Pontiac Fiero
232hp 165c.i. 4-cyl 1st 4-cyl pace car since 1912 the smallest pace car 2000 replicas produced |
John Callies - Mgr of Pontiac Motorsports Div. |
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1983 |
Buick Riviera Convertible
450hp 252c.i. twin-turbo V-6 which led to the turbocharged Buick V-6 Indy car engines the following year. |
Duke Nalon - Drove Novi's in the Indy 500 |
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1982 |
Chevrolet Camaro Z28
350c.i. V-8 modded to 250hp 6000 commemorative editions built |
Jim Rathmann - 1960 Indy 500 Winner |
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1981 |
Buick Regal
252c.i. V-6 modded to 281hp Chopped roof |
Duke Nalon |
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1980 |
Pontiac Turbo-Trans Am
210hp 301c.i. V-8 Turbo |
Johnnie Parsons, Sr. - 1950 Indy 500 Winner |
Photo | YEAR | CAR | DRIVER |
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1979 |
Ford Mustang II
302c.i. V-8 modded to 280hp 11,000 replicas! |
Jackie Stewart - 3-time F1 World Champion Until 2008, he was the only foreign Indy 500 pace car driver. |
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1978 |
Chevrolet Corvette
220hp 350c.i. V-8 Originally 2500 replicas planned, orders swelled production to 6000 |
Jim Rathmann
Note: Chevy provided a large number of Camaro Z-28s and Monte Carlos as parade and courtesy vehicles. |
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1977 |
Oldsmobile Delta 88
modified 403c.i. V-8 Modified with a removable top. |
James Garner |
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1976 |
Buick Century
306hp turbo 261c.i. V-6 The 1st V-6 pace car 1290 replicas produced |
Marty Robbins - Country singer who also raced NASCAR |
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1975 |
Buick Century Custom
325hp 455c.i. V-8 40 replicas produced |
James Garner |
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1974 |
Hurst/Olds Cutlass
230hp 455c.i. V-8 The top was chopped because no convertible models. 380 replicas produced |
Jim Rathmann |
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1973 |
Cadillac Eldorado
Front-wheel-drive 235hp 500c.i. V-8 modified to 500hp! |
Jim Rathmann
Note: Winner Gordon Johncock didn't recieve the 500hp model. |
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1972 |
Hurst-Olds Cutlass
300hp 455c.i. V-8 130 replicas |
Jim Rathmann |
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1971 |
Dodge Challenger
300hp 383c.i. V-8 51 replicas and only 2165 were produced |
Eldon Palmer - Indianapolis car dealer Palmer lost control on pit lane with astronaut John Glenn, Tony Hulman and a sportscaster aboard, crashing into a photographer stand and injuring 20 people. The only Indy 500 pace car accident ever. |
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1970 |
Oldsmobile 4-4-2
365hp 455c.i. V-8 |
Rodger Ward - 2-time Indy 500 Winner |
Photo | YEAR | CAR | DRIVER |
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1969 |
Chevrolet Camaro
modified 375hp 396c.i. V-8 3675 produced. 60 were used at the speedway. |
Jim Rathmann - 1960 Indy 500 winner, Chevy dealer |
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1968 |
Ford Torino/Fairlane 390hp 427c.i. V-8 |
William Clay Ford Sr. - Grandson of Henry Ford, Owner of Detroit Lions |
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1967 |
Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS
modified 375hp 396c.i. V-8 81 Promotional models made. Dealers made replicas too. |
Mauri Rose - 2-time Indy 500 Winner |
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1966 |
Mercury Comet Cyclone GT
335hp 390c.i. V-8 only 2,158 were produced |
Benson Ford - Grandson of Henry Ford |
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1965 |
Plymouth Sports Fury 270hp 383c.i. V-8 Blue convertible top |
P.M. Buckminster - GM of Chrysler-Plymouth
Note: Jim Clark became the first foreigner to win the pace car. |
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1964 |
Ford Mustang
271hp 289c.i. V-8 190 hardtops made. 35 Convertibles made. |
Benson Ford |
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1963 |
Chrysler "300"
360hp 413c.i. V-8 1861 replicas were made. |
Sam Hanks - 1957 Indy 500 Winner |
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1962 |
Studebaker Lark Daytona
210hp 289c.i. V-8 The Studebaker Avanti was supposed to be pacecar, but didn't see production in time. |
Sam Hanks |
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1961 |
Ford Thunderbird 300hp 390c.i. V-8 |
Sam Hanks
Note: A.J. Foyt saw his mom admiring this gold car and he said he'd win it for her. He did. |
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1960 |
Oldsmobile 98
315hp 394c.i. V-8 |
Sam Hanks |
Photo | YEAR | CAR | DRIVER |
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1959 |
Buick Electra 225
325hp 401c.i. V-8 |
Sam Hanks |
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1958 |
Pontiac Bonneville
310hp 370c.i. V-8 200 of these engines were produced so they could use them in NASCAR |
Sam Hanks
Note: For the 2nd, but last year, the racers were started from the pit area. |
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1957 |
Mercury 290hp 368c.i. V-8 |
F.C. "Jack" Reith - GM of Mercury, VP of Ford |
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1956 |
DeSoto Fireflite painted gold like an Adventurer |
L.I. Woolson - President of DeSoto |
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1955 |
Chevrolet Bel Air 180hp 265c.i. V-8 |
Thomas H. Keating - Chevrolet Sales Mgr |
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1954 |
Dodge Royal 500 170hp 241c.i. hemi V-8 |
William C. Newburg
Note: Wilbur Shaw had ridden along in previous years and this was his last race due to his death in a October plane crash. |
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1953 |
Ford Crestline Sunliner
110hp 239c.i. flathead V-8 2000 replicas created |
William Clay Ford, Sr.
