I recently purchased a 2010 2SS (w/ RS) that is a 2009 Indy Pace car model that appears to be modeled like a 69’ pace car replica styling. I haven’t been able to find another like it. Does anyone have any information about these models being that they don’t look like the 2009 pace car models but still have the Official Indy Pace Car decals? This car has 36k miles as well, any thoughts on what it’s worth?

 

I don't think this is an official car used at the 2009 Indianapolis 500 race. There are several reason why I say that. First, the white with orange stripe 1969 retro look wasn't used at Indy until 2011, the year when the replicas were built. Secondly, the graphics on this car don't follow the types of decals normally used for this kind of car. The doors would of had a large 2009 "Indy 500" race logo applied and the colors and graphics would have been consistent with the other track support vehicles used in 2009. I've also never seen a recent year where "Official Pace Car" was used for the windshield banner text in the place of "Camaro" or "Chevrolet". Another thing you can do is check the date the car was built. I'm guessing you'll find it was after May, 2009. Any of the Camaros used at the 2009 race were early production builds and their build dates would have been at the very least, a month before the race.

 

Thanks....yes, the build sheet on this vehicle shows August of 09', so yes it was after the 500 race that year. Just seems odd that there is nothing out there that really matches this style.

 

Most likely the case, a previous owner had the graphics custom made and installed. Nothing matches it because these graphics were apparently not made for, or used by Chevrolet and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 2009 race track support vehicles.

 

To help illustrate one reason why I don't think this car was an "Official Car" used at Indy, you just have to look at the race logo decal to get a good feel. Each year the race logo is always a registered trademark for the Speedway and it is used on everything from tickets and programs, to the merchandise sold at the vendors. As such, the Speedway would not have used a logo with colors different from the official logo. The first photo below is an official 2009 "Indy 500" Race Logo. Notice the colors used and that the graphic is trademarked.



This is the logo from the car above. The "Winged Wheel" and other lettering colors has been change to orange, among other differences and there is no trademark.



If you're looking to buy a car claiming to have been used at Indy, these small details can help verify the car's graphics as authentic and not custom made by a previous owner. Another detail is any car built after the date of the race was not an "Official Pace Car" because that designation goes to cars actually used at the track during the race events. In the years where a "Pace Car Replicas" are built, the replicas will not have an "Official Pace Car" graphic.