For release: Jan. 5, 2006, 12:01 a.m. EST








CORVETTE Z06 TO PACE DAYTONA 500 WITH JAY LENO AT THE WHEEL

LOS ANGELES – A specially outfitted 2006 Corvette Z06 will serve as the official pace car of the 48 th running of the Daytona 500, on Feb. 19. “Tonight Show” host and auto enthusiast Jay Leno will drive the pace car.

The Daytona 500 is NASCAR’s premier race and traditionally kicks off the Nextel Cup racing season. Selection of the Z06 model marks the second consecutive year that a Corvette has been selected as the Daytona 500 pace car.

“It is a wonderful honor to have Corvette serve once again as the Daytona 500 pace car,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. “Chevrolet has a long, successful history at Daytona and there’s no better vehicle to showcase our performance legacy than the Corvette Z06 – a car that was born on the race track.”

The Corvette Z06 that will serve as the Daytona 500 pace car is mechanically identical to those available at Chevrolet dealerships. It is the fastest vehicle ever offered by Chevrolet and General Motors. With 505 horsepower (377 kw) and 470 lb.-ft. of torque (637 Nm) from its 7.0L all-aluminum, racing-inspired engine, the Corvette Z06 leaps from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 198 mph. It also differs from other 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 help keep it glued to the tarmac, so it requires no drivetrain modifications to satisfy its role in front of the racing pack. In its official capacity, however, the pace car is outfitted with a variety of safety equipment and highly visible strobe lights.

Interestingly, the Corvette Z06’s 505-horsepower (377 kw) output is actually more than the power produced by the race cars that will compete in the Daytona 500 – a first for a pace car. This is because of the unique “restrictor plate” rule established for the Daytona and Talladega , Ala. racetracks. On these 2.5-mile-long super speedways, the restrictor plate reduces airflow into the engine to limit horsepower and keep race car speeds below 200 mph. With a restrictor plate, racing engine power is reduced from about 750 horsepower to about 450 horsepower. Race cars can still average more than 190 mph on Daytona’s long straights.

The Corvette Z06 Daytona 500 wears a unique paint scheme, inspired by the hot-to-cool color transition of a space capsule entering Earth’s atmosphere at a high rate of speed. The paint scheme is carried out with an elaborate, interlocking scallops design – a twist on hot rod-style flames – that blends “hot” Lemon Drop yellow at the nose of the Corvette with Lemon Glow, Amber Ecstasy, Blazing Copper and Hot Poppy. The colors culminate with a cool Sapphire Trance blue color at the rear of the vehicle. DuPont, the sponsor of Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 Monte Carlo, supplied the colors, which are from the company’s “Hot Hues” line of automotive paint.

“As if the Corvette Z06 needed help in looking fast, the intricate paintwork of the pace car gives it the appearance of tremendous speed,” said Peper. “It is one of the most elaborate and stunning vehicle designs we’ve created.”

Leno behind the wheel

Jay Leno, host of the “Tonight Show” and an unabashed auto enthusiast, will drive the Corvette Z06 during opening ceremonies and the pace laps that start the race. Leno, who has a large collection of vintage automobiles and motorcycles, has previous experience as a pace car driver.

Chevrolet returns to the Daytona 500 with 18 victories – the most of any manufacturer – including last year’s champion Jeff Gordon. Chevrolet also returns as the defending manufacturer’s cup champion, an award that has been bestowed 29 times. Also, defending Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart drives the No. 20 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Joe Gibbs Racing.

“The Corvette Z06 already is a performance legend and the fans will enjoy seeing it lead their favorite drivers around Daytona’s famous tri-oval,” said Robin Braig, president of Daytona International Speedway. “It promises to be a great race, and kicking it off with a Corvette at the head of the pack is the best way to start.”

The Daytona 500 is one of the largest events in motorsports, drawing more than 168,000 fans to the track and attracting nearly 11 million American television viewers. It also is broadcast around the world.

i need one of these, like now! now if they'd sell z06 with custom paint jobs like this......

Does the Corvette really need more publicity though? GM should have sent the CTS(-V), Solstice, Sky, GTO, or heck even the DTS out there.

That's gonna be a wicked paint job under Daytona sun.......hopefully it's gonna be sunny when the 500 starts up.

it has more hp than the NASCAR race cars! haha

Thats an interesting paint job. It makes the '03 Indy pace car, with its purple paint over yellow leather look subtle and attractive.

I thought GM wanted to forget the eighties...

Um...no it doesn't.

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From the article: "Interestingly, the Corvette Z06’s 505-horsepower (377 kw) output is actually more than the power produced by the race cars that will compete in the Daytona 500 – a first for a pace car. This is because of the unique “restrictor plate” rule established for the Daytona and Talladega , Ala. racetracks. On these 2.5-mile-long super speedways, the restrictor plate reduces airflow into the engine to limit horsepower and keep race car speeds below 200 mph. With a restrictor plate, racing engine power is reduced from about 750 horsepower to about 450 horsepower."

Oooh yea forgot that was a plate race. I didn't read the article since I was too blinded by that horrbile paint.

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you are forgiven

:lol:  Oh good, now I can sleep.  :rolleyes:

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I figured you would be up all night otherwise. me i'm exhausted. even virtual reporting from L.A. via Chicago is rough. plus an awesome championship game. Goodnight folks!

oh and not much else happening tomorrow unless you like Ferraris.

Are the tailights unique? With the bottom 3rd being amber? Or is that on all Vette's?

Oooh yea forgot that was a plate race. I didn't read the article since I was too blinded by that horrbile paint.

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Doane got owned.

Are the tailights unique? With the bottom 3rd being amber?
Or is that on all Vette's?

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These appear to be the European-market taillights.

That's like the coolest lightbar ever. They should offer that with a Z06 police package. :lol:

These appear to be the European-market taillights.

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Actually, the euro-markets only actually have the turn signals on the outboard lights:

Edited January 5, 200619 yr by Turbojett

“It is a wonderful honor to have Corvette serve once again as the Daytona 500 pace car,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. “Chevrolet has a long, successful history at Daytona and there’s no better vehicle to showcase our performance legacy than the Corvette Z06 – a car that was born on the race track.”

I'm not the only one who knows this is just a marketing tool and that GM seems like the only car company who cares about buying the rights to pace Daytona and Indianapolis, am I?

Edited January 5, 200619 yr by Hudson

I love carpet.  I love desk.  I love...I love lamp.

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Yeah, I killed a guy. I killed a guy with a Tri-dent.



But seriously the paint is cool for a HotWheels but kind of loud for the real world. I bet Elton John is ordering one up right now.

Also that wrestler who did the Slim Jim ads would love this car.... it matches his glasses.

...so why does this one have 4 turn signals??? Looks a little odd. I kinda like the paint myself.

Does the Corvette really need more publicity though? GM should have sent the CTS(-V), Solstice, Sky, GTO, or heck even the DTS out there.

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Yea, but think of it this way. The Corvette will actually be able to keep up with the stock cars something the DTS, Sky, Solstice and probably GTO and CTS-V can't do. GM usually puts its most powerful car as the pace car for the 500.

...so why does this one have 4 turn signals???

Looks a little odd.

I kinda like the paint myself.

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I'm pretty sure those are caution lights since it is the pace car for a NASCAR race, but I could be wrong.

I think the paint job looks awesome though.

the vette might as well try its luck racing while its at it. :P

seriously i just want to meet the person who designs the paint jobs.... and the guy who actually paints the car.... and make sure they were actually following the same plans