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2006 specially outfitted Corvette Z06 served as the
Official Pace Car of the 13th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard
on Sunday, Aug. 6 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Chevrolet
cars have paced the prestigious NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
race at each of the 12 previous events, but the Corvette
has never before been the Chevy brand chosen to lead
the field to the green flag at the historic 2.5-mile
IMS oval.
“We’re
excited to have the 505-horsepower Corvette Z06 back
at the world-famous Brickyard as the Allstate 400 at
the Brickyard pace car,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet
general manager. “The Corvette is so racing-ready
that all we do is add strobe lights, racing safety belts
and a fun paint scheme, and it’s ready to pound
the bricks.”
The
Corvette Z06 also served as the Official Pace Car of
the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race in
the month of May.
While
all Corvettes are considered high-performance machines,
the Corvette Z06 stands out as the fastest vehicle ever
offered by Chevrolet and General Motors. The Corvette
Z06 is capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in 3.7
seconds and has a top speed of 198 mph. With a dry-sump
lubrication system, the Z06’s engine is equipped
to handle the highest cornering forces when traveling
around Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 9-degree banked
turns.
It
also differs from previous production Corvette models
with extensive use of lightweight materials, including
carbon fiber front fenders and a chassis comprised of
aluminum and magnesium. A racing-ready suspension and
large, 18-inch front wheels and 19-inch rear wheels
provide superior handling.
Aside
from the added safety package of strobes and the racing
safety belts, the 2006 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard
Corvette Z06 Pace Car did not require drivetrain modifications
to satisfy its role in front of the 43-car race field,
and was mechanically identical to Corvette Z06s available
at Chevrolet dealerships.
The
car carried a unique paint scheme, featuring broad stripes
of yellow, white and blue which complement the Allstate
400 logo and resemble banners that accentuate the car’s
sense of speed.
The
13th annual Allstate 400 at the Brickyard opened with
a variety of exciting, fan-friendly activities, including
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver autograph sessions at Chevy
Day at the Brickyard on Friday, Aug. 4.
Highlights
of Chevy Day at the Brickyard included appearances by
Chevrolet-sponsored NASCAR drivers in question-and-answer
sessions on the Chevy Stage in the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway Hall of Fame Museum parking lot, and autograph
sessions with Chevy drivers and team owners in the Pagoda
Plaza.
For
this year's running, Jeff Burton, driving the Cingular
Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS, started from the pole and
led a race-high 87 laps, eventually finishing a disappointing
12th after fading late.
Jimmie
Johnson, driving the Lowe's Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS,
pulled off a gritty win at the Brickyard, battling back
from an early tire problem to take the lead, only to
see it evaporate when a late debris caution bunched
up the field. It dropped him from first to eighth and
forced him to slice his way to the front in the final
14 laps.
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