LEXUS SC 430 PACE CAR WOWS CART FANS
A modified Lexus SC 430 hardtop convertible pace car has turned into a crowd pleaser at rounds of the Fedex CART Championship.The Lexus Motorsports Technical Centre in America has given the sleek hardtop convertible a modified engine and bright, metallic silver exterior, edgy purple and yellow race stripes and 18-inch front and19-inch rear alloy wheels.
"This convertible represents everything the Lexus brand stands for," said Mike Wells, Lexus vice-president of marketing.
"It has a struck a chord with sports car enthusiasts who appreciate Lexus' passion for perfection."
The SC 430 pace car has gained four percent more peak power over the standard model and an increase in torque to give it an even quicker start off the line.
CART officials can easily place a camera onto the car's roll cage to capture close-up footage on the track, taking advantage of its convertible configuration.
This is the fourth foray into the CART pace car line-up for Lexus.
The original SC 400 sport coupe led the way in 1992 and the high-performance GS 400 rounded the track first in 1997.
The IS 300 made its way to the racing scene in October, 2001 at the California Speedway in Fontana, California.
There are around a dozen vehicles in the CART pace car fleet, which is rotated from round to round in the 22-event championship schedule.