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SSR Pace Truck for IRL's 2004 Season!

3K views 3 replies 2 participants last post by  kwhopper89 
#1 ·
From Google news alerts:

IRL names Chevy SSR to pace all races except Indy

Associated Press


INDIANAPOLIS - The Indy Racing League will use a Chevy SSR pace car at all IndyCar series races this season except the Indianapolis 500.

The pace car at Indianapolis will be a different Chevrolet model expected to be announced next month. The SSR, a modified pickup with a retractable hardtop, paced the field at Indy last year.

"The SSR brings a high-profile, high-image vehicle to the IndyCar Series that is sure to thrill race fans," said Ken Ungar, senior vice president of business affairs for the IRL. "We can't wait to see it pacing the field throughout the 2004 IndyCar Series season."

The IRL season opens Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Indianapolis 500 is May 30

IRL names Chevy SSR to pace all races except Indy
Miami Herald - Miami,FL,USA

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indy Racing League will use a Chevy SSR pace car at all IndyCar series races this season except the Indianapolis 500. ... <http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/motorsports/8030413.htm>

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#4 ·
IRL in California

The IRL will be at the California Motor Speedway on Oct 3rd.

I'm making my plans now - any others want to meet up let me know. Since the SSR is the pace vehicle - I'm going to start checking into the possibility of a SSR parking area. The powers that be may see the benefit of this!!!

Check out the attached photo of the SSR pace vehicle - of course it's a Slingshot Yellow SSR!

News release at the IRL web site:

The Chevy SSR, similar to one that paced the field at last year's Indianapolis 500, will serve as the official pace vehicle for all 2004 Indy Racing League®IndyCar® Series® events, with the exception of the 88th Indianapolis 500 in May.

The selection of this exciting vehicle continues General Motors' tradition of leading the IRL IndyCar® Series field, which began with the League's founding in 1996. It also marks the first time a truck-based Chevrolet will lead the charge to the green flag.

The two SSR vehicles prepared for pace duties are virtually identical to the vehicles available in showrooms.

Chevy's SSR is truly a unique vehicle, blending the characteristics of an open-air roadster with the styling of a pickup. A highlight of SSR's design is a unique one-button, power-operated retractable hardtop that stores vertically and out of sight in a separate compartment located between the passenger and rear-stowage areas.

The frame and chassis of the SSR are similar in design to Chevy's midsize TrailBlazer family of sport utilities. All major exterior panels are of one-piece stamped steel. Under the hood is an aluminum-block version of GM's Vortec 5300 (5.3-liter) small-block V8 that develops 300 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 335 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. That power drives the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. Rounding out the SSR's sporty, street-machine appearance are 19-inch front and 20-inch rear tires and wheels.

"The SSR brings a high-profile, high-image vehicle to the IndyCar® Series that is sure to thrill race fans," said Ken Ungar, senior vice president of business affairs for the IRL. "We can't wait to see it pacing the field throughout the 2004 IndyCar® Series season."

Few modifications were made to the vehicles to prepare them for pacing the IndyCar® Series field.

On the exterior, distinctive red, white and blue accents and the IndyCar® Series logos are added to the standard production Slingshot Yellow paint. Chevrolet's new "An American Revolution" marketing slogan also is featured prominently on the vehicle.

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. A safety strobe light bar has been recessed into the tailgate.

On and off the track, Chevrolet offers products with great design, innovative features and commitment to both quality and technology. The new "An American Revolution" marketing theme captures Chevrolet's pride and passion for innovation, and for success not only in motorsports, but also as it launches 10 new car and truck products in 20 months.
 

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