IRL: Oldsmobile Aurora to be IRL pace car

For Immediate Release

OLDSMOBILE DEBUTS AURORA IRL PACE CAR AT DISNEY

INDIANAPOLIS, January 12, 1996 -- Oldsmobile Division General Manager John Rock and Indy Racing League Executive Director Jack Long today announced that the Aurora by Oldsmobile will serve as official pace car for 1996 IRL events at Walt Disney World (Jan. 27), Phoenix (March 24), New Hampshire (Aug. 18) and Las Vegas (Sept. 15).

Rock, who today also announced Aurora as a presenting sponsor of the Indy 200 at Walt Disney World, last week presented for 1997 the new Oldsmobile V8 4.0 liter racing engine for Indy Racing League competition.

Aurora by Oldsmobile, the popular four-door luxury touring sedan, has the 4.0 liter Oldsmobile dual-overhead-cam, 32-valve V8 that produces 250 horsepower. The pace car will be a stock production model Aurora, since it comes off the line at final assembly in Lake Orion, Mich., with performance specifications capable of pacing an Indy car race.

Driving the Aurora Pace Car will be three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Johnny Rutherford, now special projects coordinator for the Indy Racing League who has been active driving pace cars for the past several years.

"The car has a responsiveness and power that it'll deal with pace car duties quite well," said the personable Texan, long known as "Lone Star JR". "The chassis handling and futuristic suspension make it something that will be reliable under any conditions."

"Oldsmobile has put together a comprehensive, high profile and long-range program with the Indy Racing League," commented Long. "As an engine manufacturer of the future and an active participant in our first race and first season, we welcome Oldsmobile to League competition." All IRL events will be telecast live by ABC Sports.

The Aurora Pace Car paint scheme involves a pearl white base color with dramatic purple and gold striping. Its only modification from production models, in addition to the paint scheme, is the mandatory United States Auto Club (USAC) racing safety package which includes roll bar, strobe lights, five-point driver and passenger safety harness, and on-board fire extinguisher.

...IRL96-02...