New Daytona 500 Pace Car

It is a big moment for the Daytona 500 as well as for Ford, as the 2010 event, which kicks off on 14 February, will unveil a new pace car for its racing season. It will be the first time in forty years that there will be a Ford pace car on the track, with the last Ford gracing the racing circuit being a Ford Torino GT Convertible in the year 1970. Not only will a Ford be making its way back into Daytona 500 history, but it is the iconic Ford Mustang GT that has been selected for the job. Ford and racing fans are extremely excited to see the new pace car in action.

Ford will produce exactly fifty of the limited edition Ford Mustang GT Pace cars, and along with the original pace car, they will be for sale to the public. The actual pace car will be the exception, as it will go on auction. Collectors interested in purchasing this rare part of Ford heritage will have the opportunity to bid on the vehicle at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Collector Car Auction. Interested parties can also look forward to a few special features that will be added to the vehicle for this special occasion.

The Ford Mustang GT will be based on the 2011 Mustang GT, and one of its features is a new paint job, which will showcase a brand new design with a Daytona 500 theme. The car will also have an improved and upgraded strut tower brace and Ford Racing suspension. Mufflers have also been added to the specs, as well as painted wheels (customized 19 inches) to enhance the themed design. Branded plates will be a special limited edition feature and the interior will be getting a number of changes of its own. Under the hood, a powerful machine awaits future owners, with a 5.0 liter engine that generates a staggering 412 horsepower. Other features include vented disc brakes, integrated blind spot mirrors, message centre technology and MyKey programming. This magnificent V-8 collector’s item is a must have for motoring enthusiasts. It is going to be the pride of the Daytona 500 and the lucky members of the public who are able to get their hands on one!

Ryan Newman Wins the Daytona 500

The Daytona 500 is known as one of the premier NASCAR events. It has always been a venue of victory, disappointment and thrilling racing, and Sunday was no different. A victory for Roger Penske, fourteen time winner of the Indianapolis 500, and his team at the Daytona 500 had eluded them for twenty four years. But through the determination and teamwork of Penske Dodge drivers, Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman, they took first and second place, with Ryan Newman crossing the finish line first.

It was just another reminder that nothing is cast in stone and that anything is possible in racing, even in the last lap of a race. For most spectators and racing enthusiasts, the Daytona 500 was clear cut. After winning most of the events at the Speed Weeks, it seemed that the battle for the winning position would be between the Hendrick Motorsports’ Chevrolets and the Joe Gibbs’ Toyotas. And for a while, right up until lap 199, it seemed certain that Tony Steward would win, especially after taking the white flag.

But the Penske Dodge drivers were not prepared to give up and stayed right on top of Steward. While Steward was trying to keep both Busch and Newman at bay, Kurt Busch saw an opportunity for his team and led Steward to believe that he was going hard into the inside. As Steward dropped low to block Busch, both Penske drivers overtook him on the top, giving Ryan Newman the chance to take the win for the Penske team.

Both Newman and Busch have put the win down to teamwork and seeing it as a team victory and not as an individual victory. Ryan Newman winning the Daytona 500 could not have been a more memorable day for Roger Penske, as it was not only a fiftieth celebration for the racing event, but a first win of the Daytona 500 for Penske.

Racing has always been an unpredictable sport, and while the Penske team celebrated, others were nursing their loss and looking towards the next race to improve their cars and their strategies. And in true racing spirit, Rick Hendrick ensured that he was the first in Victory Lane to extend a hand of sincere congratulations to Roger Penske.

Discover the Daytona 500 Exhibit

Auto racing enthusiasts can take advantage of the opportunity to visit the Orlando Science Center between 30 November 2007 and 6 January 2008 to get an in depth view of what it takes to participate in, and win, the Daytona 500. The Orlando Science Centre has joined forces with Daytona International Speedway to put together an amazing exhibit which they have called “Discover the Daytona 500“.

This exhibition features authentic racing cars, racing gear and scale model racing, offering visitors a hands-on experience as they explore the history and science behind auto racing. One of the highlights of Discover the Daytona 500 is Jeff Gordon’s #24 DuPont Automotive Finishes Chevrolet. Visitors can have an up-close look at numerous past and present cars that dominate the Daytona International Speedway.

Memorabilia from Daytona 500 events, including the racing gear of renowned drivers Dale Jarrett and Richard Petty, will be on display. A life-size cutaway stock car model will give visitors inside information on the workings of these popular auto racing cars. There will also be a racing seat for visitors to strap themselves in, a working V-8 engine, a recreated pit stop area and an example of the Gatorade In-Car Drinking System (GIDS). Visitors are sure to be fascinated by the highlights of historic races that will be shown on a video wall, as well as by the driving simulator. The scientific principles relating to the auto racing world will be vividly illustrated through authentic displays and live demonstrations.

The Orlando Science Center aims to provide learning experiences for all age groups. With this in mind, the Discover the Daytona 500 exhibition will have a children’s area where little ones can enjoy a number of themed activities, including the opportunity to drive a battery-operated racecar on a miniature track. Older children can experience the excitement of racing by means of the slot car and pinewood derby tracks, or they can enjoy remote control racing.

The Discover the Daytona 500 exhibition, which is running concurrently with the Orlando Science Center’s holiday exhibit, Titanic, is an event that the whole family will enjoy. Even the most knowledgeable auto racing fan is likely leave the exhibition having learned something new about their favorite fast moving sport.

The Daytona 500 – Auto Racing

The most exciting race for car lovers is the Daytona 500. Starting with the first race in 1959, the excitement has never waned. With that first race the achievement of excellence was cemented for the entire racing community. This is the race that makes legends out of everyone who crosses the finish line first. The winner of the first 500 was Lee Petty, the patriarch of the famous racing family. The race was so close that it took three days after the raced had finished for a winner to be declared by photo. Lee Petty’s car edged Johnny Beauchamp by a mere two feet.

Daytona started on the sandy beaches of the area with drivers racing in an oval for little more than pride and bragging rights. When in the 1959 the cars moved from the beach to the now famous Daytona International Speedway, the “Great American Race” was created. Most of the sporting world’s major championships takes place at the end of the season, but the Daytona 500 is what makes NASCAR so much different than its sporting competitors. The big race is the first of the season and it’s richest.

Some say that NASCAR is now one of America’s top four sports and I would have to agree. On most Sunday afternoon’s thousands are in the grandstands among the roar of racing engines, while millions are glued to their televisions sets to cheer on their favorite car drivers. With Daytona being the biggest race of the year more 150,000 fill its arena while television ratings soar through the roof.

When that Sunday in February arrives, grab yourself a cold beer, don the cap of your favorite driver and watch the Great American Race create another legend.