A big part of the reason I came to Indy (besides the race) was to meet the director of the IMS Museum and see their 1978 Pace Car.  I wanted to verify the oddball VIN this Vette is susposed to have.  Well we did get to see it, get up close and touch it, but somewhere along the line the VIN has been removed from the normal spot on the driverside windshield   And I think the director was a bit too busy to bother with us during race day.  You should have seen Mike and I crawling up under this car taking pictures of odd data plates and markings on the frame.  One data plate says "Donated by GM for educational purposes" it has some numbers also but I've got to enhance the pics on Photoshop to make them out.

 

Oh ya I'd also like to thank Mike and Debbie for their great hospitality and all the driving we did between their house and Indy.  To say the least we were beat, burnt, and tired by this afternoon.  Thanks you two  and their four kids (Yorkies) are really cool.  I'll get my pics and vids up as soon as I can.

 

 

Indy was slow, but still have some good racing at points.  Dixon got $2,900,000 plus last night at the awards banquet.  I think Sarah Fisher got the least at $270,000 and change.  I'd like to see her have a real chance with big bucks and equipment. 

 

Which pc do you think you had the chance to see?

 

Per the GM memos from early '78, the cars were as follows:

 

Back up pace car was 1Z8748S-416658

Memo indicated that this car was to be donated to IMS museum for permanent exhibit in lieu of the actual pace car

 

Actual pace car was 1Z8748S-900001

Memo indicated that this car was classified at a corporate historical vehicle and was to be returned to Chevy for disposition following the race.

 

Parade lap and winner's car was 1Z8748S-9000002

Memo indicated that this car was to be given to winner at banquet.

 

Parade lap vehicle was 1Z87H8S-400006

Not sure about that 'H' in above Vin.  This was in days of the old typewriters and suspect that this was supposed to be a '4'.  This vehicle was to be given to USAC for use as a pace vehicle.

 

Hope you had a good trip home.

Gary

 

Gary, the 90001 Pace car is the one at the GM Heritage Center in Detroit, 90002 is Al Unser's car, 6658 is the one at IMS I stilll believe, a prototype car, and the 40006 is still unlocated.  USAC HQ's was closed or I'd have gone in their and grilled them for info also.

Glad you had a great time.

I looked for you in the stands with the C3VR banner, but I must have missed ya.

 

 

Mark, it was more like less than 100 FEET from the track!

 

It was incredible watching these cars flash by in a blurr and watch em as they went into turn 1 and vanish from sight in a matter of seconds!

40 seconds to do a lap around the 2 1/2 mile track.

 

We took the museum bus tour around the track the following day and it was cool to see the fresh marks on the walls and know exactly happened in each spot.

 

Was too bad the way the 3 ladies were knocked out of the race, but a cheer went up when Milka returned near the end to finish the race. I would have enjoyed seeing Danica get to throw a few punches when she started her march down pit row. Too bad they stopped her!

 

Never thought I'd ever get to one of these races, glad I did, had a great time! Arriving and departing was a whole lot easier than we thought it would be, too.