How long is the Daytona 500? Having covered 593 laps when the Sometimes, pace cars do become collectible when a manufacturer issues a special edition, as Chevy has done many times before. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. We take a look at the NASCAR pace car roles and incidents here. (see track speeds below). Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. All rights reserved. An impressive feat, for sure. Rather than providing a fleet of Vipers, Chrysler provided numerous Stratus, Intrepids, and Special Edition Rams for festival use. }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); You need to agree with the terms to proceed. Since 1979, the pace car has also been used to pack up the field during caution flag periods. In NASCAR, the pace car goes 45 miles per hour. the way they can judge their speed, at least at lower levels is my matching the pace car speed and looking at the tachometer. Live from Daytona will showcase the rare GM Firebird I concept, highlight the history behind the Harley J. Earl trophy, compare the Camaro ZL1 1LE street and NASCAR Cup Series cars and feature the 2021 Daytona 500 Corvette pace car. (7.5 litre) V8. The president and first lady were introduced to the crowd, in which the fans had intertwined chants of "USA" and "four more years.". During his tenure as Speedway president, Tony Hulman rode in the pace car nearly every year, immediately after giving the command to start engines. (a Hollywood version of this was in Days of Thunder here btw) which may explain this better than we do! 620 W Montrose Street, Clermont, FL 34711. They can then check the RPMs they are using and use that to match when they enter the pit lane. Strobe lights, rolls bars, multi-point harnesses, television camera mounts, two-way communication (for officials), and removing the air conditioning, are among some of the more routine modifications made for the actual pace car. This time he had an entirely different role. In addition, the track typically is provided with dozens of lower-end ("base model") pace car production replicas (or different makes by the same manufacturer) for use as festival cars throughout the month. How many F1 drivers have won the Le Mans 24 Hours? The instructor will only let you go as fast as your ability. It was an honor to open the Daytona 500. The NASCAR season-opening Clash race will be held on a temporary track built in the L.A. Start your engines and head over to Full Force Dance Academy at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, to see the official Daytona International Speedway Pace Car as it pays a visit to Minneolas favorite new dance studio. It is also used by drivers to gauge the revs needed to safely and legally enter and drive in the pitlane due to a lack of speedometers in NASCAR. How fast does the Daytona 500 pace car go? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, The new 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will serve as the official pace car of the 2022 Indianapolis 500, Travis Pastrana, Jimmie Johnson qualify for 2023 Daytona 500 Racing February 17, 2023. In 1971, local Indianapolis Dodge dealer Eldon Palmer was involved in a crash driving the pace car. The Lucky Dog beneficiary or free pass rule. A tiled pattern using the Chevrolet bowtie, red accents, bold white lettering and pace car lighting complete the look for Corvette, Camaro and Silverado. As a side note, our favorite is probably the 1969 Indy 500's Camaro, which featured iconic orange stripes over a white-on-white convertible. $29.00 + $6.75 shipping Ready to Go/Pre-built. 3 favorites to watch Denny Hamlin. At the start of the race, the pace car leads the assembled starting grid around the track for a predetermined number of unscored warm-up laps. Automotive executives, NASA astronauts, reporters from ABC Sports and the IMS Radio Network, and other celebrities were among those invited to ride in the pace car. We linked to Days of Thunder above, well Tom Cruise returned to daytona in 2009 to drive the starting pace car there as well. Billed as the "Fastest Seat in Sports," it is driven by a former Indy driver, and carries a special passenger. Editor's Picks Daytona 101: Drivers rely on film, data to prep for the 500 Ride Along: $175.99 + tax Double Ride Along Price: $351.99 + tax We take a look at these below:if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'motorracingsports_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-motorracingsports_com-medrectangle-3-0'); 2.Lap placeholder. WebThe pace car is utilized for two primary purposes. 