INDIANAPOLIS -- Ahead of IndyCar's addition of hybrid power this summer, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's selection for its 2024 Indianapolis 500 pace car delivers a dose of electricity to what has become a staple of 500 pace car lore.

Once again, a Chevrolet Corvette will pace starts and restarts for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing on May 26, this time the 2024 Corvette E-Ray 3LZ coupe -- the quickest production Corvette in history. The selection marks the 35th time a Chevy has served as a 500 pace car since 1948 and the 21st time that for a Corvette since 1978.

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The Corvette E-Ray, featuring Arctic white exterior paint and a two-tone jet black with natural accents on the interior, is the only sports car that pairs two separate propulsion systems, bringing together "naturally aspirated V-8 power with electrified responsiveness powered by eAWD. The 6.2-liter V-8 comes with an electric motor that delivers an additional 160 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque through the front wheels to combine for 655 total horsepower.

The Corvette's electric all-wheel drive helps deliver speedy acceleration -- from zero to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and a quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds. Its 'Stealth Mode' allows the sports car to run wholly on electric power for up to four miles at speeds up to 45 mph.

“As we anticipate another record-breaking Indianapolis 500, it’s only fitting that the quickest production Corvette will pace the field,” IMS president Doug Boles said in a release. “The performance enhancements tested on the track make their way to the street, and the Corvette E-Ray is a prime example of that Chevrolet innovation.”

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy 500 pace car will be a 2024 Chevy Corvette E-Ray