New Chevy Camaro SS Convertible to Pace Indy 500, then go on Sale

For the second year in a row, Chevrolet's Camaro SS will serve as the official pace car of the Indianapolis 500. The only difference this year is that GM's pony car will be the new convertible model with the company planning to build a total of 50 examples.

The pace car, along with the matching replicas are all based on the SS model and are equipped with a 400-horsepower V8 engine. All cars are painted in a Summit White exterior accented with orange stripes and door graphics. Inside, the seats are trimmed in orange leather with the front headrests featuring an embossed Indy 500 logo, while the door panels and instrument panel get white trims. In addition, the center panel trim features extensions of the orange exterior stripes.

GM said it will auction off the first of the 50 Indianapolis 500 Festival Committee cars at Saturday's (January 22, 2010) Barrett-Jackson event, with all proceeds from the sale to be donated to the David Foster Foundation, a charity devoted to supporting families with children in need of life-saving organ transplants.

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VIDEO: Ducati Moto GP Riders Race Against Ferrari F1 Stars on Ice

While promoting Jeep products must have been a boring chore for Ferrari’s F1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, we’re pretty sure they had a good time competing against Ducati Moto GP’s Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden in a series of races held on ice. Vehicles of choice were the ever entertaining karts and some sweet looking Fiat 500s. Highlights in the video after the break.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Youtube via Ridelust

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VIDEO: More Track Action with James Glickenhaus’ Ferrari P4/5 Competizione

We’ve already seen car collector James Glickenhaus’ Ferrari P4/5 Competizione on the racetrack in Turin, but the video footage wasn’t that impressive. Luckily, Youtube user Marchettino has caught the one-off special on tape (or so to speak) while running some tests on the Franciacorta circuit, near Brescia in Italy. Despite the foggy conditions, this video provides a....clearer picture of what the endurance racer is capable of. Hit the jump to see the clip.

By Csaba Daradics

Via: Youtube

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New Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Racer Hits the Tarmac for the First Time

Cadillac is getting ready to return to the fabulous world of motorsports with its new CTS-V Coupe race car. Following the two-door model's world premiere at the Detroit Motor Show last week, the race-prepped CTS-V Coupe hit the track for the first time on Monday driven by Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim, for tests at Sebring International Raceway.

GM's luxury car division had pulled out of racing before the U.S. government bailed out the company in 2009. More specifically, the last time Cadillac competed was in 2007 in the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT series. Now, the company will reenter the series, beginning with the season-opening race in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 25-27. Hit the jump for a comprehensive gallery.

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Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 Takes Third Place in its First 24H Race

Mercedes-Benz completed the development and testing phase of its SLS AMG GT3 racecar last week by taking part in the Abu Dhabi 24-hour endurance race (January 13 to 15). All three participating teams managed to finish the race, with the number 7 Black Falcon vehicle driven by Thomas Jager, Jan Seyffarth, Kenneth Heyer, and Sean Paul Breslin claiming third place.

"It was a good team performance overall which was rewarded with a third place that we can be proud of," said Thomas Jäger. "Achieving a good finish for all three cars at the first attempt was an important affirmation for all those involved.".

The SLS AMG GT3 competing for Heico Motorsport with starting number 9, took seventh place overall, coming in 18 laps behind the winner, while Black Falcon's second gull-wing model finished 69 laps behind the winner to claim 24th place.

It's worth noting that all three SLS AMG GT3s in the 24H Dubai race sported the Ducati logo, which refers to the partnership agreed in November 2010 between Mercedes-AMG GmbH and Ducati Motor.

According to Mercredes-Benz, following homologation and specification of the balance of performance by the FIA worldwide governing body, delivery of the SLS AMG GT3 will commence at the end of February 2011 with the sales price set at be € 334,000 Euro (net) /€ 397,460 (incl. 19 % VAT).

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