NASCAR Chevy Dominates at Kansas, Eyes Indy Double Next

This May, all eyes will be on the front of the grid at Indianapolis Motor Speedway — and a Chevrolet will be leading the way. The 2026 Corvette ZR1X has been selected as the Official Pace Car for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, taking place Sunday, May 24. The ZR1X isn't just a showpiece. With 1,250 horsepower delivered across all four wheels, it combines a 186 hp electric front motor with a 5.5L twin-turbo V8 producing 1,064 hp at the rear. The result? A car capable of hitting 60 mph in under 2 seconds and reaching a top speed of 233 mph — putting it firmly in the company of the race cars it will lead. For Pace Car duty, the ZR1X is outfitted with the full Carbon Aero package, complete with dive planes, underbody aero strakes, and a rear wing generating more than 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed. This is no ordinary pace car. Honoring America's 250th Anniversary The livery is as striking as the performance. Designed alongside the Stars and Steel Collection, the ZR1X features a bold stars-and-stripes treatment with a unique twist: the car appears Arctic White from the driver's side and Admiral Blue from the opposite profile. A painted stripe runs the full length of the carbon fiber spine on the rear hatch, and the interior carries the theme through with Santorini Blue seats, red accent seat belts, and red stitched floor mats. "Every element was deliberately crafted to honor this milestone while expressing a forward-looking vision of Chevrolet design," said Chevrolet Global Executive Design Director Phil Zak. Leading the field of 33 drivers to the green flag will be Indiana University Head Football Coach Curt Cignetti, honored for guiding IU Football to an undefeated National Championship season. It's a fitting tribute to a historic year in Indiana sports. The 2026 race marks the 37th time Chevrolet has paced the Indianapolis 500, dating back to 1948, and the 23rd time for the Corvette specifically. No other car has paced "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" more often, and with good reason. The Corvette is the longest-running nameplate in automotive history, and it continues to represent the very best of American performance and craftsmanship. Come visit us at Maritime Chevrolet to see the latest from Corvette's legendary lineup, including the all-electric E-Ray.

The legend of Corvette performance has officially entered a new era. The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, the most advanced Corvette ever produced, has claimed its place as the quickest American production car, and one of the fastest ways to conquer the quarter mile for under a million dollars. After extensive real-world testing, the ZR1X completed final validation in October 2025 at US 131 Motorsports Park, a setting that mirrors how Corvette owners truly push their vehicles. On a prepped drag strip, using pump gas, standard-equipment tires, and a production, 50-state street-legal calibration, the ZR1X delivered astonishing results: Quarter mile: 8.675 seconds at 159 mph 0–60 mph: 1.68 seconds Peak acceleration: 1.75G, reaching 60 mph in under 100 feet “This is exactly the type of performance we envisioned when we made the revolutionary move to a mid-engine platform,” said GM President Mark Reuss. What makes these numbers even more impressive is their consistency. Equipped with its standard aero configuration, Michelin PS4S tires, and available carbon fiber wheels, the test vehicle completed multiple back-to-back quarter-mile runs all under 8.8 seconds, proving this level of performance is no fluke. At the heart of the 2026 Corvette ZR1X is a twin-turbo LT7 V8 engine paired with a front-axle electric motor, producing a staggering 1,250 horsepower through an electrified all-wheel-drive system. This blend of raw power and advanced technology places the ZR1X in elite company—while remaining dramatically more attainable than many multi-million-dollar hypercars. Much of this performance comes down to Corvette’s Custom Launch Control, standard across the lineup from Stingray to ZR1X. The system manages tire slip, clutch engagement, and launch RPM to help drivers extract maximum acceleration with confidence. Even on an unprepped surface, the ZR1X continues to impress, completing the quarter mile in 8.99 seconds and reaching 0–60 mph in 1.89 seconds when equipped with the available ZTK Performance Package. The Corvette ZR1X isn’t just fast, it’s a bold statement about the future of American performance. Stay tuned to Maritime Chevy for more on the latest Corvette innovations and what’s next for this iconic nameplate.

Chevrolet gave enthusiasts a bold look at the future of performance, unveiling two dramatic Corvette concept cars, the Corvette CX and Corvette CX.R Vision Gran Turismo, during The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in Carmel, California. While these concepts are not intended for production, they signal the next chapter in Corvette’s design language and performance philosophy, drawing on over 70 years of heritage while pushing toward an electrified, high-performance future. “These concepts demonstrate our design teams stepping away from production constraints and unleashing their creativity,” said Phil Zak, executive design director for Chevrolet. “Each crease and line has roots in Corvette generations past, while defining the design direction moving forward.” Designed and built at Chevrolet’s Performance Studio in Warren, Michigan, the Corvette CX is a low, wide, all-electric supercar delivering over 2,000 horsepower through four motors with all-wheel torque vectoring. Active aerodynamics, including a Vacuum Fan System for massive downforce, are paired with a fighter-jet-inspired canopy and a driver-focused cabin finished in Inferno Red ballistic textiles, carbon fiber, and aluminum. A digital windscreen display integrates real-time performance data directly into the driver’s line of sight. Building on the CX platform, the CX.R VGT is a pure competition car — lighter, lower, and designed exclusively for the track. It pairs three electric motors with a 900-horsepower, 15,000-rpm V8 running on renewable e-fuel, for a combined output of 2,000 hp. Its aggressive aero package, raw carbon interior, and racing-focused cockpit bring Corvette’s GT racing heritage into a new era. Chevrolet partnered with Polyphony Digital Inc. to bring both concepts into Gran Turismo 7 later this month, allowing fans to virtually experience Corvette’s bold vision for the future.