Did You Notice The Pace Car?
Monday, May 22nd, 2006 10:08am CDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
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[thumb:236:l:s=1:l=x]Andrew Shain brought up a point in this article over at the Charlotte Observer. A subtle hint of the changes coming to our sport in the coming years. Did you miss this? Chances are, like most of us, you didn’t notice it either.
The pace car.
Sure, you saw it. But did you see it, or did you look at it? The pace car was a Toyota Camry.
Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, the city and area that is home to over 90% of the teams in Nascar, has used Chevy’s as their pace cars and employee fleet vehicles since 1979. This year, they’ve switched to Toyota’s.
This is only one of many moves Toyota has made to integrate itself and its teams within the Nascar community.
In case you’re wondering, Toyota is allowed to race in the series because the vehicle brands that it races in Nascar are made in the USA. In fact it’s only second to the Monte Carlo in the percentage of parts that are manufactured in the USA.
According to the article:
Percentage of U.S. and Canadian parts and assembly location for street versions of cars racing in NASCAR’s top series:
- Chevrolet Monte Carlo (Canada): 92%
- Toyota Camry (Kentucky): 80%*
- Dodge Charger (Canada): 74%
- Ford Fusion (Mexico): 30%
(* Starts racing in 2007)
Sources: Staff research; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Out of the 4 manufacturers, the only one assembled in the USA is the Camry, and 80% of its parts are made in the US or Canada.
While the article quotes an auto-worker that is against it, because “all the big money still goes back to Japan”, what about with Dodge? Doesn’t that money go back to Daimler-Chrysler in Germany? Point being, it all works out in the end, and filters back to build new facilities, advertise, taking care of its employees, and a lot more I’m sure. And Toyota does employ a lot of Americans, as do the other manufacturers. Regardless of how you feel about it, they’re still coming.
Granted, personally I’m not a “Toyota fan”. But, I don’t dislike them either. I personally respect what they’re putting together. They’re putting together the people and resources necessary to do the job, and do it right.
Filed Under: Nascar, Nextel Cup, Thunder Lounge, Tracks
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I couldn’t agree more. (and did note the Camry Pace Car)
I shouldn’t be surprised by the uproar Toyota’s move into NASCAR has caused, but it has tweaked me a little.
The quote from the auto worker is typical and born of shear ignorance. I was in a discussion on the issue and noted Camry being the only “American” brand in NASCAR and even after noting the same facts you have the look of disbelief told me all I needed to know.
He is a poster child for the “Ameri-centric” US citizens who know nothing outside their own little personnel space.
Without saying it I could tell he thought I was a liar, my Grandfather was Japanese and I ate sushi twice a day.
Marc said this on May 22nd, 2006 at 5:26 pm
I honestly didn’t notice it at all. My brain saw a pace car, and that was the extent of it.
Luke said this on May 22nd, 2006 at 8:35 pm
Update: Did a little digging on this since I’d really like to post an image of the pace car. However, I couldn’t find anything on it. If anyone has one, please let us know.
Luke said this on May 23rd, 2006 at 9:38 am