1992: Additional pace laps were run (unscored) after Roberto Guerrero crashed during a parade lap. Brett Bodine pulled it over when smoke started to fill the car, and soon after the rear end burst into flames. Trump is the fourth sitting president to attend a race at Daytona. Ever since i got in my pedal powered car 40 or so years ago I have been a lifelong fan of all motor racing, particular NASCAR and Indy, so this site is made to help share the answers to those questions that pop up mid race! BBC is a trademark of the British Broadcasting Corporation. Instead of halting the proceedings, officials decided to simply extend the number of warm up laps. As it happens, the trio have another commonality all utilize a version of Chevrolet's 6.2-liter small block V8. (David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Fast Repair: 1; Drive-thru penalty every 21x incidents; Track Conditions. By 1957, the procedure was changed so the pace car led the field for two warm up laps. - They made a complete lap a first with the full fleet of racing cars, according to a top NASCAR official. You may order presentation ready copies to distribute to your colleagues, customers, or clients, by visiting https://www.parsintl.com/publication/autoblog/. js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; In later years, the Speedway began experimenting with using pop culture celebrities driving the pace cars, a change that has met with mixed responses from fans. Last year, a large assortment of Corvette pace cars went All Rights Reserved, 350 Corvette Drive The mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette Z06 has served as the official pace car at the Daytona 500, the first race in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series. Brett Bodine was the official pace car driver from 2004 to 2018 in NASCAR. We love NASCAR and we love the people of NASCAR.". Seventeen cars participated in the Next Gen test at Daytona. This is featured at many IndyCar Series races.[8]. This also allowed the fans on the main stretch (where the largest grandstands are located) to see the entire field parade by one time before the start. What is Apple CarPlay, and is it the same as Bluetooth? Nearly all races at the time, as well as all Formula One races even to the present, utilize a standing start. This marks the sixth time a Corvette has paced the Daytona 500. The others were Ronald Reagan in 1984, George H.W. The Corvette has led the prestigious race six times, and certainly wont be the last. "It really is the Great American Race, and I look at this as almost a patriotism kind of thing. The 2022 Indy 500 pace car is the new-for-2023 Corvette Z06. Mansory Builds Two-Door G-Wagen With Suicide Doors. The field would use the lap to warm up their engines, tires, and then at the conclusion of the lap, at a prescribed speed, the pace car would pull off the track and allow for a rolling or "flying" start. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Celebrities James Garner and Marty Robbins were chosen in part due to their experience in racing. God bless you, we love you," Trump said. Legal Statement. Daytona International Speedway has banking of up to 31 degrees through turns, and the track surface is not meant to be driven on by heavy trucks. Have a phenomenal day, have a great race, be safe. Few festival cars may actually have been driven on the track. While the NASCAR season kicks off at the Daytona 500, the Next Gen cars will make their competitive debut at the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum exhibition event on a quarter-mile track that's been built inside the L.A. It revolves around a falsehood that the Avanti was going to be the pace car and at the last minute, the Lark was substituted. Full Force Dance Academy is located at 540 S US Hwy 27 Unit B in Minneola, FL 34715. Previously only fans on other parts of the track got to actually see the grid go by for photographs and waving. The pace car starts the race at 110 mph not a stretch for the IndyCar cars themselves which can achieve speeds of over 240mph in Combined horsepower, 1,370. "We love the area, we love this state and it's very exciting. Gary Gastelu is Fox News Digital's automotive editor. Hendrick Motorsports is currently the most successful team in NASCAR. How many F1 drivers won Le Mans? Historically, the honor of supplying the pace car was, and continues to be, a coveted honor by the respective automobile manufacturers and a marketing showcase for the particular make/model.