7 replies to this topic

[rolando]

I'd like to know if anyone has any info about this strange Ferrari...

I just know that it was used as a pace car in the 1987 Indianapolis race...

[fines]

The 1987 Indianapolis Pace Car was a Chrysler LeBaron Convertible, driven by Carroll Shelby. I don't think they ever had a non-American car pacing the 500!?

[david_martin]

Absolutely correct - Chrysler Le Baron driven by Carol Shelby :

[Todd]

That looks like one of the CART PPG pace cars. It wouldn't have been used at Indy, as Indy was a USAC sanctioned race even when the real teams and drivers ran there. It was used at the other CART races, along with similarly modified Renaults, Dodges, and an Oldsmobile. Maybe you can do a search on PPG Pace cars? I don't really have time right now.

[MattFoster]

I'm pretty sure the Ferrari Pace Car made an appearance at one of the early Gold Coast Indy GPs

Cheers
Matt

[Mike Argetsinger]

Real teams and drivers still race in the Indy 500.

[William Dale Jr]

It looks to me like the Winner's Circle that the car sits in is the one at Michigan International Speedway, where you turn right off of the pitlane into the area. Alternately, it could be the winner's circle at one of Roger Penske's other tracks, Nazareth Speedway. Hope this helps

[Alvega]

The Ferrari PPG pace-car was based on the (then) current Mondial chassis.

It featured however a longitudinaly mounted 3,4L V8 with 300 HP, instead of the tranversely mounted 3,2L V8 with 275 HP used in the standard Mondials.

This new engine (and gearbox), was latter used in the new 348 TB/TS that was launched in 1989. It was also offered on the Mondial from 1989 onwards.