mjorgensen Woodhouse
Enthusiast
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/...1/2013-Corvette-ZR1-pace-car-Indianapolis-500
General Motors Co's 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will lead the starting field of the 96th Indianapolis 500 May 27. It's the 23rd time a Chevy has paced the field.
With 638 horsepower, the Corvette ZR1 is the most powerful production car ever to pace the race.
The Corvette has had some struggles in recent years. Corvette sales are up 0.8 percent in 2012, lagging Chevrolet's 3 percent increase.
Sales of the Corvette in 2009 were the worst since 1961, and have fallen since, hitting a new 50-year-low in 2010 to 12,624. Last year, GM sold just 13,164 'Vettes.
GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson said in an interview last week that the company is working on a new version of the Corvette.
"We will come out with a new, revamped — I've seen it, it's not been published and it's under wraps, top secret — the latest Corvette that I think will float a lot of people's boats," he told the conservative website Newsmax.
It's the 11th time a Corvette is serving as pace car, a record for an individual car. The 2013 model year will mark the 60th anniversary and the final year of production for the current generation Corvette.
"Corvette embodies pure performance, so the ZR1 is a perfect car to pace the most prestigious auto race in the world," said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. president and chief executive officer.
"This is a truly momentous year for Chevrolet when it comes to performance, with our continued success on and off track, and especially with our return to the IndyCar Series, powering some of the fastest cars on the circuit," said Jim Campbell, GM vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. "I can't think of a better way to mark the 60th anniversary of Corvette than having it lead the starting field of the Indianapolis 500."
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120509/AUTO0103/205090318#ixzz1uaUoOxsK
General Motors Co's 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will lead the starting field of the 96th Indianapolis 500 May 27. It's the 23rd time a Chevy has paced the field.
With 638 horsepower, the Corvette ZR1 is the most powerful production car ever to pace the race.
The Corvette has had some struggles in recent years. Corvette sales are up 0.8 percent in 2012, lagging Chevrolet's 3 percent increase.
Sales of the Corvette in 2009 were the worst since 1961, and have fallen since, hitting a new 50-year-low in 2010 to 12,624. Last year, GM sold just 13,164 'Vettes.
GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson said in an interview last week that the company is working on a new version of the Corvette.
"We will come out with a new, revamped — I've seen it, it's not been published and it's under wraps, top secret — the latest Corvette that I think will float a lot of people's boats," he told the conservative website Newsmax.
It's the 11th time a Corvette is serving as pace car, a record for an individual car. The 2013 model year will mark the 60th anniversary and the final year of production for the current generation Corvette.
"Corvette embodies pure performance, so the ZR1 is a perfect car to pace the most prestigious auto race in the world," said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. president and chief executive officer.
"This is a truly momentous year for Chevrolet when it comes to performance, with our continued success on and off track, and especially with our return to the IndyCar Series, powering some of the fastest cars on the circuit," said Jim Campbell, GM vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. "I can't think of a better way to mark the 60th anniversary of Corvette than having it lead the starting field of the Indianapolis 500."
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120509/AUTO0103/205090318#ixzz1uaUoOxsK
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