2010 Camaro = Official Daytona 500 Pace Car (Ad from Dealerships)

[nbladen]

Tony Stewart never belonged in a Toyota, he's going to win the championship in his own ride this year! But honestly, I'd rather see anyone win it besides Jimmie Johnson. If he wrecked every race....that would be a good race!

[jachevy28]

Nice to see the Camaro as a pace car again...when was the last time, like 1997? They paraded a bunch of Challengers out as pace cars at Darlington last year and they looked really good in person out there on the track, so it should be a nice showing for the Camaro.

[oramac0002]

It is sweet that the camaro is the pace car at Daytona but if the camaro does Indy they need to bring out the old school paint job and make it white with the hugger orange strips and all the other graphics. If they made replicas of that they would sell out quickly.

[ShnOmac]

Originally Posted by Supermans

I wouldn't be surprised if it is the Dale Jr car as the pace car with a little extra badging on it...

[Supermans]

Originally Posted by Rallysport

Wouldn't surprise me. Why do you think I quit watching nascar? It's sick what that idiot Brian France has done to the sport. So sad that another AMERICAN institution has to be ruined because of some punk's greed. Twenty some odd years of supporting the sport, and I feel screwed. Thanks alot France, I think your Grandfather is spinning in his grave. Oh, and go to hell toyota.

I'll third that sentiment. I do think the dale jr camaro should be the one shown (or a hand painted cyber grey ). And then perhaps show him driving it on a video. That would make for some good advertising.

[Tantalizer43]

I think my bet is on Cyber Grey Metallic.

I could be wrong, but I don't think they'd use the Dale jr. Camaro. For one thing, pacing the 500 in a Jr themed car, that's a little too biased. And that is coming from an 88 fan!

Plus there is a lot of people who may be seeing the Camaro for the first time. I would not give a first impression with a modified Camaro.

Just me though...

[playhard67]

my votes for CGM as the pace car color

[TAG UR IT]

Glad to hear this news! I, too, wonder what it's going to look like...CGM? Special Daytona graphics?

[CWI]

If it is indeed the pace car, I will have my DVR on. Replay,replay,replay,replay,etc.

It will be nice to see it in action and see it from different angles.

[CWI]

Originally Posted by playhard67

my votes for CGM as the pace car color

Maybe that's how they will finally show CGM. If they use the D. JR. paint scheme, will his Imala have matching paint for this race?

[Tantalizer43]

Originally Posted by CWIweldace

Maybe that's how they will finally show CGM. If they use the D. JR. paint scheme, will his Imala have matching paint for this race?

I think Pepsi CO. (AMP Energy) may have a little something to say about that. Plus if Jr had a special paint scheme for the 500, we would have seen it a while ago. You can already see his special scheme for the May Darlington race. Those schemes are planned well ahead of time..

I'm looking for a Cyber Grey Camaro with special decals, and obviously a lighting package.

A Chevrolet leading the field to the green flag, and a green Chevrolet leading the field to the checkered flag!!!!

[chaseus]

My first post. Have a friend that ordered a new Camaro, and I may after I get to drive one.

There have been some comments that GM would not use a V6 in a Daytona 500 Pace Car. I have followed with interest the Daytona 500 Pace Cars for several years now, so I thought I would share a few things that I learned.

I know for a fact in 1997, 1998 and 2000, the Grand Prixs had V6s, and were advertised as not needing any engine mods to pace the race. The 2001 race was a modified AZTEC, however, that was not street legal. 2003 also had a V6 Grand Prix. Then Chevy took over with the Vettes 04-08, all V8s of course.

The 2000 Grand Prix Pace Cars had a V6 Supercharged stock engine (and was street legal, many actual race used pace cars are not), though it did have modified beefed up brakes, stiffer springs, and bigger wheels and tires than the stock Grand Prix GTPs.

They made replicas in 1998 (1,500 BUILT) and 2000 (2,000 BUILT) also.

I know in the year 2000 when Pontiac built those 2,000 Daytona 500 Pace Car Edition cars, sunroofs were standard, but the first five cars were built without sunroofs (Daytona would not allow sunroofs on the track that year), and four cars were fully built up with the brake mods, the "super speedway" springs (Grand Prixs used at the smaller tracks had different springs), the full Whelen strobe system, and a bunch of graphics.

Of those four fully built up cars, two were used in the race itself, and two were used for display purposes only. Three are in private hands, one is still in the GM Heritage Collection.

NASCAR used Grand Prixs and Monte Carlos a lot during the 2000-2004 seasons, and most of the Grand Prixs were street legal (some were sold to the public), and most of the Montes were not street legal, until 2004 at least. And the Pontiacs that were sold to the public were sold WITH the strobe systems intact, they just had the wires unplugged.

There were some comments about how fast the Pace Cars have to go. Though it is true the pit road speed is slow, the Pace Cars do have to go high speed sometimes to get out front, and to pull off, which going from a banked part of the track to the flat inner shoulder can be quite a jolt. Pace Car duty can be pretty intense. Several main drivers have been known to tap the pace car if they are leading on a caution lap. In a 1999 ARCA race at Daytona, one of the Grand Prix Pace Cars actually got T-Boned in the race. Jeff Gordon nearly hit the 2002 Daytona 500 Trans Am.

I know the Grand Prixs only had the V6, but if anyone remembers, during the pre-race to the 2001 Daytona 500, they showed Dale Earnhardt Sr giving a ride the night before to Terry Bradshaw, and they took that Grand Prix Pace Car up to 140 MPH. Then, after Terrys ride, Earnhardt took a second Grand Prix Pace Car out around the track on his own.

So there should be no doubt that certain stock V6s can handle the duties. In any event, the new Camaro will be exciting to see leading the pack. I did get an "early photo" of the 2007 Corvette, but no such luck on the Camaro. Like everyone else, I can't wait to see that puppy.

[djinva]

In the past the 500 pace car is also used to pace the Bud Shootout which is this coming saturday night so we should not have to wait long to see what it looks like!

I also have heard GM signed a one year contract extension for Chevrolet to be the official vehicle for Daytona, so it really could be a Toyota next year. Chevrolet was also the official vehicle of Bristol Motor Speedway and they have given it up this year. I am hearing Ford will take over, no Ford fan here but that is much better than Toyota.

I am like a lot of others on here a die hard NASCAR fan and I agree Brian France has really done a lot of damage to the sport. He has let Toyotas money take over. I will not even watch the Truck or Nationwide races as they have been totally taken over by Toyota, it makes me SICK. When they take over the cup series I will be finished.

[a6pk2go]

Originally Posted by CamaroScotty

I have a very difficult time acting surprised !

COULD THIS BE A CHICAGO AUTO SHOW SURPRISE?????? HMMMMMMMM....

SO that may be the surprise. Well if that is the case they will need to get it out the same day and get it to Daytona pretty quick.