1996 Indianapolis 500 Indy 500 Pace Cars over The Years...a Mixed Bag By Bill Maloney

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