rs55611@ihuxk.UUCP (Robert E. Schleicher) (02/21/84)
Road and Track's latest issue had a little blurb about the Fiero pace car for the 1984 Indy. I'll try to recall some of the info from the blurb, but I don't have the article handy, so this may be off somewhat. The pace car will be substantially different from the production, as are virtually all pace cars. The biggest change is in the engine, which will have a special 16-valve cyclinder head, plus some other mods which I can't recall, giving over 200 hp (I think). The top speed is supposed to be about 135 mph. (A good top speed is very important for the pace car, to ensure a fast start. If the pace car is lapping too slowly, the actual race cars are more apt to get a lot of wheelspin when they tromp on it at the real start. This can lead to accidents, as it did last year.) Of course, the "pace car" that will be sold to the public will be nothing like the real pace car, and will just have the usual cosmetic add-ons, and perhaps fancier wheels, better tires, etc. By, the way, even though the 300 hp turbo-V6 has been scotched for the Fiero, plans still call for a non-turbo V6 (presumably the 2.8 liter HO V6 used in Citation X-11's giving ~135 hp?) This, or a turbo-4, should make the fiero go pretty good. I also understand that Pontiac sells a parts kit to hop up the basic Iron Duke 4, consisting of the typical things like a header, new cam, etc. that is supposed to raise the hp to 140 or so (with presumably some loss of driveability, idle smoothness, etc). The cost number I heard was in the $1000 range for the total parts package (it was a lot more than what I listed). Bob Schleicher ihuxk!rs55611 AT&T Bell Laboratories
rmiller@ccvaxa.UUCP (02/28/84)
#R:ihuxk:-56600:ccvaxa:4900035:000:1270 ccvaxa!rmiller Feb 26 18:52:00 1984 from Road&Track March 1984 p126 "Pontiac's new Fiero will be the official pace car for the 68th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 27, 1984. And it's the first 4-cylinder car to pace the Indy classic since 1912 when the field was led by a Stutz. The Fiero pace car has a new integrated front end that gives it a more aggressive appearance, plus it boasts other aero improvements, including a lowered front air intake, futuristic rear air scoop that stretches up above the rear window and an integral safety light at the back edge of the airscoop. (Pontiac claims the body changes emphasizes the car's flexible body concept and adaptability to aftermarket modifications.) This Fiero's powerplant is a bit different, too; it cranks out 232 bhp at 6500 rpm from its 2.7-liter four, using components from Pontiac's Super-Duty Aftermarket Package. In preliminary tests at the speedway the Fiero turned an average speed of better than 136 mph, faster than Pontiac's last Indy pace car, a Turbo 301 Trans Am that averaged 127 mph in 1980. The 2000 Fiero pace car replicas going on sale in April will be similar in appearane but with the standard 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine." there was also a picture. you still couldn't get me to give up my Rx-7. uiucdcs!ccvaxa!rmiller