It's time for a change in the monotany of the Indy 500 pace cars. Not only that, GM does strange marketing moves. Repeating the Camaro for 2010 as the "pace car" which means extra stickers and badging like the silly Bumblebee, and it's again handicapped with the lower horsepower rated automatic transmission. Besides that, why is it brand dominated? Besides greed, this isn't about the fine Camaro, it's about relevance.
The IndyCar series currently has seven drivers from the United States of the thirty listed. Not that this is a bad thing, but the only engine used in these cars is from Honda. That's right, Honda. Since Honda doesn't make a performance car any longer (S2000 and the NSX are dead) the pace car, if Honda powered should either be an Acura flagship or a motorcycle like the CBR1000RR or VRF1200F.
Another idea, besides the greed oriented bidding process is to have different brands by judging. A how about a performance car of the year by a vote? Or the pace car of choice by the previous years race winner or previous year series champion. Decals don't make the car either. But having an SUV like the Oldsmobile Bravada in 2001 was a joke.
Another laugh was the Chevrolet SSR in 2003. Basically an overweight, poor selling concept vehicle with little purpose, the long overdue Mustang Cobra would have been far more appropriate. Corvettes have had a too long of a run and skipped the ZR1 for some odd reason. The Dodge Viper has also been missing a long, long time. After all, the Viper ACR is now the king of the track until perhas the Ferrari 599 GTO comes along at takes the crown.
While I'm on this soapbox, forget the 2008 E85 fueled Corvette. E85 doesn't produce the same power as gasoline and produces less miles per gallon. The "Green" racing was attempted at the highest level in Formula 1 and it was dropped. It's just an exercise in marketing. Higher performance breeds greater efficiency anyway.
A website for Indy pace cars is here with some interesting models over the years. But now it's time to spice it up with some variety and no more consecutive year model repeats unless it's something significant. And GM, not a slower version, please.
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Comments
Its interesting to hear a viewpoint aside from what I normally hear so I appreciate you taking the stance publicly. Here are some points you are failing to miss. The brand dominance isnt about greed its about partnerships. Chevy has had a long standing promotional partnership with the track, which isnt bid on year by year. Until that changes a Chevy will be the pace car. The IndyCar series & the IMS are two separate entities. While Honda is the engine of Indy Car, Chevy is the vehicle of the track. That wont change anytime soon. The high end Corvette and Viper models you mention arent a natural to be selected as the pace car is meant to drum up public interest in the brand, the vehicle and the race together. Not many people can afford a ZR1. While you are right on the auto/manual debate this is done because 500 Festival parade board members drive the pace cars around town. From the outside you are right but when you take into account numerous factors the partnership makes sense.
Chris, thank you for the detailed explanation of the partnership. However based on your information, I would say the following:
1. The partnership has a monetary value and should be related to the race, not the track unless the track has it's roots with a manufacturer.
2. Flagship models are just that for the brand - flagships to drum up interest in the brand.
3. The pace car should never be an automatic until torque converters are used in racing other than the dragstrip, of course.
4. Board member should either drive a manual or the brand should provide “support” vehicles that are automatics. The more “pace cars” on the road, the more the honor is diluted, including simple decal treatments.
Thank you,
Rob E., San Jose Autos Examiner
The track has long roots with Chevrolet. Gaston Chevrolet (brother of Chevrolet founder Louis) actually won the 500 in the '20s. It makes more sense to a manufacturer to be aligned with the speedway as a whole, not just the race. The speedway gets a partner for the year, not just one race. There were only 200 of this years pace car produced. The limited number produced has actually drummed up interest, and the ones on the road always drum up interest around town for the race. There are lots of other events surrounding the race that are supported by the local Chevy dealers association. Due to the engagement of the local dealers and local customers Chevrolet is a natural choice. I do agree on the manual however. Kind of puzzling to me.
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