CORVETTE 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION TO PACE INDY 500; DRIVER ANNOUNCED, CAMARO Z28 UTILIZED AS FESTIVAL CARS. .
A special 50th anniversary edition of Chevrolet?s upcoming 2003 Corvette was unveiled today as the official pace car of this year?s Indianapolis 500 on May 26. Taking part in the announcement at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was motion picture actor Jim Caviezel, who will serve as driver of the Corvette pace car. Caviezel, a motorsports enthusiast, can be seen in the title role of Edmond Dantes in "The Count of Monte Cristo" and plays the lead role of Tom Chapman in "High Crimes," a soon-to-be-released 20(superscript: th) Century Fox movie about an alleged military deserter.
SETTING MILESTONES . . . The 86(superscript: th) running of the Indy 500 next month will mark the fifth time Corvette will perform Indy 500 pace car duties and the 13(superscript: th) time a Chevy vehicle has served as the official pace car -- the most appearances by any brand. It also marks the return of Chevrolet to the most hallowed ground in motorsports: Chevy will compete in the Indy 500 for the first time since 1993 with the all-new Chevy Indy V8 racing engine. In addition, the racing event will signal the start of a yearlong celebration leading up to Corvette?s 50th anniversary in 2003.
50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION . . . The Corvette that will serve as the Indy 500 Pace Car is virtually identical to the 50(superscript: th) Anniversary Edition Coupe that will be available for purchase later this summer through Chevy dealerships. It?s equipped with a 5.7-liter LS1 V8 engine that produces 350 horsepower in production trim. Corvette incorporates advanced technology such as hydroformed frame rails, Active Handling System, driver-selectable suspension modes and optional Head-Up Display. The 50th Anniversary Special Edition also features Magnetic Selective Ride Control, the industry?s fastest and most powerful real-time damping suspension.
CAMARO Z28 CONVERTIBLES TO BE USED AS FESTIVAL/PR CARS 55 Sebring Silver Camaro Z28 Convertibles will be used for Festival Parades as well as PR vehicles for Track, IRL, and City of Indianapolis Officials. Camaro has been used extensively over the years at Indianapolis ... and in fact, has been utilized every year at the Brickyard 400 NASCAR race at Indy.
Fbodfather
They don't make songs about Volvos.
Member # 1119
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Just an observation...the 50th Anniversary car does not have stripes on it....further, it is not Magnetic Red...it is a special color we named "Anniversary Red"...much deeper and richer than Mag. Red. It will be retired after the 50th anniversary and never used on a GM car again. The interior is "shale" and really compliments the exterior...and of course, the gold-tone wheels finish the statement.
GM Design, the Performance Car Group, the Brand Team, and our Dealer Advisory Board spent a LOT of time developing this car...because it is a milestone, not only for Chevrolet, but for the auto industry. (how many nameplates have been around for 50 years?????) Further, the members of these teams, for the most part, are SERIOUS Corvette enthusiasts....our jobs are more than just jobs...they are our life's passion.......
Early on, the car had a stripe on it...but it was agreed by just about everyone that a stripe is not in Corvette's character...and the stripe took away from the car...it did not add to it....and thus, the car you will see.
I ask you not to make final judgement on the 50th until you see it in person....I believe we have come up with a car that honors 50 years of the American Performance Icon.
posted
I NNNEEEEEDDDD to find a job quick! That car is beautiful. I don't care if it is slow (which I am sure it is not) but I love the looks. Ok, I'll wait (like Steve) before I judge.
Posts: 5946 | From: Litchfield, NH, USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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From the pics, the color looks close to the Ruby Red used on the '93 40th models, but perhaps a shade or two lighter. The interior color complements the car really well. Very pretty.
Andy
Posts: 214 | From: Pepperell MA USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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