[1]. Its 420-horsepower EcoTec3 V8 will help keep the track safe at the Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy 250 on Friday, February 12. In addition, during yellow flag caution periods, the pace car enters the track and picks up the leader, bunching the field up at a reduced speed. WebThe table below summarizes the pace cars, Grand Marshals, Honorary Starters, and performers of the national anthem at the Daytona 500. Chevrolet has paced the Daytona 500 14 times since the race's inception in 1959, with the Corvette taking the honor in six of them. (David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images), "We dont have them quite handling the way we want yet," Team Penske driver Joey Logano said after the session. It is equipped with the Z07 Performance Package, featuring a carbon fiber rear wing, ground effects, carbon ceramic brakes. Your information will be used in accordance with our privacy policy. Finished in an Elkhart Lake Blue paint, the mid-engine Chevy is quite On Sunday, President Donald Trump became the first commander-in-chief to lead the pace lap, and he did it with his presidential motorcade. Been in and out of cars of varying speeds since i was a child and sharing what i have learnt here. Finally, on Sunday, Sunday, Sunday is the main event, the Daytona 500. Fast Repair: 1; Drive-thru penalty every 21x incidents; Track Conditions. Three Chevrolets will pace some fantastically named races this coming weekend. It is often an opportunity for manufacturers to showcase a new model. The conclusion of the race was moved to the following day. You must be logged in to perform that action. Chevrolet has paced the Daytona 500 12 times, seven with Camaro and five with Corvette. In IndyCar races, it goes around 110 miles per hour. In many years, the pace car was a convertible, which along with increasing the luxury status of the vehicle, it aided in the officials' ability to marshal the start. 2021 IndyCar title is just the start for Ganassi's newest star, Why Grosjean's oval commitment shows he's serious about IndyCar, Why Grosjean's title bid is serious var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; For the first time in modern history, the flagman decided to wave off the start, by displaying the yellow flag. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. It revolves around a falsehood that the Avanti was going to be the pace car and at Now, this mid-engine masterpiece will lead at the pack at the 65 th running of the Daytona 500, set to take place February 19 th, 2023. You must have JavaScript enabled to experience the new Autoblog. (See, 2008: There were two Chevrolet Corvette pace cars for the 2008 race; a metallic green pace car that runs on, No races held in 19171918 or 19421945 due to, This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 03:07. After the singing of "God Bless America," an invocation and the national anthem, President Trump delivered the four famous words in racingbut he added his own introduction before starting their engines. Market data provided by Factset. Pit stop aficionados will notice that tires are anchored with one central lug nut rather than five. The Silverado pace truck is powered by a production 6.2-liter V8 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Formula 1 drivers who conquered the Indy 500, F1 drivers who won the Indy 500 Fisher has often served as pace car driver at IndyCar events, and for the last five years has driven it during caution periods at the Indy 500, but this year she is the celebrity official driver of the Pace Car as well as the driver whenever there's a full-course caution. (HHP/Harold Hinson). What exactly is Android Auto and what does it do? Custom Bundle: No. In 2022, a white Z06 led the Indy 500 field, and overall, the American sports car has paced the race more than 30 times. ET on Friday, Feb. 12, Camaro SS 1LE in the Xfinity Series Beef. The following day, February 13, will see a 2021 Camaro SS 1LE setting the tempo in and this is exactly how NASCAR writes the race's name the Xfinity Series Beef. Crashes invloving the pace car have happned, though despite the roughness of nASCAR racing they arre. On the final pace lap, the field would finally form up into the eleven rows of three on the backstretch, but oftentimes it was still loose and not in pristine order. Currently, the pace car driver for the caution periods is the same driver who drives the pace car for the Indy Racing League during all other events. 1967: The race was red-flagged for rain after 18 laps. the pace car maintains a speed of only 30mph. The process of varying the selection across different models, which existed from 1911 through 2001, has been abandoned since 2002, with all pace cars exclusively provided by the Chevrolet marque since that year. However we have a table below with the 2021 pace car speeds and how fast the pace car can go on each track. Why Grosjean's oval commitment shows he's serious about IndyCar. WebDaytona Pace Cars is dedicated to Daytona 500 Pace Cars, GMMG Cars, GMMG Blackbirds, GMMG Berger Camaros, SLP Firehawks, Grand Prix GTPs & GTXs & In almost every year since 1936, it has been a tradition that the winner of the Indianapolis 500 be presented with one of that year's pace cars (or a replica). Sato says Coyne did great preparation for Indy 500, IndyCar to adopt regular qualifying procedure at Detroit GP. We explore these in more detail below. Through 1978, the pace car was only used at the start of the race, and was not used during caution periods. if (d.getElementById(id)) return; 