The Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced this morning that the 2017 Indy 500 “Festival Cars” had been delivered, with 101 specially outfitted 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertibles built for official use and public sale around the Indianapolis area – and the cars intended for public sale should be at local dealerships soon.
For years, Chevrolet has been provided the “Festival Cars” for the Indianapolis 500 race and for the 2017 running of the fabled American race, the Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible has been chosen at the official festival car. Festival cars will be used in the weeks leading up to the race by race officials, track officials and event VIPs as they travel around the metro Indianapolis – providing free advertising for an event which really doesn’t need any advertising at all.
In the past, GM would make 51 Festival Cars for the Indy 500 and when the officials were done with them and the race had been run, the then-used cars would be shipped to dealerships around the Indianapolis area. This was an awesome chance for Indy and Camaro fans to grab a piece of racing history, but the downfall was that those cars had been used – so they were technically used cars with lower values.
In order to offer fans brand new Festival Cars, Chevrolet began providing 101 cars in 2015, with 51 being slated for normal festival use while the other 50 are immediately sent to dealerships for sale as brand new cars.
"Racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is such a special part of Chevrolet's history, and we are extremely proud of our longstanding partnership with this iconic racetrack," said Jeff Chew, senior manager of strategic planning and operations for Chevrolet Racing. "It is a pleasure for Chevrolet to support the efforts of the 500 Festival board members with these special Camaros, as they serve as ambassadors for the Speedway and the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 in their communities and generate excitement ahead of the event."
The 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible Indy 500 Festival Cars
The Indianapolis 500 Festival Cars get the unique package designation of Z4Z, which signifies that it has a Summit White exterior with a body-length blue center stripe, red fender hashmarks, a black convertible top, a gloss black front splitter, red grille accents, black bowtie badges, an Adrenaline Red leather interior and the unmistakable Indy 500 logos on the doors.
Every one of the 101 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible Festival Cars is the exact same, so every dealership which has one (or more) for sale will have the same car – and if you wait long enough, you can also score one of the actual Festival Cars used by Indy 500 race officials.
The 500 Festival car presentation ceremony included 50 Camaros to IMS and 51 Camaros to the Indianapolis-area Chevrolet dealers. The 500 Festival Camaro SS’s presented to the dealers will be available for immediate purchase.
The “Festival Event Cars” have reminded Indianapolis-area residents of the upcoming Indianapolis 500 since the 1960s, and this year’s fleet of unique Camaros again will turn heads as they are driven around Central Indiana.
“The sight of 500 Festival cars on the streets of Indianapolis and beyond is a sure sign the Month of May is right around the corner,” said J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president. “Our friends at Chevrolet once again have delivered a fleet of beautiful Chevrolet Camaro SS convertibles that will build even more anticipation with fans for the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500.”
This year’s 500 Festival cars are based off the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible and are powered by the LT1 6.2L V-8, which offers 455 horsepower and 455 lb.-ft. of torque – making it the most powerful Camaro SS ever.
The 2017 Camaro is the only convertible in the segment to offer all of the following:
• Fully automatic operation with latches that automatically release and secure the top
• Capability of opening or closing at speeds up to 30 mph
• Remote opening with the key fob
• A hard tonneau cover that deploys automatically, providing a more refined, finished appearance when the top is lowered and stowed.
Like the Camaro coupe, the convertible benefits from a stiffer, lighter structure that helps reduce total vehicle weight by at least 200 pounds compared to the model it replaces. Consequently, the Camaro convertible retains the coupe’s sharp chassis tuning and nimble reflexes.
The 2017 Festival Camaros feature a Summit White exterior, blue center stripe, black convertible top and Adrenaline Red leather interior. The Festival Camaros carry the unique production option code designation (Z4Z) that signifies Indianapolis 500 Festival-only option content. Included in the (Z4Z) package is a body-length blue stripe with a watermark Indianapolis Motor Speedway Wing and Wheel logo, red fender hash marks, gloss black lower front splitter, special SS grille with red accents and black Chevrolet bowtie emblems. The 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 event logo adorns the doors, and a special rocker stripe completes the package.
“Racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is such a special part of Chevrolet’s history, and we are extremely proud of our longstanding partnership with this iconic racetrack,” said Jeff Chew, senior manager of strategic planning and operations for Chevrolet Racing. “It is a pleasure for Chevrolet to support the efforts of the 500 Festival board members with these special Camaros, as they serve as ambassadors for the Speedway and the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 in their communities and generate excitement ahead of the event.”
Said Bob Bryant, 500 Festival president and CEO: “Every spring, the community eagerly awaits the arrival of the Festival cars. These beautiful vehicles have become an iconic symbol of the Month of May and help fulfill the 500 Festival’s mission of providing life-enriching events and programs that celebrate the legacy of the Indianapolis 500.
“Over the coming weeks, the 500 Festival’s board members will log thousands of miles in the Festival cars. From taking part in various community outreach programs throughout the state to transporting the 33 starting drivers of the Indianapolis 500 in the IPL 500 Festival Parade, these vehicles will play a role in our events that draw in excess of half a million people annually. We’re proud of our longstanding partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Chevrolet and look forward to using the Festival cars to enhance the community celebration leading up to the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500.”
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