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Indianapolis: GM Racing - Pace Car spotlight
Corvette to Pace the Field During the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard for First Time 505-horsepower Corvette Z06 Given Pace Car Honors for Historic NASCAR Race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway INDIANAPOLIS - A new specially-outfitted Corvette Z06 ...
Published: Aug 4, 2006, 2:40 PM
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Corvette to Pace the Field During the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard for First Time
505-horsepower Corvette Z06 Given Pace Car Honors for Historic NASCAR Race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
INDIANAPOLIS - A new specially-outfitted Corvette Z06 will serve as the official pace car of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on August 6. Chevrolet cars have enjoyed the honor of pacing this event for 12 consecutive years, but this year is especially significant for the brand as it's the first time a Corvette serves as the pace vehicle at the prestigious NASCAR event.
"We're excited to have the 505-hp Corvette Z06 back at the world-famous Brickyard speedway as the Allstate 400 pace car," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. "The Corvette is so racing-ready that all we do is add strobe lights, racing safety belts and a fun paint scheme and it's ready to pound the bricks at up to 198 mph."
While all Corvettes are considered high-performance machines, the Corvette Z06 stands out among its counterparts. It is the fastest vehicle ever offered by Chevrolet and General Motors. With 505 horsepower (377 kw) and 470 lb.-ft. of torque (637 Nm) from its 7.0L all-aluminum, racing-inspired engine, the Corvette Z06 leaps from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 198 mph. It also differs from other production Corvette models with extensive use of lightweight materials, including carbon fiber front fenders and a chassis comprised of aluminum and magnesium. A racing-ready suspension and large, 18-inch front wheels and 19-inch rear wheels help keep it glued to the tarmac.
Nor does the car require drivetrain modifications to satisfy its role in front of the racing pack. With a dry-sump lubrication system, the Z06's engine is equipped to handle the highest cornering forces when traveling around Indianapolis Motor Speedway's 12-degree banked turns. In the car's official capacity, it is outfitted with a variety of safety equipment and highly-visible strobe lights - but is still mechanically identical to those available at Chevrolet dealerships.
The Corvette Z06 for the Allstate 400 wears a unique paint scheme, inspired by an asymmetrical theme that conveys an "empathic sense of motion," according to Kip Wasenko, the pace car designer. "We've used the new sixth-generation Corvette to pace several races recently and its shape is so iconic that we're comfortable getting a little more abstract and artistic with the pace car theme and not sticking to a design that follows the lines of the car," Wasenko said. The Corvette Z06 features broad stripes of yellow, white and blue which complement the Allstate 400 logo and resemble banners that accentuate the car's sense of speed.
The 13th annual Allstate 400 at the Brickyard will open with a variety of exciting, fan-friendly activities, including NASCAR Nextel Cup driver autograph sessions, with Chevy Day at the Brickyard on Friday, Aug. 4.
Highlights of Chevy Day at the Brickyard will include appearances by Chevrolet-sponsored NASCAR drivers in question-and-answer sessions with Riki Rachtman, the former host of MTV's "Headbangers Ball," on the Chevy Stage in the Hall of Fame Museum parking lot, and autograph sessions with Chevy drivers and team owners in the Pagoda Plaza.
The 13th annual Allstate 400 at the Brickyard starts at 2:30 p.m. (ET) Sunday, Aug. 6 and will be televised live on NBC.
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