Skip to content
 
GM Unveils Spectacular Trophy and Corvette ZR1X Pace Car for 2026 Detroit Grand Prix

By Charles Bradley –  May 27, 2026

GM Unveils New Trophy and Corvette ZR1X Pace Car for 2026 Detroit GP

Detroit’s automotive legacy will take center stage in dramatic fashion this weekend as General Motors and the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear unveil two striking new symbols of the city’s enduring spirit of innovation: a newly designed winner’s trophy inspired by Detroit’s most iconic landmark and the electrified 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X as the official pace car for the 2026 race weekend. Held a week after the Indianapolis 500, INDYCAR is set to return to the Streets of Downtown Detroit from May 29-31, the 36th Grand Prix event in the city’s history will celebrate not only elite motorsport competition – that also includes the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – but also the craftsmanship and design excellence that continue to define the Motor City. At the heart of this year’s unveiling is a newly introduced race trophy conceived by GM’s in-house Industrial Design team. Drawing inspiration from both Spirit of Detroit and GM’s new global headquarters at Hudson’s Detroit, the trophy blends historic symbolism with contemporary architectural sophistication. The design pays tribute to sculptor Marshall Fredericks’ celebrated 26-foot bronze monument commissioned in 1955, which has long stood as one of Detroit’s most recognizable symbols. Positioned along Woodward Avenue near Turn 3 of the downtown race circuit, the monument has represented hope, progress, and resilience for generations. “The GM Industrial Design team drew inspiration from the Spirit of Detroit and our new global headquarters at Hudson’s Detroit, two iconic landmarks representing strength, progress and craft,” said Crystal Windham, GM Executive Director of Industrial Design. “The 2026 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear trophy is designed to celebrate Detroit.” Developed in collaboration with acclaimed trophy creator Mike Husar, who has crafted Detroit Grand Prix trophies since the event’s 2007 return to Belle Isle, the bespoke design will be awarded to the top three finishers in both the Chevrolet INDYCAR Grand Prix and the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race. Complementing the trophy’s debut is the introduction of the 2026 Corvette ZR1X as the event’s official pace car – a machine that represents the pinnacle of contemporary American performance engineering. Delivering a staggering 1,250 combined horsepower through a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 paired with a front-axle electric motor, the electrified all-wheel-drive hypercar is the most powerful production Corvette ever created. Engineered with precision worthy of its pace-setting duties, the ZR1X can sprint from zero to 60 mph in under two seconds while reaching top speeds approaching 233 mph. Finished in a bespoke half-Arctic White, half-Admiral Blue livery hand-painted by GM Design, the pace car features American flag-inspired details, including 50 stars and patriotic striping influenced by Chevrolet’s Stars and Steel Collection commemorating America’s 250th anniversary. For track duty, the Corvette is equipped with Chevrolet’s advanced Carbon Aero package, featuring aerodynamic dive planes, underbody strakes, and a dramatic rear wing capable of generating more than 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed. “Ever since we brought the Grand Prix back downtown, it has been about celebrating the spirit, creativity and resilience of Detroit,” said Michael Montri, President of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. “From a trophy that honors two of the city’s most iconic landmarks to a pace car that represents the pinnacle of American performance, these elements reflect who we are as a community and what makes this event so special for our fans, our partners and, most importantly, our city.” Set against the award-winning Detroit Riverwalk, the 1.7-mile, nine-turn downtown circuit once again provides the perfect stage for Detroit to showcase its unmatched blend of automotive heritage, cutting-edge engineering, and design-led luxury.

Indy 500 Winner Felix Rosenqvist Landed Record $4.34 Million Payday

By Charles Bradley –  May 26, 2026

Indy 500 Winner Felix Rosenqvist Scored Record $4.34 Million Payday

For a race already steeped in prestige, history, and spectacle, the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge raised the stakes yet again. This year’s edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” delivered its richest purse ever on Sunday, with a record-breaking total payout of $30,906,400. At the center of that milestone was first-time winner Felix Rosenqvist, whose dramatic victory for Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian earned the Swedish driver a record $4.34 million. The historic payday capped one of the most memorable finishes in Indianapolis Motor Speedway history. Rosenqvist surged from third to first during a one-lap shootout to the checkered flag, going wheel-to-wheel with Meyer Shank Racing teammate Marcus Armstrong through the four turns before slingshotting past Team Penske’s David Malukas in the race to the fabled yard of bricks. The final margin of victory – just 0.0233 seconds – marked the closest finish ever recorded in the history of the famed race’s 110 editions. For the 34-year-old Rosenqvist, the victory represented a defining career moment. For the Indianapolis 500, it underscored the event’s continued commercial and cultural momentum, as the purse record was broken for the fifth consecutive year. This year’s average payout for NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers reached $936,500, comfortably surpassing last year’s average of $596,500 and reflecting the race’s rapidly expanding financial significance. For a second year in a row, and the third time since 2016, the race was a complete sellout, with a raceday attendance over 350,000 fans. The growth has been striking: In 2025, the Indianapolis 500 purse totaled $20,283,000, with the winner earning $3.8 million. In 2024, the purse stood at $18,456,000, while the winner collected $4.3 million, including a $440,000 rollover bonus from BorgWarner for earning back-to-back victories. The 2023 purse was $17,021,500, with the winner receiving $3.7 million, while 2022 delivered a $16,000,200 purse and a $3.1 million winner’s payout. Before that, the largest purse in Indianapolis 500 history was $14.4 million, set in 2008. Billionaire businessman Roger Penske purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar from the Hulman-George Family in 2019, and set about restoring former glories, and a strong financial future, for the famed event. “The Indianapolis 500 continues to make history, in more ways than one,” said INDYCAR and IMS President J. Douglas Boles. “The Month of May featured a back-to-back grandstand sellout crowd – our largest crowd since the 100th Running in 2016 – and intense on-track action with the most lead changes ever in the Indy 500. Felix Rosenqvist added his name to the history books in stellar fashion, with the closest finish in Indy 500 history and now the largest purse. There’s no better end to a memorable month.” Beyond Rosenqvist’s landmark victory, the month also delivered a standout Indy 500 debut for Mick Schumacher – the son of seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher. Competing for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Schumacher earned Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors for his performance throughout May, collecting a $50,000 bonus and bringing his total take-home prize to $218,800. The Indianapolis 500 purse consists of awards from Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, along with designated and special awards distributed annually during the Victory Celebration, held this year at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. In a year already defined by sellout crowds, record lead changes, and the closest finish the race has ever seen, the 110th Indianapolis 500 proved that its allure – both sporting and financial – has never been stronger. PHOTOS: Penske Entertainment

Live Auctions