Chevrolet Camaros presented as 500 Festival cars; also available to public for first time ever

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, April 2, 2015 – The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Chevrolet carried out a longtime tradition leading into the Month of May when the 33 directors of the 500 Festival received 2015 Chevrolet Camaro SS convertibles on the main straightaway of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The presentation was made as part of a 100 Camaro drive-away where the 500 Festival directors, officials from Indianapolis Motor Speedway and 50 Indiana Chevrolet dealer representatives took possession of the cars and experienced a lap on the famed oval.

The “Festival cars” have reminded Indianapolis-area residents of the upcoming Indianapolis 500 since the 1960s, and this year’s fleet of unique Camaros will certainly turn heads as they are driven around Central Indiana.

“One sure thing that indicates the month of May is almost here is seeing the Indianapolis 500 Festival cars around the city and state for the first time,” said J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president. “This year’s Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible is gorgeous and will definitely get fans geared up for the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 24. The distribution of Festival cars is a long-standing tradition and it’s one that definitely reinforces the strong relationship between the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the 500 Festival and Chevrolet.”

This year’s 500 Festival cars are based off the 2015 Camaro Commemorative Special Edition, which goes on sale this spring and is powered by a 400 hp 6.2L V-8 L99 engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission with tap shift.

The exterior features of the Commemorative Edition include unique 20-inch wheels; exclusive stripe; body-color front splitter; ZL1 rear spoiler and Commemorative Edition fender emblems. The Festival cars feature a Summit White exterior with a black convertible top and adrenaline red and black leather interior. A black stripe with a red accent outline incorporates the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 graphic on the doors and includes the iconic IMS wing and wheel on the quarter panels.

Additionally, the 500 Festival Camaros will receive a unique array of accessories including a full body-colored ground effects package, red engine cover, and special floor mats.

For the first time ever, 50 additional special-edition Camaros have been provided to dealers across the state and are available for purchase. Several dealers within the networks of Central Indiana Chevrolet Dealers, Wabash Valley Chevy Dealers and Northern Indiana and Ohio Chevy dealers will be offering these distinctive vehicles in the metropolitan Indianapolis, Terre Haute and Fort Wayne areas respectively.

“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500 are very special to Chevrolet, and we are proud to continue this longstanding tradition with the 500 Festival board members as they serve as ambassadors in their communities and use these special Camaros to generate excitement leading up to the race,” said Jeff Chew, Chevy Racing manager of strategic planning and operations. “In addition, we are excited to make available 50 of these special Camaros to local Chevrolet dealers for sale to the public.”

“As a nonprofit organization committed to enriching lives and celebrating the impact of the Indianapolis 500, our board members travel the state in the Festival cars, participating in various community outreach programs and in the numerous events we produce that draw in excess of 500,000 people annually,” said Bob Bryant, president and CEO, the 500 Festival. “We’re proud of our longstanding partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Chevrolet and look forward to using the Festival cars to further promote the festivities of May.”

The 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race will take place on Sunday, May 24.

About Chevrolet:
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.8 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive & active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
***

2015 Ticket Information: Ticket information is available for all racing events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2015 – the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, 99th Indianapolis 500, Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational, Lilly Diabetes 250, Crown Royal Presents the “Your Hero’s Name Here” 400 at the Brickyard and Red Bull Indianapolis GP.

Fans have three quick, convenient methods to buy tickets:
• Online: Visit www.ims.com/tickets. Tickets are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
• Phone: Call 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday.
• In Person: Visit the IMS Ticket Office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday.

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at 866-221-8775 for more information.

Information on parking and camping at IMS events is available at www.ims.com/tickets.

2015_I500_500FestivalCars_HEADLINE_602x302