If you missed this week’s Indy 500, you probably didn’t realize that the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 acted as the official pace car for the event. Not only that, Chevrolet gave several participants the opportunity to ride in the new supercar.
When designing the new Corvette Z06, Chevrolet could easily equip it with an existing engine in its range or possibly fit a standard Stingray’s 6.2-liter V8 with a supercharger and call it a day. Instead, the automaker has built a completely new engine from the ground up and it’s not just a typical American V8.
Read more: First production 2023 Corvette Z06 convertible sold for $ 1 million
Whereas the previous generation Corvette Z06 relied on forced induction, the 2023 model rocked a 5.5-liter V8 without any turbocharger or supercharger. What’s more, this engine also has a flat-plane crank, imitation aluminum piston and titanium connecting rods. It produces 670 hp and 460 lb-ft (623 Nm) of torque, making it the most powerful naturally ambitious V8 fitted in a production vehicle.
This clip from YouTuber Drive 616 contains a number of 2023 Corvette Z06s found across the Indy 500 paddock and shows them reviving and speeding along the track. In the second half of the video, YouTuber jumped into the passenger seat of one of them and had a rare opportunity to feel the car in person.
Clearly, the soundtrack of the new Z06 is the main highlight but it pulls through the smooth gear and thanks to the Z07 package that equips the official pace car, it is able to stick firmly to the sidewalk and stay very steady at speeds of over 160 miles per hour. (257 km / h).