pace car
noun
: an automobile that leads the field of competitors through a pace lap but does not participate in the race
Examples of pace car in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Fisher will handle all pace car duties for the 500; former driver Oriol Servia is IndyCar's primary pace car driver.
—
Matthew Vantryon, The Indianapolis Star, 17 May 2022
Indiana Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton will drive the honorary pace car at Sunday's running of the 107th Indianapolis 500, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced Wednesday.
—Rory Appleton, The Indianapolis Star, 24 May 2023
Netflix, the upstart outsider from Los Gatos, has been the pace car for television’s transition over the past decade.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 20 June 2023
While not a competition model, it was used as the pace car for the 1967 Can-Am race at Laguna Seca, where it was driven by Stirling Moss and actor James Garner.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 14 June 2023
Out of an estimated 283 green examples made in 1969, it is estimated that only 23 were California 500 Specials that wore the pace car’s same color scheme and accents.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2021
Morgan Freeman was invited by IMS to drive the pace car in 2003, but the Oscar winner declined.
—Evan Frank, The Indianapolis Star, 19 Jan. 2023
Wallace helped France build the Talladega Superspeedway (originally called the Alabama International Motor Speedway), and after Wallace was again elected governor of Alabama in 1970, his wife, Cornelia, became the first woman to drive a pace car before the 1971 Winston 500.
—Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 11 June 2020
What is the Indy 500 pace car?
—Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Mar. 2023
See More
Matthew Vantryon, The Indianapolis Star, 17 May 2022
Indiana Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton will drive the honorary pace car at Sunday's running of the 107th Indianapolis 500, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced Wednesday.
—Rory Appleton, The Indianapolis Star, 24 May 2023
Netflix, the upstart outsider from Los Gatos, has been the pace car for television’s transition over the past decade.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 20 June 2023
While not a competition model, it was used as the pace car for the 1967 Can-Am race at Laguna Seca, where it was driven by Stirling Moss and actor James Garner.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 14 June 2023
Out of an estimated 283 green examples made in 1969, it is estimated that only 23 were California 500 Specials that wore the pace car’s same color scheme and accents.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2021
Morgan Freeman was invited by IMS to drive the pace car in 2003, but the Oscar winner declined.
—Evan Frank, The Indianapolis Star, 19 Jan. 2023
Wallace helped France build the Talladega Superspeedway (originally called the Alabama International Motor Speedway), and after Wallace was again elected governor of Alabama in 1970, his wife, Cornelia, became the first woman to drive a pace car before the 1971 Winston 500.
—Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 11 June 2020
What is the Indy 500 pace car?
—Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pace car.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1936, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near pace car
Cite this Entry
“Pace car.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pace%20car. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share