The 1999 Indianapolis 500 pace car, Chevrolet’s 2000 Monte Carlo. Photo from history.gmheritagecenter.com

The Indianapolis 500 race started the tradition of using a pace car to keep the starting field in order to begin the race from a rolling start. Prior to 1911, almost every auto race utilized a standing start to begin the race. The pace car is required to collect the field back up at a reduced speed for an organized restart after a caution. For all intent and purposes, the pace car is a safety car.

It has also become part of the winner’s booty. Since 1936, the winner of the Indianapolis 500 has been presented with one of that year’s pace cars, or an expact replica of the pace car. Another time honored tradition of the pace car experience has been that a celebrity or former racer, was invited to drive the pace car to start the race. Auto manufacturers fight for the privilege of supplying the pace car to showcase the latest model or special car in their lineup. Several have gone on to become legendary classics, and we count down the top ten Indianapolis 500 Chevy pace cars of all time.

The Start of the 1999 Indianapolis 500:

2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Many fans hated the 2000 Monte Carlo selection as the Indianapolis 500 pace car. Accustomed to sportier cars like the Camaro or Corvette bowties, the Indy crowd turned their noses up at the more NASCAR-like full size sedan. While the Monte Carlo may not have been the most popular choice, it was a good car and filled the role as pace car very well. It was a ballsy choice. This was not a dreamer car, it was one that anyone coming to the track might have driven to get there. An everyman car. That is what ranks it as one of the top five in our book.

Five Chevrolet Monte Carlos pace the field as they come to the green flag. Photo capture from the video.

There were 2,222 factory Y92 Indy 500 pace car replicas based off of the Monte Carlo that paced the 1999 Indianapolis 500. Painted in a Torch Red exterior with special Indy decals along the side of the car, the Monte Carlo had the Tasmanian Devil cartoon character emblems on the trunk and lower quarter panels. There was a Monte Carlo banner across the top of the windshield and Brickyard style rear spoiler that highlighted the exterior. The interior was ebony with red leather seat inserts, shifter, steering wheel, bowtie headrests and door accents. The factory replicas were fully loaded with all available options.

It may not have been the traditional choice, and that is a big part of why we like it, but it was a solid choice as a pace car. The IMS crew thought so much of it that five of the cars led the field to the green flag on raceday.