The
attached photo was taken at Michigan International Speedway on September 28,
1986 during a pre-race ceremony at the CART Pepsi Cola 250.
PPG
had GM build 6 Fiero Show/Pace cars. There
was a red one, not pictured, that qualified as an official CART pace car that
was powered by a 3.0L V6 turbocharged engine pushing 256 hp.
There were 5 others whose motors generated less power and used for
pre-race driving routines.
The
only reference to the Fiero Pace Car is a full page PPG sponsor pitch in the
Mid-Ohio program that lists the Pace Car lineup for 1986. They included AMC
Renault, Alpine, Buick Skyhawk, Corvette, Dodge mid-engine Cosworth, Mustang,
Calais and the Fiero.
These
cars were built in 1985 and used for 3 years.
In 1987, they were given away to technical oriented vocational schools
for classroom use. The cars did not
have VIN or serial numbers, just manufacturer plates, and therefore, could not
be titled. No one seems to know what happened to any of them.
Perhaps
someone reading this article will have more information on these cars and will
supply some follow-up information. If so, please contact me and we will expand
the PPG Pace Car story in a future issue of Fiero Focus.
Gary
Nachman
847-526-2761
Email: Gnach@aol.com