There are few achievements a car can earn that can compare to being chosen as the pace car for the Indianapolis 500 race.  A top honor for both the car and the driver, it is a spot reserved for only the best cars.  With its selection as the 2008 Official Pace Car, the 2008 Chevy Corvette Z06 holds the record of 10 times having paced the Indy 500.  In fact, two sports cars will pace the event, with the other being none other than, another Corvette.  A 1978 Corvette will be sharing the pacing duties, celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the 1978 Pace Car.

It's been just days since we saw the first official pictures of Chevrolet's newest supercar chaser, the 2009 Corvette ZR1.  One could only imagine what its new 6.2 liter supercharged V8 engine sounded like, but now, we don't have to guess any longer.  A video of the official photoshoot has surfaced, in which viewers can hear the engine lope along happily at idle and see the ZR1 in motion.  We cannot wait to see what this car will do on the track.

Prepare a towel.  Your chin is about to be drenched in saliva.  We brought you the rumors.  We brought you the spy shots.  We even brought you the power plant.  RPM Planets is now proud to bring you not what what will be, but what is - the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.  Behold the most powerful, most inspiring and possibly the most hyped Corvette in Chevrolet's history.

Chevrolet has finally released pictures of the power plant that will propel one of the most clandestine projects of the decade.  The upcoming 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will be officially powered by the 6.2-liter LS9 engine.  The blue trimmed engine sports a positive displacement-type supercharger and twin intake-manifold-integrated intercoolers.  Though total output has yet to be released, expect power figures near the 650 horsepower mark.  GM's Performance Center in Wixom, Michigan will be responsible for the engine builds.  To see the entire ZR1 package, stay tuned to RPM Planets during the Detroit Auto Show in January.

Jay Leno has always been a crowd pleaser, especially when the crowd consists of automobile enthusiasts.  Not one to disappoint, Jay made a showing at the 2007 SEMA show with his E-85 fueled Chevrolet Corvette C6RS.  Starting life as a Z06, the one-off Corvette is powered by an 8.2L 600-horsepower V8 and adorned with a custom carbon fiber front clip.  They say the bad guy wears black and the C6RS looks to prove this once again.  Check out larger shots of this eco-savvy street brawler (click the images to see a close-up) as well as the full Press Release from Jay Leno.

With the suspension in full cornering load and most body panels clad in the same Velocity Yellow color as its racing equivalent, Chevrolet let loose on its Corvette ZR1 this weekend in Monterey California, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Though not an official release, Chevrolet unpacked the ZR1 for a couple of high speed laps, re-trailered it and most likely hauled the ZR1 back to Detroit.  Cameras were rolling during the impromptu event and the attached photos were taken along with a short video of the modest unveiling and track time.  Unfortunately, the black coverings we’ve grown to hate remain over the more interesting aspects of this special Corvette.  The paint scheme and two laps around Laguna Seca, without a press release, tell us that there was more to this trip than a leisure outing halfway across the US, so stay tuned to RPM Planets for more details as they become available.

With all the hype surrounding the latest street monster from Chevrolet, many names have been unofficially tossed around.  Referred to as the Blue Devil, Corvette SS and the Z07, the fender badge of the upcoming supercar will now officially read ZR1, per Motor Trend’s Todd Lassa.

Photographs of the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette SS in road testing continue to surface.  The latest pictures reveal subtle changes in the shape of this assumed road-worthy race machine.  Starting with the meat and potatoes of what will make this GM's ultimate performance car, a definite bulge in the hood has been spotted.  Cramming 6.2-liters of American V-8 with the supercharger is an easy explanation for the need of increased under hood real estate.  Pictures also reveal that the hood and roof are made out of carbon fiber.  Not only does this deviate from the expected fiberglass history of the Corvette, but the new material will yield additional weight savings.