If i could I would like to clarify some info.
After the 1957 race a group of 5 Indianapolis businessmen thought there must be a way to get the 300K or so race visitors to come to downtown and spend some money. Thus was created the 500 festival Associates. There were 33 Directors (to equal the number of race drivers) and they each had specific assignments. The first item was to plan the 500 festival Parade, to this day smaller than only the Rose Bowl and Macys Thanksgiving Parade. As the AMA had a rigid ban on any type of motorsports the Speedway had to purchase two Pontiacs as Pace Car and back-up, one eventually being awarded to the winner. In 1959 a local Buick dealer provided 25 cars to the track and 500 Festival Associates to use as the Pace Cars, to promote the race, and especially for the 500 festival parade. They were various Buick model converts with various colors. In 1960 another local Oldsmobile dealer provided the two Pace Cars and 100 other white Olds converts. These were different models with different interior colors and options. (Because 100 of the exact same car would be a tough re-sell after the race). Each of the 500 festival Directors were given a car to use to promote the race and the sides were lettered as "500 Festival". The Festival Queen and a few other Board members also received one of these cars. The remaining cars were lettered to resemble the actual pace Car and were provided to the track and USAC Officials, local celebrities such as radio and TV personalities, newspaper and national media. Thus began the 500 Festival Cars. For 1961 Ford wanted to provide a Golden Anniversary Thunderbird to the track for use, and once again some were lettered for the 500 Festival, others to resemble the pace car. (Though in 1961 all the cars were the same color and interior). In 1962 the Oldsmobile dealer once again provided cars, though from his Studebaker dealership. This time the 500 Festival Directors received white Lark converts with a variety of interior colors and options. In 1963 Chrysler provided 300 convertibles, and though there was a special "Pacemaker Blue" color, many of the 500 Festival Cars were painted red, black, white, etc. 1964 the new Mustang was the Pace car, and all were lettered to resemble the actual Pace car. The festival Cars had a large white tag in the front window to designate a 500 Festival Director or not. These also had a variety of interior colors. And once again in 65 with the Fury.
For 1966 the 500 Festival had a new emblem, used on stationary, street signs, banners, etc. And on the 500 Festival Directors cars. All the 66 Cyclones were lettered like the Pace Car, and the decal was only for the 500 Festival Directors cars. This held true up to at least 1980. So in 1969, the Camaros would have the 500 Festival logo on the car if they were assigned to the 500 Festival Directors. They would also have special 500 Festival license plates, numbers 1-43. There was also 70 other Camaros at the track and they had "Official" license plates, numbers 1-49 and also numbers 88-125 - two Pace Cars did not have a plate and I am pretty sure the Winners Car was display only and also did not have a plate. (Plates numbered 50-86 were the Support Vehicles - Impalas, trucks, etc). So technically when one talks about a "Festival Car" it is one of the 43 so designated with the 500 Festival logo. The others are "Official Cars" (though now the Speedway would prefer they be called "Parade Cars").
I have a large database with 69 Camaro Convert VINs and it appears all the cars at the track were Norwood build 02D date codes. However, I have 47 other V8 Camaro converts (Pace Car or not) built during that time frame. It should also be noted the 43 Festival Cars were all identical, while the Official Cars varied in equipment. I am missing many Body Numbers, but the festival cars are close, though not sequential as there is more than 43 numbers between the lowest and highest.
And a word on the winners car. Mario Andretti stated he gave it to his brother-in-law after a few years, and he eventually sold it to a local Nazareth, PA person. In the 1980 interview, he stated he would still see it around once in awhile. I cannot find much about this car, but Chevrolet learned their lesson from 1964 and 1967. AJ Foyt received the Pace Car both years, and both years stated (from the podium at the winners banquet) that he would not accept a car without AC or a power top. (And there were many stories of how he was leaving the track when it began to rain and he couldn't close the top-none of it is true). Chevrolet stated they would build him another car, but to the same price point as the original-thus it was not a 396. (And Ford did the same in 64). For 1969 the winners car did have AC and a power top, and possibly other options such as power windows. Engine size is only speculated). There is unfounded rumors the car went to Australia or Sweden. It would be within the Official Cars at the track as it was present during the race period.