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Its ethos is a bit different than the Z06. Earnhardt Jr. was voted the sports Most Popular Driver for 15 consecutive years. In 1996, the Dodge Viper GTS was chosen as the pace car. 911 GT3 RS Makes Its Case Even Over $300,000. Sasahara replaces injured Yamashita for Super Formula test, Supercars decides on Gen3 weights Say that three times fast. WebThe speed of a pace car is dependant on the track and the race being held. A Pontiac Bonneville was the 1962 Daytona 500 pace car, and Fireball Roberts won the race in a 62 Pontiac Catalina. In addition to winning the Daytona 500 in 2004 and 2014, Earnhardt Jr. was a two-time winner of the July race at Daytona, overall scoring four wins, 13 top-five finishes and 19 top-10s in 36 NASCAR Cup Series career starts at Daytona International Speedway. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 review: a fitting final hurrah to natural aspiration, Fantastic Fours: inside the workshop that specialises in classic 4cyl Porsches, Alpine will not say no to Andretti-Cadillacs F1 team plans, For sale: the gorgeous 1966 Gurney Eagle Mk1, yours for $3-$4m. "Right now, if I can, I'm going to hop into one of these cars and I'm going to get into this race, if possible," Trump said before hopping into his limousine for a pace lap. At the Eldora Speedway, the pace car maintains a speed of only 30mph. Custom Bundle: No. At the Eldora Speedway, the pace car maintains a speed of only Race-duty pace cars may also have the factory fuel tank replaced with a fuel cell, and usually have an on-board fire extinguisher installed. 2006: This was before doping scandals erased his sporting records in 2011. At only 19 years old, Paige is a talented, bright new business owner in Minneola, so its no wonder people miles away in Daytona got excited about her confident, adventurous spirit and wanted to include her dancers in their race weekend activities. In some cases, the officials utilize two separate pace cars (exactly the same models) one each for the start of the race, and the caution periods. WebStart your engines and head over to Full Force Dance Academy at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, to see the official Daytona International Speedway Pace Car as it pays a visit to Then if the officials deem appropriate, it releases the field at a purposeful speed to start the race. Since 2006, the pace car has This caused tremendous confusion in 1958, as the front row escaped from the pace car, and the field needed an extra pace lap to assemble before the green was displayed. The 1978 race was the first to feature multiple pace cars on the track during the parade lap. After that was completed, the field restarted, and took two warm up laps before the green flag. Why America Loves Carl Casper and Why You Will Too! Trump and the first lady rode in one of the limousines of a motorcade, and they made their way around the track that is two and a half miles. (from nascar.com) We will update it when the 2022 figures come outp around the week or two before the season starts. Indy 500: How many cars race, how long is it, where is it & more, Progress on Supercars aero parity The pace lap concept was popular with fans, as many drivers commonly waved at the fans and the rolling grid made for spectacular photographs. Who could forget the 1978 Indy Pace Car edition Corvette with its two-tone black-over-silver paint job, or the 1998 Corvette with its purple and yellow scheme? This page is for personal, non-commercial use. Please follow the instructions below to enable JavaScript in your browser. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. The field re-formed, and received the green flag the next time by, with a slightly better formation. Starting in 2010, a modified Dallara IR03, converted to a two-seater, has also led the field during the parade and pace lap. Overall, Chevrolet has paced The Great American Race 14 times. Silverado is built to do the job right every time. Manufacturers that has supplied the car include: A couple of honorable mentions in pace car history: The speed of a pace car is dependant on the track and the race being held. ET on Saturday, Feb. 13. The start was waved off, and the next time around the cars were halted on the frontstretch with a red flag. The teams were allowed to replenish a few gallons of used up fuel, and a short time later, the field pulled away for two new pace laps. 4. However, the UAW, along with traditionalists, protested since the Stealth was a captive import built by Mitsubishi in Japan. It's incredible, the people are incredible," Trump said during an interview on the track. In 2021, Chevrolet is campaigning the Camaro ZL1 1LE in the NASCAR Cup Series, Camaro in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Silverado in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Itll be exciting to have Dale lead the field to green