Robin Roberts To Drive Indy Pace Car
Robin Roberts Anchor Person for Good Mornina America, is the second woman driver in history to drive the Camaro Pace Car this year. She will have to be able to maintain speeds thru the corners up to 120mph. Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp, the wife of Indiana rocker John Mellencamp, became the first woman to drive it back in 2001.
This year's Pace Car features an Inferno Orange Metallic paint scheme with White Diamond rally stripes that travel from the front to the rear over the top of the body, as well as extending to the interior dash. The design is a modern interpretation of the original rally stripe that debuted on the 1969 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car. An RS appearance package and leather interior with Inferno Orange interior accents. It also features design cues that further enhance the Camaro's head-turning design. For a closer look,
click here.
The 2010 Camaro was the 2009 Indy pace car as well. This will be the 6th time a Camaro has been a Pace Car: 1967 driven by Mauri Rose, 1969 driven by Jim Rathmann, 1982 driven by Jim Rathmann, 1993 driven by Jim Perkins, 2009 driven by Josh Duhamel, and now 2010.
WHO IS JIM RATHMANN?? Jim Rathmann (born Richard Rathmann July 16, 1928 from Alhambra, California) is a former American race car driver who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1960.
He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series in the 1949-1950 and 1952-1963 seasons with 42 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in each of those seasons. Rathmann also participated in the two runnings of the Race of Two Worlds at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy, winning the 1958 event. He had 6 victories in addition to his Indy 500 win. He also drove in 3 races in the NASCAR series from 1949-1951. He drove GM Indy Pace cars 6 times: More than anyone.
Since retiring, Rathmann has owned Chevrolet dealerships in Palm Bay and Melbourne, Florida. Mr. Rathmann is now retired from the car business. He is currently the oldest living winner of the Indy 500.
It was announced on February 20, 2007 that Rathmann will be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. The ceremony will take place in DetroiT
Mustang has been the pace car only twice; 1964 driven by Benson Ford, and again in 1979 driven by Jackie Stewart. The Dodge Challenger had the job in 1971, but driver and dealership owner Eldon Palmer lost control when in the pits, and slammed into a croud and hurt a bunch of poeple. The Challenger has not been asked to appear again!
Video of Eldon Palmer Crashing the 1971 Dodge Challenger
CAMARO PACE CARS AT INDY
1967 CAMARO PACE CAR
1969 CAMARO PACE CAR [
2010 CAMARO INDY PACE CAR
2010 INDY CAMARO PACE CAR REVEALING
Hope you enjoy this
thanks
mike
dms