Chassis No. 1G1YY32G5W5119822 The Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
was selected as
the Official Pace Car for the 1998 Indianapolis 500; the fourth
time it had been
given such high honors. In front of a crowd of 250,000 spectators
and with over
a million more watching on television, a squadron of
special-liveried Corvettes
led North America's finest racing drivers at the start of the
world's premier
oval race. Thousands flocked to Chevrolet dealerships to purchase
the
newly-released Pace Car Edition, but only a handful were able to
purchase the
actual on-track cars fielded at Indianapolis. This 1998 Chevrolet
Corvette
Convertible is an authentic official pace car from the 1998 Indy
500. Golfing
star Greg Norman was originally scheduled to drive the lead car,
but shoulder
surgery forced him to bow out-instead, 1963 Indy 500 winner and
all-around
racing legend Parnelli Jones would lead the field at the wheel of
this very
Corvette. Chevrolet celebrated its achievement as the Official Pace
Car supplier
by offering a limited-edition $5,000 Z4Z Pace Car Package for the
production
1998 Corvette Convertible. Enthusiasts could own a Corvette nearly
identical to
this genuine pace car, foregoing only the top-mounted light bar,
roll bars, and
racing harnesses on the official vehicles. This example is finished
in striking
Radar Blue with a Yellow and Black leather interior. A Yellow
graphics package
with checkered flag decals adorns the exterior and is complemented
by Yellow
-painted wheels. No modifications were needed to the Corvette's
powerplant-its
5.7-liter V8 making 345 horsepower was able to keep pace of a field
of raucous
IndyCars on the Brickyard's high-speed oval with ease. This example
is equipped
with the optional six-speed manual transmission. Andy Evans, owner
of IndyCar
outfit Team Scandia, had entered two cars in the 1998 race and
therefore had the
exclusive opportunity to purchase the pace car. He acquired the car
from Tony
George, former President and CEO of Indianapolis Motor Speedway in
May 1998, and
the car has remained in his collection ever since. The original
Indianapolis
Motor Speedway (IMS) decal, placed on the windshield by IMS, states
"1998
Chevrolet Corvette Indy Pace Car Convertible - 3,800 Miles Andy
Evans." A letter
of authenticity from Team Scandia certifies the Corvette's
provenance and
confirms Evans as its purchaser. The car is now offered with a
clean CARFAX
Vehicle History Report and 5,242 miles at cataloging. With low
mileage and Indy
500 legacy, this 1998 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Pace Car is a
collector's
grade example, and it also offers those Corvette and Indianapolis
aficionados an
exceedingly rare opportunity to own a true piece of racing
history.
Vehicle Details
1998 Chevrolet Corvette
Listing ID:CC-2008541
Price:Auction Vehicle
Location:Las Vegas, Nevada
Year:1998
Make:Chevrolet
Model:Corvette
Odometer:5241
Stock Number:LV25Lot_103
VIN:1G1YY32G5W5119822
Interested in something else? Search these similar vehicles...
ClassicCars.com has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States, successfully making the Inc. 5000 list in both 2015,
2016, 2017 and 2018. This prestigious accolade represents the continued growth of the company, and ClassicCars.com's dominance as the world's largest online marketplace for
buying and selling classic and collector vehicles.
The Stevie Awards, the world's premier business awards recognized
ClassicCars.com's first-class Customer Support team with a Stevie Bronze Award in 2019, celebrating the team's skills as exemplary customer support specialists.
In 2016 The Journal, brought to you by ClassicCars.com, was celebrated as the SECOND MOST INFLUENTIAL automotive blog in the world by NFC Performance.