Media Days at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Susan getting out of the pace car at the indy 500 track

During Indianapolis 500 media days this year, GM Chevrolet division hosted a group of journalists to meet and greet Emerson Fittipaldi as he gears up to drive the Chevrolet Corvette pace car at the 92^nd running of the 500. Skies threatened the day before but as luck would have it, the day Emerson was to take the 2008 Corvette Indy 500 pace car out on the track was beautiful. A bit crisp, the sun was shining and Emo was excited as he anticipated running the laps, without competition!

Two-time Indy 500 winner, Fittipaldi spent some time with the media in a Q&A session fielding questions about his racing career and the Indy 500's use of alternative fuels for racing. An ethanol refiner in his native Brazil, Fittipaldi is the perfect racing champion to help support GM's use of E85 and to celebrate 30 years of the Corvette at Indy, notes Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager.

The fifth largest country in the world, Brazil is a global leader in ethanol usage in automobiles. Approximately 70 percent of Brazilian new cars are equipped with FlexFuel systems, and the production of ethanol has grown so much during the past three decades that Brazil no longer uses imported oil.

After breakfast with Tony George, CEO, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the media participated in a Q&A about getting ready at Indy, a preview of the 92^nd running of the Indy 500, and a tour of the Roth Racing Shop, among other available events.

Media were also treated to lunch, a shop tour and an announcement with Indy's newest driver, Sarah Fisher, Team Owner and Indianapolis 500 Veteran. A tour of the performance tire division of Firestone was also provided, as well as Q&A with Larry Curry, Team Manager, AJ Foyt IV, driver and Indy veteran, Tim Cindric, President, Penske Performance, Inc.

Other greats on hand for photo ops and questions were Graham Rahal, driver, Karting drivers, Firestone Indy Lights (May 23) drivers Dillon Batistini, Ana Beatriz, James Davison, Logan Gomez, Sean Guthrie and J.R. Hildebrand, and Italian race car driver Max Pappas. Officials from ESPN announced that Eddie Cheaver, 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner will team up with Scott Goodyear to host ESPN's IndyCar Series telecast as analysts of the race.

On Wednesday, April 9 media got an up close and personal look at the high-powered, personally autographed 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 E85 concept pace car. Two-time Indy 500 champion Emerson Fittipaldi answered questions for the media and took drivers around the track in the Z06 E85 concept pace car and the 30^th Anniversary Commemorative Edition Corvette.

The 30^th Anniversary Commemorative Edition Corvette is a black and silver exterior paint scheme honoring the 1978 model. The anniversary models are equipped with a special two-tone titanium-color interior with the Indy 500 logo embroidered on the seat back. Both coupe and convertible versions are available and each carries Fittipaldi's personal signature.

Potential owners of the anniversary Corvette will have their choice of six-speed manual or six-speed paddle-shift automatic transmissions. The engine is the LS3 small-block V8 with 436 horsepower, and the Corvette sports a rear spoiler, silver checkered flag graphics and Indy 500 logo fender badges. Pricing will be available at a later date, but Chevy expects this Corvette to be every bit a collectible as the 1978 model is. Chevy will build 500 of these cars in both coupe and convertible versions, each signed by Fittipaldi, on both the underside of the armrest and on the outside panel

The concept E85 pace Corvette is based on the production Z06, one of the fastest, most powerful cars on the market. Performance is blended with high-octane, renewable alternative fuel derived from a variety of crops grown across the United States. E85 is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. E85 ethanol fuel is a domestically produced alternative fuel similar to the E100 fuel that all the Indy race cars use in the Indy Racing League. Benefits of E85 alternative fuel include reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and a reduced dependence on petroleum.

With the exception of the fuel system and powertrain controller revisions necessary to run E85, the Z06 concept car is mechanically stock. The Z06 pace car is painted a unique Gold Rush Green; a color-shifting scheme that changes hues of green and gold when viewed in different lights and angles. Part of the pattern is a subtle checkered flag pattern. Safety equipment and strobe lights are also added to the pace car.

General Motors is the leader in E85 production models with more than 3 million E85 capable cars, trucks and SUVs on the road in North America. With more vehicles to come, Chevrolet offers seven E85 models for 2008.

The highlight for media came when Fittipaldi, Max Pappas and Joie Chitwood, President and COO, Indianapolis Motor Speedway took media around the 500 track, both in the 30^th Anniversary silver/black Corvette and the E85 pace Corvette Z06. As engines roared and the sound echoed throughout the stadium, many of us were jumping around with excitement. Not only was it a thrill to ride with any of the above, including IMS' President Chitwood, but to experience what it's like to make those turns on the famous Indianapolis 500 track, in one of the world's most powerful cars.

Fittipaldi, thrilled to be driving the Z06 Corvette pace car this year, spoke about his last race at Indy in 1996 when he drove for Roger Penske. "The cornering speed has increased a lot from 30 years ago," he told the media. "There is more power, more efficient braking, and of course, safety, the biggest gain in 30 years."'

When asked what his favorite tracks were Fittipaldi answered Long Beach Grand Prix and Elkhart Lake. Favoring the combination of oval tracks and road circuits, Emo thinks these challenging tracks will be making a comeback.

"Racing is always showing the way to new developments and inventions," said Fittipaldi. "Racing leads the way for street cars, such as improvements in safety." To be able to demonstrate the benefits of "going green," noted Fittipaldi, is important. "People have the wrong perception of Ethanol." GM's message is that with ethanol, you get better performance, renewable energy and a cleaner engine. The E85 pace car demonstrates the "gas friendly to gas-free initiative as an available fuel solution."

Fittipaldi went on to tell the audience that utilizing E85 in racing will provide an example of how great it is. Not only is it a great alternative to regular fuel, he said, but it will generate jobs, boost the economy and the standard of living for farmers. Any new type of energy always generates suspicion, but once it is better understood people will realize the benefits.

After climbing out of the Z06, legs were shaky having hit speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour. What a thrill it was watching the stands whiz by. Speeds of 150-160 mph don't feel much different than 100 miles per hour, although that is surely an illusion. To have ridden in one of a pair of distinctive Corvettes that will make history this coming May 25 during the running of the 92nd Anniversary rates high on the list of automotive adventures. A tribute to 30 years of Corvette's pace car heritage.

This will be the first time more than one pace car paced the Indy 500 drivers, and the 10^th time for Corvette to pace the Indy 500; the last five years in a row. The Convertible will pace the first 100 laps, the hardtop the second one-hundred.

Motor speedway online: www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.