The 2010 Camaro SS will pace this year's Indy 500 in a boring twist for a boring race. To spice things up we asked you to name some better options. Here are our favorite ten alternative Indy 500 pace cars.
This is "Answers of the Day" — a feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day's "Question of the Day" and shine it up to show off. It's by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!
Want to see this gallery in one slow-to-load page? Click here. Special thanks to intern extraordinaire Martin Grossinger for compiling the answers.
10.) 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe
Suggested By: mcfarlane.a
Why It Would Make A Good Pace Car: Cadillac's newest sporty offering would give the folks up in the skyboxes at Indy something to drool over, and onto, the 'little people' underneath. That, and it's damn good looking, and damn fast to boot.
9.) 1968 Lotus 56
Suggested By: British_Looks_British_Reliability
Why It Would Make A Good Pace Car: One of these Loti took the life of driver Mike Spence. Another broke down three weeks later during the race. None finished. But its use of wedge-shaped aerodynamics, continued development use of a gas turbine engine, and four-wheel drive were all ideas that pushed racecar development along to where it is today (except for the turbine engines).
BLBR said it best: "The Indy 500 needs something to remind them of the original intent of the Speedway - a test track. A place where new ideas underwent a trial by fire. A place where different car design philosophies and types of powerplants were pitted against one another. A place where innovation, not a spec formula, ruled the day."
Photo Credit: Fleur-Design
8.) SSC Ultimate Aero TT
Suggested By: AceGT
Why It Would Make A Good Pace Car: We've already got a CTS V on the list, but the second half of AceGT's suggestion is a good one. Made in America and current title holder for Fastest Production Car In The World at 256.14 mph. If that doesn't get everyone at The Brickyard on their feet, nothing will.
7.) 2010 Dodge Viper ACR
Suggested By: mkbruin
Why It Would Make A Good Pace Car: As a last-gasp, out-with-a-bang, we'll-think-back-on-you-fondly-and-with-a-tear-in-our-eye going away present for everyone's favorite slightly insane American supercar, a third go-round at The Brickyard is a great idea. Take the fastest iteration yet and let it loose around the oval for old times' sake.
6.) Caparo T-1
Suggested By: Pibbs
Why It Would Make A Good Pace Car: The British have a long history of winning at Indy: from Dario Resta in 1916 to Jim Clark and Graham Hill winning back to back in 1965 and 1966, all the way up to their most recent victory in 2007 at the hands of Dario Franchitti. While the driver of the Caparo T1 pace car might not be British, the car certainly would be.
5.) 2010 Ford Focus Convertible RS
Suggested By: My X-Type Is Too A Real Jaguar
Why It Would Make A Good Pace Car: My X-Type suggests a return to the old formula for pacing the field: "I miss the 80's when they would make a convertible out of a lame ass coupe and hop up the engine." Well Mr. X-Type, does Ford of Europe have just the car for you! A convertible Focus already exists across the pond, and while a model with RS trim isn't available, how hard could it be to drop an RS mill under the hood or shave the roof off an RS?
4.) 2010 Ford Raptor SVT
Suggested By: pj134
Why It Would Make A Good Pace Car: Similar to the 2001 Oldsmobile Bravada or 2003 Chevy SSR, the Raptor's not exactly what you'd expect leading the field around Indy. Thankfully, with the 6.2-liter V8 Ford's built a truck with the balls to keep the pace without embarrassing itself.
3.) The $500 1991 BMW 318i Rally Car
Suggested By: Scandinavian Flick
Why It Would Make A Good Pace Car: What Bill Caswell's BMW 318i lacks in speed, it more than makes up for in spirit. As the pace car, the 19-year-old rally car would inspire thousands of other homebuilt project cars and, unlike the current Indy cars, it's not completely boring.
2.) AMC Pacer
Suggested By: Pinkshinyalan
Why It Would Make A Good Pace Car: Get it? It's a pun. This car is actually a horrible idea but we'd love to see it.
1.) Ariel Atom
Suggested By: hatakeboy
Why It Would Make A Good Pace Car: This one's just cool. Who wouldn't be thrilled about the prospect of an Atom with a lightbar on top? Drop a Honda engine in the back (just like the race cars on track) and you're good to go.