He was the 4th member of the Ford family to be a pace car driver. |
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1952 |
Studebaker Commander
120hp 232c.i. V-8 |
P.O. Peterson - Exec. VP of Studebaker |
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1951 |
Chrysler New Yorker
180hp 331c.i. hemi V-8 |
Dave Wallace - President of Chrysler |
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1950 |
Mercury
110hp 255c.i. V-8 |
Benson Ford - Head of Lincoln-Mercury |
Photo | YEAR | CAR | DRIVER |
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1949 |
Oldsmobile 88
This car was red. 135hp 303c.i. V-8 |
Wilbur Shaw Note: Upon the front row jumping the start, Shaw would henceforth face backward from passenger seat to wave field into line, letting others drive. |
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1948 |
Chevrolet Stylemaster Six-Series
90hp 216c.i. inline 6 |
Wilbur Shaw - 3-time Indy 500 Winner / President of Indy Speedway |
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1947 |
Nash Ambassador
112hp 234c.i. inline 6 This car was yellow. (One of the very few non-convertible pace cars) |
George W. Mason - CEO of American Motors |
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1946 |
Lincoln Continental
130hp 305c.i. V-12 |
Henry Ford II - President of Ford
Note: 500 Winner George Robson did not receive a pace car, he was killed racing at Atlanta Speedway Sept. 2, 1946. |
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1941 |
Chrysler-Newport (Phaeton) Only six of these cars were produced The only non-production pace car 143hp 323c.i. straight 8 |
A.B. Couture
Note: Indy 500 co-winners Mauri Rose / Floyd Davis did not receive this car. |
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1940 |
Studebaker Champion
78hp 164c.i. L-head 6-cyl 1st enclosed pace car |
Ab Jenkins - Land Speed Record Holder |
Photo | YEAR | CAR | DRIVER |
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1939 |
Buick Roadmaster 80 Series 141hp 320c.i. straight 8 Actual pace car was white |
Charles Chayne - Buick Chief Engineer |
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1938 |
Hudson "112" 112-inch wheelbase 83hp 175c.i. inline flathead 6 0-60 in 35 seconds 24 mpg |
Stuart Baits - Designer of the Hudson 112 |
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1937 |
LaSalle
125hp 322c.i. V-8 |
Ralph DePalma - 1915 Indy 500 Winner |
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1936 |
Packard "120"
120hp 282c.i. straight 8 |
Tommy Milton - 2-time Indy 500 Winner
Milton proposed that the pace car be given to the 500 winner, a tradition that continues to this day. |
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1935 | Ford V-8 | Harry Mack - Ford Dearborn Branch Exec. |
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1934 | LaSalle | Willard "Big Boy" Rader |
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1933 | Chrysler Imperial (Phaeton) | Byron Foy |
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1932 | Lincoln | Edsel Ford - Responsible for this pace car |
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1931 | Cadillac | Willard "Big Boy" Rader |
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1930 | Cord L-29 | Wade Morton, a former driver (he shared Phil Shafer�s third-placed Duesenberg in the 1925 �500″) who had an association with Cord. |
Photo | YEAR | CAR | DRIVER |
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1929 | Studebaker President | George Hunt |
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1928 | Marmon "8" (Model 78) | Joe Dawson - 1912 Indy 500 Winner, Test driver for Marmon |
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1927 | LaSalle V-8 | Willard "Big Boy" Rader - famous Long Distance Test Driver |
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1926 | Chrysler Imperial "80" | Louis Chevrolet - Founder of Chevrolet, Race car driver |
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1925 | Rickenbacker "8" | Eddie Rickenbacker - Race car driver, WWI Flying Ace, Owner of Indy Speedway, CEO of Eastern Airlines |
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1924 | Cole V-8 | Lew Pettijohn - Cole test driver |
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1923 | Duesenberg | Fred S. Duesenberg - He and his brother founded Duesenberg |
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1922 | National Sextet |
Barney Oldfield - Popular race car driver 1st man to drive 60 mph on flat land |
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1921 | H.C.S. "6" | Harry C. Stutz - Founder of Stutz |
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1920 | Marmon "6" (Model 34) | Barney Oldfield |
Photo | YEAR | CAR | DRIVER |
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1919 |
Packard V-12
called Twin Six |
Col. Jesse G. Vincent - Designer of the twin six engine |
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1916 | Premier "6" | Frank E. Smith |
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1915 | Packard "6" | Carl G. Fisher - Founded the first car company in the US, Created the Indy Speedway, Created the Lincoln Hiway, Created Miami Beach. |
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1914 | Stoddard Dayton | Carl G. Fisher |
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1913 | Stoddard Dayton | Carl G. Fisher |
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1912 | Stutz | Carl G. Fisher |
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1911 | Stoddard Dayton | Carl G. Fisher |
RELATED WEB SITES:
IndyPaceCar.com
Jets Vettes - Lots of photos and memorabilia for some Corvette Pace Cars.
1998 Pace Car serial numbers
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