[VIDEO] 2019 Corvette ZR1 Pace Car Crashes at Detroit IndyCar Race

By
Keith Cornett
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8
10573

[VIDEO] 2019 Corvette ZR1 Pace Car Crashes at Detroit IndyCar Race

Photo Credit: IndyCar on NBC


We’ve sort of been wondering when we would have our first accident post featuring a 2019 Corvette ZR1. After all, when you have 755-hp and Michelin’s race-ready Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires (optioned with the ZTK Big Wing package), the car is bound to get a little sideways every once and awhile whether you wanted it to or not. Amirite?

GM’s Mark Reuss probably never dreamed it would be him to go first.


On Sunday, GM’s Product Development Chief was piloting the Admiral Blue 2019 Corvette ZR1 Pace Car before Sunday’s running of the IndyCar race at Detroit’s Belle Isle. The ZR1 appears to be just off the racing line and most likely picked up some debris on the notorious bumpy track as it was rounding one of the corners. The car appears to loose grip and the back end starts to come around as the sports car noses into the retaining wall.

The pre-race warm up was stopped as they cleaned up the mess. Reuss and his passenger appeared to be okay.


Reuss has been driving the Pace Cars at Belle Isle for the last few years now. He’s an accomplished driver licensed for FIA C and IMSA Road Racing, and is a certified industry pool test driver on the North Course of the Nürburgring Motorsport Racetrack in Germany.

UPDATE
Chevrolet issued the following statement later on Sunday afternoon:

“We are thankful that there were no serious injuries. Both the pace car driver and the series official were taken to the infield care center, where they were checked, cleared and released.”

“It is unfortunate that this incident happened. Many factors contributed, including weather and track conditions. The car’s safety systems performed as expected.”

Mark Reuss also issued his own statement on Sunday:

“I want to thank you all for your well wishes today. I am ok. I have driven this course many many many times. I have paced this race in the wet, cold, hot, and calm. On Z06’s, Grand Sports, and other things. It is never a casual thing for me, but an honor to be asked. Today I let down my friends, my family, Indycar, our city and my company. Sorry does not describe it. I want to thank our engineers for providing me the safety I know is the best in the world.”


Source:
roadandtrack.com

Related:
[ACCIDENT] C7 Corvette Z06 Crashes into a South Florida Bus Stop
[ACCIDENT] 1977 Corvette Crashes into an Illinois Chiropractor’s Office
[ACCIDENT] C5 Corvette Z06 vs Utility Pole in Ohio

 



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8 COMMENTS

  1. I’ll bet GM’s Monday morning staff meeting will be very interesting. I’d like to be a fly on that conference room wall.

  2. Why would it be. He’s not these first top notch diver, whom made a mistake in a pace car/racecar. There has been quite a few. The man is no amateur or celebrity pace car driver.

  3. This could happen to anyone as that ZR-1 has incredible torque…..and of course theres a little adreniline involved driving that pace car….shake it off Mark !!

  4. Would be interesting to know the speed of the occurrence. Should have warmed up tires before attempting any major speed increase. Especially over a bump that would affectrear traction.

  5. Everyone knows that has driven in a track event that you NEVER, EVER hit the gas pedal going into a turn or at APEX. That is exactly what he did – hitting the gas to early. Most common accident at track events.

  7. Detroit Free Beacon Classified ad
    For Sale: ZR1 Pace Car, minor front end damage. Make offer. Pick up at Belle Isle race track.
    Call GM Race HQ for details

Comments are closed.