Formula One uses a Mercedes SLS AMG. The Indianapolis 500 has a Chevrolet Camaro SS. Now, you can add a Lexus LF-A to the growing list of high-powered pace cars that have been used this year by a bonafide racing event.

The 2011 LF-A, Lexus’ resident supercar, served as the official pace car of the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, an open-wheel racing event held every year at the streets of Long Beach, California. Just in case you need a refresher, the race is part of the Izod IndyCar Series calendar. It was actually held last weekend where England’s Mike Conway emerged as the winner for Andretti Autosport.

Dressed in black with matching white stripes and looking the part of a Japanese zebra, the LF-A Pace Car was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise for a lot of us. We don’t know if the car will be used in other IndyCar races for the rest of the year, but we’re certainly hoping to see more of it down the road, hopefully even at a race that doesn’t have Toyota as a title sponsor.

As a brief refresher, the 2011 LF-A is a supercar that’s powered by a 4.8-liter V10 engine that delivers a maximum output of 560 horsepower with a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph.