King Rose Archives | Building the 1991 Indy 500 Pace Car - Carroll Shelby - Dodge Viper RT/10 @KingRoseArchives | Uploaded March 2023 | Updated October 2024, 1 day ago.
In February 1991, Chrysler made a last minute decision to replace the Dodge Stealth (which had been built in Japan) with the Dodge Viper. The United States Auto Club, the organization that sanctioned the Indianapolis 500, wanted to feature American-made pace cars. Indy 500 race officials of the United States Auto Club were willing to bend several rules in order to accommodate Chrysler’s Dodge Viper. Instead of supplying three pace cars, Chrysler only had to supply one Viper on race day. Two Dodge Stealths would be ready in case the Viper broke down. In addition, it was decided that the Viper would only be used for the ceremonial lap that led to the start of the Indy 500 race. "If the yellow caution flag is waved because of an accident or debris on the track, they would send out one of the Dodge Stealths, rather than the Viper prototype, which might be too fragile," said Carroll Shelby. Carroll Shelby, the legendary racer-turned-car designer helped map out the early concepts for the Dodge Viper, and was the driver of the Dodge Viper RT/10 during the 1991 Indy 500 pre-race ceremony. All these concessions allowed Chrysler to focus on getting one Dodge Viper ready for the 1991 Indy 500. Chrysler only had to build one prototype for the race. Watch now as the 1991 Indy 500 pace car was assembled.
#indy500 #pacecar #conceptcar #carrollshelby
For availability and licensing inquiries, please contact:
globalimageworks.com/contact
Ref: S070
In February 1991, Chrysler made a last minute decision to replace the Dodge Stealth (which had been built in Japan) with the Dodge Viper. The United States Auto Club, the organization that sanctioned the Indianapolis 500, wanted to feature American-made pace cars. Indy 500 race officials of the United States Auto Club were willing to bend several rules in order to accommodate Chrysler’s Dodge Viper. Instead of supplying three pace cars, Chrysler only had to supply one Viper on race day. Two Dodge Stealths would be ready in case the Viper broke down. In addition, it was decided that the Viper would only be used for the ceremonial lap that led to the start of the Indy 500 race. "If the yellow caution flag is waved because of an accident or debris on the track, they would send out one of the Dodge Stealths, rather than the Viper prototype, which might be too fragile," said Carroll Shelby. Carroll Shelby, the legendary racer-turned-car designer helped map out the early concepts for the Dodge Viper, and was the driver of the Dodge Viper RT/10 during the 1991 Indy 500 pre-race ceremony. All these concessions allowed Chrysler to focus on getting one Dodge Viper ready for the 1991 Indy 500. Chrysler only had to build one prototype for the race. Watch now as the 1991 Indy 500 pace car was assembled.
#indy500 #pacecar #conceptcar #carrollshelby
For availability and licensing inquiries, please contact:
globalimageworks.com/contact
Ref: S070
