posted
Good morning, Camaro and Firebird Friends......two notes of interest.... >Chevy SSR will pace the Indy 500
>Pontiac will be hitting Broadway in New York City in a big way at the New
York Autoshow.........
CHEVY'S SSR READY TO SET THE PACE 2003 INDY 500
Heritage-Inspired Super Sport Roadster Is Prelude to Production Model
Indianapolis -- Representatives from Chevrolet and the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway announced today that the all-new 2003 Chevy SSR will serve as the
Official Pace Vehicle for the 87th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May
25.
"As we continue to build upon Chevrolet's strong performance heritage, we
couldn't imagine a more appropriate venue for us to showcase our new SSR as
we near the start of regular production," said Janet Eckhoff, marketing
director for SSR and Chevy's mid-size trucks. "This will certainly be
another great milestone for the Chevrolet and Indianapolis Motor Speedway
record books."
This marks the 14th time a Chevrolet product has served as the official
pace vehicle ? the most appearances by any brand since the first use of a
pacemaker in 1911 ? and the first time a truck-based Chevrolet will lead
the charge to the green flag.
Chevrolet and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway have often been linked
together as powerful symbols that stir the imagination of automotive
enthusiasts around the world.
"We're pleased that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Chevrolet are
continuing this long-time relationship," said Tony George, president and
CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "Having the new Chevy SSR leading
the field to the green flag on May 25 will certainly contribute to a
memorable Indianapolis 500."
This year's edition of the Memorial Day classic will find Chevrolet out to
repeat its recent on-track winning performance. The "Bowtie" returned to
open-wheel competition in 2002, capturing 14 of 15 IRL events, including
the Indy 500, and the series championship. In all, Chevy has won 100
Indy-style races, including seven Indianapolis 500 victories, and six
series titles since 1986.
"Everyone at Chevrolet is proud to be associated with the Indy Racing
Series and the Indy 500," said Brent Dewar, the recently-appointed general
manager of General Motors' largest division. "The SSR is the latest in a
series of SS-branded Chevy cars and trucks that will rekindle the
fun-to-drive heritage of the Super Sport name. In keeping with our
long-term goals, they will be vehicles many people will aspire to own and
also be able to afford."
The Chevy SSR that will serve as the Indy 500 Pace Vehicle is virtually
identical to the 25 unique 'Signature Series' saleable units to be built
before regular retail production and shipment to Chevrolet dealers begins
this summer. The Signature Series vehicles will be used to create
one-of-a-kind "pedigrees" for each vehicle before they are offered for sale
through public or GM dealer auctions during 2003.
"The SSR (standing for 'Super Sport Roadster') is like nothing else in the
market today. It's part roadster, part pickup and is a completely
innovative expression of Chevy's proud heritage," said Eckhoff. A highlight
of SSR's design is a unique one-button power-operated retractable hardtop
that stores vertically and out-of-sight between the passenger and rear
stowage compartments.
The frame and chassis of the SSR are similar in design to Chevy's mid-size
TrailBlazer family of sport utilities. All major exterior panels are of
one-piece stamped steel. Under the hood is a new aluminum-block version of
GM's Vortec 5300 (5.3-liter) small-block V8 that develops 290 horsepower at
5200 rpm and 325 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. That power drives the rear
wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. Rounding out SSR's
sporty street machine appearance are 19-inch front and 20-inch rear tires
and wheels.
Two SSRs have been prepared for pace duties:
· The primary pace vehicle emulates the appearance and content of a Signature Series model. When the checkered flag falls, it will be placed on display in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. · The back-up pace vehicle is VIN #4 of the saleable Signature Series model run, carrying the signatures of John Middlebrook, GM Vice President for Vehicle Sales & Marketing, and Mark Reuss, Executive Director of Operations for GM Engineering & Special Vehicles. After the race it will continue to be used in various pedigree-building activities then, like nearly all other Signature Series units, will ultimately be offered for sale through auction.
A third SSR that emulates the appearance and content of a Signature Series
model will be on display during the month of May for up-close viewing by
visitors to Indy's Hall of Fame Museum. After the May race it will be a
welcome addition to GM's historic collection in Detroit.
Few modifications were made to the three vehicles to prepare them for
pacing the 33-car field on the 2.5-mile oval. Exteriors receive a subtle
silver ghost-flame paint scheme across the hood, front fenders and doors, a
safety strobe light bar recessed into the tailgate, polished stock cast
aluminum wheels and race event graphics. Inside, racing-type safety belts
have been added. Inclusion of heavy-duty engine and transmission oil
coolers, higher rate springs and shocks, and a lower restriction exhaust
system provide further assurance of optimum performance in the harsh
environment of professional racing.
The history of Chevrolet vehicles that have paced the Indianapolis 500, and their drivers:
BIG NEWS FOR PONTIAC . . . On April 1, just in time for the New York International Auto Show, Pontiac will launch an eye-catching video billboard advertisement initiative in New York City. Streaming video and print ads for both the new 2004 Grand Prix and GTO will be featured, and it's not likely anyone will miss seeing them. The billboard spans the entire block of Broadway between 51st and 52nd streets and is 25.6 feet high and 202 feet wide. It will be visible to the nearly 1.5 million people who pass by each day, as well as the 13 million individuals expected to attend the auto show. As the only projected-image billboard in the Times Square area, this placement will offer "an opportunity to see Pontiac vehicles in action like never before," according to Pontiac's advertising director, Mark-Hans Richer.
-------------------- Current ride is: 2002 Brickyard 400 35th Anniversary LE convertible #22,SLP build# 0036,35th Anniversary Build #47 EMCC Member #234 www.emcamaro.org WCA Member #197582 MMCC Member #28 NEOCC Member #634 Posts: 5682 | From: Dearborn,Mi. | Registered: Feb 2002
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