F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Wacky pace car shunt delays IndyCar's race 2 start in Detroit!

Race 2 of IndyCar's "Dual in Detroit" double header was stopped before it even started on Sunday when the pace car, a Chevrolet Corvette driven by a GM executive, crashed on the parade lap!

The car, and the responsibility of leading the field, was apparently entrusted to Mark Reuss, the executive VP of global product development for GM.

Reuss lost it in the middle of Turn 2 of the Belle Isle street circuit and hit the inside wall on the exit, giving the immaculate metallic blue 'Vette a nose job it will remember.

Cars were brought to a halt at the scene of the blunder and remained stranded while debris was cleared from the track. Everyone was eventually fired up again and the cars returned to the pitlane for a new procedure.

Oriol Servia, IndyCar's resident pace car driver, was installed in a spare Corvette and led the field around for a second parade lap.

"We’ve seen the leader at Indy spin out on the pace lap, this isn’t quite as bad when you’re in your race car," said legendary team owner Roger Penske.

"It’s too bad, but come to the racetrack and you’ll see anything."

If anything, the mishap was perhaps a good promotion for the Corvette's safety. Head on, into the concrete wall and everyone emerges unscathed...

Check out a video of the embarrassing moment.

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Michael Delaney

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