Well the Detroit Grand Prix started out with a bang today with the Corvette pace car, driven by a GM exec crashing and receiving major damage. Prices on that model start at about $123,000. Nobody seriously injured but he will have a hard time living that one down.
https://www.indystar.com/story...rand-prix/667651002/

Give him a ticket for driving too fast for conditions. Hard to feel sorry for this guy. I guess he skipped the Petty Driving School.

From the video, the rear wheels were spinning all the way through the slide and into the wall. It looks like he did get off the throttle to anchor the rear end at became a passenger.

Dropped throttle overstear.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Give him a ticket for driving too fast for conditions. Hard to feel sorry for this guy. I guess he skipped the Petty Driving School.

Not sure what his qualifications are but I venture to say he's probably not a professional. Maybe he should've left it to a professional driver, which I'm sure GM could have access to. But he probably pulled the executive card on people because he wanted to show off.

They normally have a professional, right now it's Oriol Servia, a mostly former F-1 and Indycar driver.
Chevrolet is the title sponsor of this event so someone pulled some strings. Even the TV guys didn't know.
On the second try with the spare pace car, Servia was again behind the wheel.
Look easy to do when someone with the proper skills is behind the wheel.

quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:
They normally have a professional, right now it's Oriol Servia, a mostly [B]former F-1[\B] and Indycar driver.

F1? Nah.

I’ll take a guess and say he’s calling in sick tomorrow

Driver is an executive vice president at GM. Maybe he should have taken some driving lessons.

He was probably texting someone.

quote:

Originally posted by nosticks:
Dropped throttle overstear.

In NASCAR terms, "loose in."

I know on my Camaro if one leaves the "Nannies" on...it's about tough to lose it. The software takes over pretty early and will shut off the throttle, etc.

I thought the Corvette's had a similar feature?

"Hey, it's just driving in circles... how hard could it be?"

He ran out of talent. but to be fair; based on the video he didnt have much to begin with. Laying into the throttle of a 700hp car with a roots blower far enough to make boost, while coming out of a corner on street tires is a rookie move.

quote:

Originally posted by Clem Eastwood:
He ran out of talent. but to be fair; based on the video he didnt have much to begin with. Laying into the throttle of a 700hp car with a roots blower far enough to make boost, while coming out of a corner on street tires is a rookie move.

quote:

Originally posted by mcgivern:
Driver is an executive vice president at GM. Maybe he should have taken some driving lessons.

That executive is Mark Reuss who is a certified industry pool test driver on the North Course of the Nürburgring Motorsport Racetrack in Germany, and is licensed for FIA C and IMSA Road Racing.

I just watched a Mecum auction where they auctioned off an entire collection of corvette pace cars. I think it sold somewhere around 1.6 million.

quote:

Originally posted by 1s1k:

quote:

Originally posted by Clem Eastwood:
He ran out of talent. but to be fair; based on the video he didnt have much to begin with. Laying into the throttle of a 700hp car with a roots blower far enough to make boost, while coming out of a corner on street tires is a rookie move.

quote:

Originally posted by mcgivern:
Driver is an executive vice president at GM. Maybe he should have taken some driving lessons.

That executive is Mark Reuss who is a certified industry pool test driver on the North Course of the Nürburgring Motorsport Racetrack in Germany, and is licensed for FIA C and IMSA Road Racing.

Lots of pro's have moments like that. Just accepted when they are racing. Not nearly as embarrassing.

Before they could tow it off the course, the locals had it up on blocks and stripped down to the frame.
.


.


.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cas,

You'd think it would be impossible to have an pre-opening lap crash without Max Verstappen in the race.

Your tax dollars at work.