part: ”
Reuss, who heads up product development at GM, was driving the official Pace Car, a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, for the start of the Detroit Grand Prix’s second race when he lost control of the 755-hp beast, which spun around and slammed into a cement wall.
Neither Reuss nor his passenger, IndyCar official Mark Sandy, were injured. The cause of the crash was unknown, but the race course, on Detroit’s Belle Isle, is notoriously uneven. It rained earlier in the day, but the weather at the start of the race was 70 and sunny. The track was dry.
In a statement after the incident, GM said: “It is unfortunate that this incident happened. Many factors contributed, including weather and track conditions. The car’s safety systems performed as expected.”
And there it is: the positive spin. Debris from Chevrolet’s $119,000 halo car, the legendary Corvette ZR1, was strewn across the track on national TV under a Chevy ad proclaiming “Find New Roads.” But at least you know it is safe.”
part: ““I think that’s a testament to the Corvette ZR1. I know that thing is 750 horsepower,” Hunter-Reay said. “I’ve driven one before, and you do not want to jump on the gas in that thing, and for sure it’s a fast car. … It’s something that can happen and the race hadn’t started. No big deal.””
Comment: In 1967 with minimum wage at $1.40/hr, if both you and your wife worked, no kids, you could buy the most expensive full option Corvette as one of two daily drivers.