Throwback Thursday: USA Women’s Soccer Goalie Hope Solo Drives the Brickyard Corvette Pace Car

Last weekend, millions of Americans watched as the USA Women’s Soccer team defeated Japan to win the FIFA World Cup, the first time the team has won the cup since 1999. Shutting down the opposition throughout the tournament was goalie Hope Solo, who recorded five shut-outs and allowed only three goals.

In today’s Throwback Thursday, we go all the way back to when the goalie drove the Corvette Grand Sport Pace Car at NASCAR’s 2011 Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Solo was just the third woman to pilot a pace car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and was the first woman to pace the Brickyard 400. The Grand Sport was just a year old at the time and featured a Supersonic Blue exterior with a White hood stripe and Red Hash Marks.

After opening the race by driving the 2011 Corvette Grand Sport, Hope appeared with the NASCAR TV commentators and she said this, “It was exhilarating, I think I am still shaking, but it was unbelievable. What an experience!” When asked if it was true that she was upset to be limited to driving just 55 mph, she responded “There’s a little bit of truth… 55 is a little show for a race track. Gotta pick up the pace, guys.” She added, “That was a beautiful car I drove and yesterday I had it going about 100 mph, but today, they put the reins on me I guess.”

Congratulations again to the USA Women’s Soccer Team for winning the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Source:
Bold Ride

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