Pace Car selection for Indy 500

[pgtr]

What exactly is the basis or criterion for selecting a pace car or manufacturer for a pace car for the Indy 500?

Since Honda for example seemed to so utterly dominate the top finishers - will they 'earn' the rights to a pace car next year?

Or will GM do a Corvette or perhaps an SUV again?

Do pace cars have to be sporty or performance oriented or can an SUV or mini-van be used?

Or is it all politics or a money game or what to be a pace car?

[drdisque]

its pretty much all a money game

the only performance requirement is that the car can comfortably cruise at around 100 mph. in 2001 the pace vehicle was an Olds Bravada (SUV).

the last 8 pace cars have been GM's. Don't be suprised if its another GM next year with the whole "American Revolution". My guess is that it will be a C6 Corvette.

http://www.indy500.com/pacecar/ <-list and pictures of all the pace cars.

[pgtr]

Yep - the old Bravada - I KNEW there was an SUV in there somewhere. Just need a minivan next.

So is it kinda like the Motortrend COTY thing each year?

W/ all due respect I'd kinda think a company such Honda - given this years results deserves something. Then again the Japanese makers certainly have the deep pockets to play the money game too? Could it be an anti-Japanese thing? E.g. are there some organizer(s) that would prefer to not have a pace car of Japanese make pacing the Indy 500? Just curious if that's a possibility...

By the way is the same Corvette used for pacing other IRL races or who paces those?

thanks for the link.

[evo]

The Indy 500 pace car has never been from anyone but American manufacturers. I remember a few years ago they were toying with the idea of using something foreign, but it still hasn't happened. May never happen...

[pgtr]

Then maybe it's not a sellers market but a buyers market... that is maybe GM gets to write the ticket because they know the only alternative is to select a Toyota or Honda for pace car duties...? Food for thought...

Likewise would IRL ever 'let' Chevy leave IRL for similar reasons? Now that I think about it - does being the unique 'American' maker in IRL - does that put them in a better position for their relationship w/ IRL. Just kinda thinkin' out loud here ...