Tradition Lost

 

Tradition Lost

From its inception in 1911 the Memorial Day Indianapolis 500-mile race, or “The 500” has had a non-race car pace the competitors, at the beginning, and during caution periods. These cars, driven sometimes by celebrities, former drivers and others, to pace the field, were for years’ cars that were new models, design or mechanical innovations, or just the most popular car. Sometimes they were from a particular manufacturer. Since nineteen ninety six. That tradition has gone away. The victim of advertising economics.

In the twenty-five years since nineteen ninety six, General Motors, or GM, has provided the five pace car models from two marques. The twenty-five years before  nineteen ninety six the pace car was provided by three different manufacturers, and eight different Marques. Two of those marques are no longer in business. Apparently the business of tradition at Indy is not good business.

 For a race that has so much rich tradition surrounding it for the last one hundred and ten years, the twenty-five-year miscue with the pace car is unthinkable. Having Corvettes, and Camaro’s pace the race every year are the same old cars and the practice is boring, and unimaginative.  

I can remember starting to watch the “500” in the early 1970’s. I was drawn to the pomp and circumstance of the race from an early age. I tune in at the beginning, to watch the festivities. My favorites being the playing of the National Anthem, the Presentation of the Colors, Taps, the flying military jets, the Purdue band playing the song “Back Home Again in Indiana,” sung by Jim Nabors, and the balloons. I remembering watching the race on a one week, then an eight hour, time delay with my father, on ABC Wide World of Sports.

In the twenty-five years before nineteen ninety-six, the pace cars introduced the engines that would race years later. Namely the Buick 236 CID V6 engine. That engine would pace the race in nineteen seventy-six, would be in a race car, and on the pole in nineteen eighty-three. When was the last innovation on a Corvette Pace Car in the last twenty-five years, that ended up on a race car? There have been other cars in the last twenty-five years that have been worthy of pacing the 500.

The Olds 442 in nineteen Seventy, the Hurst Olds in nineteen seventy-two, and seventy-four. The all new Pontiac Fiero in nineteen eighty-four. The newly designed Ford Mustang in nineteen seventy-nine. Chrysler with the Lebaron in nineteen eighty-seven. The 20^th Anniversary Pontiac Trans AM, in nineteen eighty-nine. The Viper would be debuted early in nineteen ninety one, then again in nineteen ninety-six. Cadillac would debut their new Northstar V8 engine, which was the base for the Oldsmobile Aurora, and the basis for racing engines in the early 2000’s and beyond.

The last twenty-five years has brought us cars that were worthy of pacing the 500. The Bullitt Mustangs, the Dodge Challengers, Chargers, Hellcats, and Shelby Mustangs. Instead we get warmed over Corvettes, and Camaros. If Camaro’s are so damned awesome, why did they not make them for 7 years?  

In the last twenty-five years’ innovation and style have given way to product hero worshipping. Chevrolet Corvettes are not overly innovative, nor do they have the most horsepower, or even style. Fourteen times across three different generations of Corvettes, is a bit much for a marque that doesn’t innovate. Especially with style. The exception to all that is, the Corvette will be coming out with a mid-engine vehicle. That is worthy of pacing the 500.   

My hope is that the new owner, Roger Penske, restores the Pace Car tradition to the 500. He knows and respects the traditions of the 500. He as an owner steeped in tradition, and success there at the Speedway. My hope is to see a car other than a Corvette, or Camaro pace the Indianapolis 500. The 500 has lost some of what made it special. Hopefully it can regain what it once was, at least when it comes to Pace cars.