in the strongest, most advanced Silverado ever.. Formula 1 drivers who conquered the Indy 500, Indy 500: How many cars race, how long is it, where is it & more, Indy 500: A beginner's guide During the parade lap(s), often several replica festival pace cars join the field, usually carrying celebrities and/or special guest drivers. Since 2002, Chevrolet has had an exclusive contract with the Speedway to provide the pace car and other official vehicles for the Indianapolis 500. Yes, in 1971. The replica pace cars and the festival cars are usually worth significantly less than the actual car used to perform the pace car duties. The process of varying the selection across different manufacturers, which existed from 1911 through 1996, has been abandoned since 1997, with all pace cars exclusively provided by General Motors since that year. 3. Acknowledging the Corvettes 70-year history, it is a 70th Anniversary Edition variant, The 2022 Indy 500 pace car is the new-for-2023 Corvette Z06. At the time, the pace car was not used for caution periods. Has the pace car ever We also participate in other affiliate programs which compensate us for referring traffic. Thanks for subscribing. WebAt the one to go signal, the pace car will turn its lights off. NASCAR has settled on the rules package it will use on superspeedways this season after 17 teams hit the track at Daytona on Tuesday with their Next Gen Cup Series cars. Trump was asked if he ever gets to drive anymore, and he said he wanted to jump into a race car and compete on Sunday. WebYou are in control as you drive a NASCAR race car on the speedway of your choice. NASCAR sets the speed of the pace car depending on the track on which the race is being run. Davey G. Johnson | Car and Driver. For 19571958, the field was lined up in single file on the pit lane, rather than the traditional 11 rows of three on the race surface. A list of manufacturers and the frequency in which they either provided official pace cars, or one of their vehicles were selected to pace the Indianapolis 500. Copy. 23 23XI Racing Toyota (qualified: 6th) William Byron, No. Published Feb 27, 2017. Progress on Supercars aero parity, Sasahara replaces injured Yamashita for Super Formula test, Sasahara replaces injured Yamashita for Super Formula test (David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). Fisker will begin delivering its EV flagship SUV this year see the $37,500 Ocean, Tesla Cybertruck's adjustable suspension is like a Skyjack, Genesis recalls over 65,000 cars for potential exploding seat belt pretensioners, Nissan recalling more than 700,000 Rogue and Rogue Sport models, Toyota rethinks long-term EV strategy, calls Tesla Y a 'work of art,' report says, Toyota RAV4 and Camry redesigns reportedly debuting in 2024. For the first time in its history, the 24 ended under a red flag, just before the 22nd hour. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker. This car is currently on display at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Indiana. What It's Like to Be a Mechanic in the Daytona 500. Vehicles most likely to hit 300,000 miles, Cars most likely to have major powertrain problems, Top 10 brands with the lowest average repair cost to fix a check engine light, Top 10 brands least likely to flash a check engine light, Chevrolet Corvette Camaro Silverado Pace Cars 2021 Daytona 500, Corvette, Camaro and Silverado are set to pace three different N, The mid-engine Corvette Stingray coupe will serve as the pace ca, All three Chevrolet pace vehicles have a racy red, white and blu. Coliseum in 2022. The NASCAR Next Gen car features an independent rear suspension and larger wheels and tires than the previous design. The current NASCAR Pace car driver is Jay Childress. Though celebrities may run parade laps the races definitely need a professional at the wheel. Track Big E, who is part of the popular WWE trio The New Day, will drive a 2022 Toyota to lead the 40-car field to the green flag at Sunday's Daytona 500. "Theyre pretty new still to us. Why Kyle Kirkwood is America's new IndyCar ace-in-waiting, 2021 IndyCar title is just the start for Ganassi's newest star, 2021 title just the start for Palou , Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Daytona 500 History National Anthem Vocalists", "James Franco To Be Daytona Grand Marshal", "And the Daytona 500 pre-race concert is", "Jordin Sparks to sing national anthem at 2017 Daytona 500", "No. Coming off of a successful 2020 on track in all three NASCAR national series, our drivers and teams are fired up and looking to put Chevrolet back in Victory Lane, starting at Daytona, said Tony Johnson, director of Chevrolet Car and Crossover Marketing. 1. WebNow you drive an actual NASCAR Race Car. Hambone has won the 500 three Pace Car ProductionAccording to PHS's own Jim Mattison, in a memo dated June 21, 1999, Carter Chaplin of Boynton Beach, Florida, owns the 484th unit produced. Actual pace cars are rare and most are kept and owned by the Speedway museum and the manufacturers. