Which Corvette should pace the Indy 500 in 2010?
2010 Indy 500 Corvette Pace Car Speculation
by K. Scott Teeters
Score another accolade for the Bow Tie Boys at Chevrolet for the 2010 Camaro Indy 500 Pace Car at the 2009 Indy 500 race. Now that all the fan-fair has died down, the question naturally arises, “What will pace the ‘10 Indy 500?”
___________________________________________
Chrysler announced last month that it is ending production of the Dodge Viper, so the snake is out. Pontiac is going off to Summerland, so don’t look for a new Trans-Am Firebird. (Bummer! MAJOR bummer!)
____________________________________________
There are several hot Mustangs
that could handle the job.
__________________________________________
Will GM totally wuss-out and dress up a Chevy Volt to pace the Indy 500? (The Volt is an interesting car, but it would be a rather slow pace car, unless they do some SERIOUS power improvements. Imagine if it ran out of juice on the track! DOGH!) And then, of course, there’s the Corvette.
______________________________________________
Hmmm… Let’s see, which Corvette might pace the 500 next year? The production model has already proven itself more than capable. Perhaps a Grand Sport Pace Car? (Think of the collectability!) Another Z06, maybe? Or might there be an all-wheel-drive ZR1? (OH WOW!!!) Given the challenges GM is currently facing, it’s not likely that we’ll see an AWD ZR1, but you never know. It’s also possible there might be a larger displacement engine for the ZR1. (“anything” is possible, right?)
______________________________________________
Granted, the LS9 ZR1 engine was limited to 376 CID so that the compressed engine would survive durability tests. However, a 427 ZL1 “could” be made. After all, three years ago, who would have imagined that Chevrolet would build and offer a supercharged Corvette?
__________________________________________________
And we might not have to wait much longer. Chevrolet product planners and Indy 500 organizers announced the ‘08 Corvette Pace Cars a full six months ahead of the annual race. If another Corvette pace car is in the works, they’re probably working on it right now. (mid-August ‘09) So, we might have our answer as early as December. As they say, “Hope springs eternal.” So cross your fingers, say your prayers, and stay tuned.
________________________________________________
What kind of a Corvette
would YOU like to see
pace the 2010 Indy 500?
Let’s hear some cool ideas.
Save the Wave
by K. Scott Teeters
www.illustratedcorvetteseries.com
