Dodge Viper RT/10 at the 1991 Indy 500: Carroll Shelby's Legendary Ride

In 1991, the Indy 500 celebrated its 75th anniversary, and Dodge initially announced the Dodge Stealth—a car built by the Japanese-owned automaker Mitsubishi—as the official pace car for "America's race." However, this decision sparked backlash from the United Auto Workers (UAW), who opposed a foreign-built car being featured at such a quintessentially American event. The controversy was heightened by the timing, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, which added a layer of sensitivity to the debate.

Under pressure, Dodge quickly pivoted to showcase its newest Mopar muscle car, the Viper RT/10. Though the Viper wasn't scheduled for release until late 1992, Dodge expedited development to debut a pre-production model for the 1991 Indy 500. Legendary racer and car design icon Carroll Shelby, a performance consultant for Dodge, presented the Viper at the official press event and drove it during the ceremonial pace laps.

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