General Motors executive vice president of global product development Mark Reuss has been left red-faced after crashing a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 pace car.
The supercar, used at last weekend’s 2018 Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle, lost traction when cresting a small bump in the track during a left-hand bend. The rear wheels lit up and the ZR1 slammed into a concrete crash barrier before coming to a rest in the middle of the circuit.
The race had to be delayed by 27 minutes as the track was cleared of debris.
“We are thankful that there were no serious injuries. Both the pace car driver and the series official were taken to the infield care center, where they were checked, cleared and released,” General Motors said in a statement.
“It is unfortunate that this incident happened. Many factors contributed, including weather and track conditions. The car’s safety systems performed as expected.”
The 2019 Corvette ZR1 made its pace car debut on May 27th during the Indy 500 where it was driven by Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo.
The pace car has been equipped with the ZTK Performance Package and thus includes an adjustable rear wing, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and performance suspension. Like all other brand-new ZR1’s, it also has Magnetic Selective Ride Control, Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, and chrome-aluminum wheels.
As a reminder, the new ZR1 features a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine delivering 755 hp and 715 lb-ft of torque. Evidently, all that power was a little too much to handle for Reuss.