---
title: "Indy 500 Race Day: Driving the 2018 Chevy Camaro Hot Wheels Festival Car"
description: "There are two things to keep in mind on race day: Arrive early and arrive in style. Check, and check."
date: "2018-05-27"
modified: "2018-05-27"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/21122/indy-500-race-day-driving-the-2018-chevy-camaro-hot-wheels-festival-car"
categories:
  - "Chevrolet News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "Camaro"
  - "Chevrolet"
  - "Chevrolet Camaro"
  - "Coupe"
  - "Indianapolis"
  - "Indianapolis Motor Speedway"
  - "Indy 500"
  - "Indycar Series"
  - "racing"
  - "Racing News"
  - "sports car"
---

# Indy 500 Race Day: Driving the 2018 Chevy Camaro Hot Wheels Festival Car

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/05/2018-indy-500-camaro-jerry-perez.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

My typical Indy 500 race day routine normally consists of waking up extra early, grabbing a quick bite at home, and heading to the [Indianapolis Motor Speedway](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21117/the-drive-at-indy-your-row-by-row-indy-500-spotters-guide>) just on time to encounter hundreds of thousands of people trying to do the same thing. The rest usually involves lots of idling followed by lots of walking to the infield. Thankfully, this year's experience will be considerably cooler and a heck of a lot faster—sort of.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was kind enough to let us borrow one of their "500 Festival Cars," which this year happens to be the stunning [2018 Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels 50th Anniversary Edition Convertible](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/15464/the-2018-chevrolet-camaro-hot-wheels-edition-is-a-grown-up-version-of-your-favorite-toy>). In fact, considering I wheeled around a [2018 Civic](<https://thestore.thedrive.com/>) Type R courtesy of Honda for most of the month of May, I'd say that my overall Indy 500 experience was severely overhauled in comparison to previous years.

![message-editor%2F1527391146017-2018\_i500\_festivalcar\_06\_100x534.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1527391146017-2018_i500_festivalcar_06_100x534.jpg>)
*Indianapolis Motor Speedway*

![message-editor%2F1527391153080-2018\_i500\_festivalcar\_04\_100x534.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1527391153080-2018_i500_festivalcar_04_100x534.jpg>)
*Indianapolis Motor Speedway*

The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro [Hot Wheels](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/9708/have-you-ever-wanted-to-drive-a-hot-wheels-car>) Edition that I'm currently driving pays homage to the 50th anniversary of Chevrolet and Hot Wheels' collaboration, which birthed the first Camaro Hot Wheels Edition back in '68.

"This is a life-size Hot Wheels,” said a Chevrolet spokesperson. "The year 1968 was the first run for Hot Wheels, and Camaro has been a part of Hot Wheels ever since. This year celebrates 50 years of partnership between two iconic brands.”

![message-editor%2F1527391197605-2018\_i500\_festivalcar\_05\_100x534.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1527391197605-2018_i500_festivalcar_05_100x534.jpg>)
*Indianapolis Motor Speedway*

![message-editor%2F1527391204457-2018\_i500\_festivalcar\_01\_100x534.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1527391204457-2018_i500_festivalcar_01_100x534.jpg>)
*Indianapolis Motor Speedway*

With the exception of the decals, this orange Camaro isn't mechanically different than the 2SS-trimmed Camaro you can buy at your local Chevy dealer, but in the state of Indiana, and during the month of May, this Camaro is 110 percent different from all other Camaros on the road. Why? A total of 100 "500 Festival Cars" are loaned to Indianapolis Motor Speedway personnel, 500 Festival board members, and other IndyCar executives to promote the Indy 500 across the entire state. Furthermore, the Festival Cars are also used for the actual 500 Festival, where they transport IndyCar drivers as they wave to the crowds in downtown Indianapolis.

![message-editor%2F1527391432574-2018\_i500\_festivalcar\_02\_100x534.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1527391432574-2018_i500_festivalcar_02_100x534.jpg>)
*Indianapolis Motor Speedway*

![message-editor%2F1527391438338-2018\_i500\_festivalcar\_03\_100x534.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1527391438338-2018_i500_festivalcar_03_100x534.jpg>)
*Indianapolis Motor Speedway*

Of course, I don't work for the Speedway, I'm not a board member, and I'm certainly not an [IndyCar executive](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20967/indycar-turbocharged-engines-to-produce-more-than-900-hp-by-2021>), so I'm simply stoked to be able to wheel this bad boy around town during Memorial Day Weekend. While driving the Festival Camaro doesn't come with special parking privileges on race day, there's been a handful of police officers around the race track who have waved at me and even moved barriers so I could access streets that were otherwise closed-off to the public.

Oh yeah—having 455 horsepower on tap courtesy of its [LT1 6.2-liter V8](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/19915/2019-chevrolet-camaro-2-0t-1le-first-drive-the-quick-stepping-maro-now-with-less-pep>) is pretty fun, too. In addition, being able to fold down the soft top and absorb the atmosphere surrounding the race track ahead of the Indy 500 is priceless.

The bar has definitely been raised for 2019.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)