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. There is some controversy surrounding it as it doesnt necessarily give the lap to the fastest or most deserving drivers. By the late 1960s, not only would a special driver be behind the wheel of the pace car, but numerous celebrities would be invited to ride along as passengers. js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.10&appId=663851130353113"; How Harvey found his dream team Best Answer. The C7 never got a look in. Acknowledging the Corvettes 70-year history, it is a 70th Anniversary Edition variant, finished in a special white pearl tri-coat metallic paint, special Corvette crossflags, red brake calipers and with the 70th Anniversary Edition logo on seats, steering wheel and sill plates. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); (function(d, s, id) { We may earn money from the links on this page. it is also a chance to have sponsorship displayed to the millions of viewers as, somewhat ironically, the pace car in an eventful race may be the one of the most seen cars in television coverage! Note: The car assignments for the 1975 Indianapolis "500" Mile Race had the VIN number for pace car #1 as 4H57H5-H125041 and VIN number for pace car #2 as 4H57H5-H125135. 2009: When the field came out of turn four for the start, the field was not well aligned in the eleven rows of three. The table below summarizes the pace cars, Grand Marshals, Honorary Starters, and performers of the national anthem at the Daytona 500.Since 2006, the pace car has been driven by a celebrity guest at the start of the race (mirroring the tradition used the Indy 500).During the race, however, a NASCAR official drives the pace car during Its not the first time the car brand has started Daytona 500. It is powered by a 5.5-liter engine that pumps out 670hp, making it the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 to reach the U.S. market in a production car. Basically the difference between a pace car and a safety car is location. During caution periods, when the pace car is utilized to pace the field, a trained official has been the driver. NASCAR has settled on a superspeedway package that combines a 510 hp engine and 7-inch spoiler. In most NASCAR races the pace car is assigned by the track has been lots of different models of car. How long till the, Juan Pablo Montoya, who is also mentioned, During an ARCA series race in 1999 Joe Cooksey, NASCAR driver Brad Noffsinger did hit a pace car. Round 9 of the CMS 2023 GT3 Sprint Series in iRacing visits the legendary Daytona for some more fantastic GT racing. NASCAR tested the Next Gen car in pack racing scenarios at Daytona. The pace, or safety car in NASCAR has more than one important role. In fact this has been the case since NASCAR first began. However, the bowtie brand has won the actual race 24 times. NASCAR has settled on a superspeedway package that combines a 510 hp engine and 7-inch spoiler. US President Donald Trump rides in his limousine, known as the Beast, as it took off at 3:11 pm ET on the Daytona International Speedway trailed by todays WebPre-race history. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for New Original 1998 Corvette C5 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Promo Model MODELMAX at the best online prices at eBay! The original 1955 Chevrolet pace cars were red and cream two-tone. In the USA, NASCAR, Indy car etc. He crashed into a photographer's stand at the south end of the pit area, injuring several persons. In 2001 and 2003, trucks were used instead of pace cars. 1986: Tom Sneva crashed on the backstretch on the pace lap. The 455-horsepower LT1-powered 2021 Camaro SS 1LE is equipped to deliver high-performance thrills. At the start of the race, the pace car leads the assembled starting grid around the track for a predetermined number of unscored Since 1936, the winner of the race has traditionally been awarded a pace car. Along with the race officials the pace car has ensured that NASCAR races are run smoothly and safely. The pace car was used to take the starting field on one unscored lap. Its also a stark change from 2020, when the opening lap of Daytona International Speedway by The Beast - aka the US presential limo -was with a man currently amidst an impeachment trial. This is one is less easy to follow so bear with us. By clicking subscribe, you agree to receive news, promotions and offers by email from Top Gear and BBC Studios. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The ZL1 was outfitted and put to work for the Daytona 500. This allowed extra time to warm up the engines, oil temperatures, and tires, and allowed the drivers the chance to survey the conditions of the entire track at least once before receiving the green flag.