Roger Penske to drive pace car at 100th Indianapolis 500
Roger Penske, the most successful team owner in Indianapolis 500 history, will drive the pace car for the 100th running of IndyCar's showpiece race this year
Penske-entered cars and drivers have won a record 16 Indianapolis 500s since Mark Donohue drove to victory at Indy in 1972.
Juan Pablo Montoya gave Penske the record 16th Indy 500 win last year.
"If you can drive the pace car for the Indianapolis 500, it has to be something special," Penske told Autosport.
It is just the second time an active team owner with entries in the race will lead the 33-car field to the green flag for the start.
AJ Foyt, the first driver to win Indy four times, had the honour for the 100th anniversary race in 2011 - the centenary and 100th running coming in different years due to the 500 being paused during the two world wars.
Penske will drive a unique version of the new 2017 Camaro SS 50th Anniversary Edition - the ninth time Camaro has served as the pace car and the 27th time for Chevrolet since its first appearance in the role in 1948.
"Chevrolet and Roger Penske are inextricably linked to the heritage of the Indianapolis 500," said Doug Boles, president of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"When he leads the pack on May 29, behind the wheel of the Camaro SS, he will drive the race into its next 100 years and strengthen the bond Chevrolet and Indianapolis forged a century ago."
PENSKE'S INDY 500 WINS AS A TEAM OWNER
1972 Mark Donohue
1979 Rick Mears
1981 Bobby Unser
1984 Rick Mears
1985 Danny Sullivan
1987 Al Unser Sr
1988 Rick Mears
1991 Rick Mears
1993 Emerson Fittipaldi
1994 Al Unser Jr
2001 Helio Castroneves
2002 Helio Castroneves
2003 Gil de Ferran
2006 Sam Hornish Jr
2009 Helio Castroneves
2015 Juan Pablo Montoya
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