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The shooters at KGP Photography caught what may very well be the pace car for the 2013 Indy 500—this C7 Corvette sporting a slew of safety lighting and curiously covered lower side sills—testing at GM's Milford Proving Grounds.
The C7 test car stood out among other, more mundane test subjects due to the bright flashes that could be seen more than a mile away as it made its way down GM's high-speed straightaway. Up front, the C7's stock LEDs in its headlight clusters displayed a custom flashing pattern, coinciding with flashing LEDs mounted within its front grille work. The lighting array flashed in an attention-getting random sequence as seen on typical race-prepped safety vehicles.
The C7 manages to keep its sexy, svelte silhouette by placing a large light bar inside the vehicle, visible only through the rear glass. The light bar appears to be boxed in with a custom tray, which keeps the extraneous light from reflecting on the backlight, thus maintaining some degree of rearward visibility. It looks like the interior light bar application will do away with any need for an exterior, roof-mounted light strip.
As the C7 Pace Car went through its tests, the various lighting sequences were on display for short periods to ensure that all of the electronics were working.
The C7 Pace Car is finished in what appears to be its Laguna Blue hue (although it may be a custom color). The C7's lower side sills (on both sides) are covered in a white body wrap, which may very well hide a portion of its Pace Car livery, although any tell-tale decals are still MIA.
So which upcoming race will see this C7 leading the field? It's still unknown, although Corvette fan sites have been speculating whether the C7 would be eligible to pace the upcoming Indy 500, which is scheduled to run May 26. These shots may very well answer that speculation, as the timing seems spot on for a C7 Indy 500 Pace Car to be undergoing its final preparations for the 97th running of the classic American race. The Chevy Camaro Hot Wheels Edition is serving as the Official Vehicle of the Indy 500 (in a blue very similar to this C7 Pace Car).
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Photo Credit: KGP Photography