All New Pontiac G8 To Pace Grand-Am Rolex 24 Hour At Daytona
G8 out front at Daytona

Daytona Beach, Fla., January 25, 2008 – The all new Pontiac G8 performance sedan will make its North American track debut pacing the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 46th running of the Rolex 24 Hour At Daytona.

The 361-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive G8 sedan does not go on sale in dealerships until this Spring, but sports car fans and race television viewers on the FOX Network and SPEED Channel will get an on-track glimpse of this performance four-door out front at the 46th Rolex 24 Hour At Daytona.

“The G8 Pace Car with its 361-horsepower will have no problem jumping out front of the Rolex field and maintaining the pace around Daytona this weekend,” Craig Bierley, Pontiac director of marketing, said. “The G8 with its aggressive Pontiac styling and soon to be legendary performance attributes will look and feel right at home running in front of all of the fast machinery at the World Center of Racing this weekend.”

Under the hood is the production 6.0L V-8, rated at 361-horsepower (268kW) and 385 lb.-ft. of torque (520 Nm). A six-speed automatic transmission with Driver Shift Control backs the powerful small-block engine and complements a four-wheel independent suspension outfitted with factory 19-inch wheels and performance tires.

The G8 Grand-Am Pace Car is equipped with production equipment that includes:

Standard ABS and traction control augmented by high-performance HSV brakes
Electronic stability control
Seat-mounted thorax air bags and dual-stage frontal air bags for front passengers, with automatic passenger sensing system
Roof rail side-impact air bags for both seating rows
OnStar with available Turn-by-Turn navigation
Power-adjustable front seats
Fog lamps
Quad polished stainless steel exhaust tips
Rear lip spoiler
Color, Brazen (Orange)
Custom Pace Car Corsa exhaust system
Custom GM designed graphics with Whelen strobe lights


The G8 Pace Car carries race inspired graphics which highlight the strong Pontiac design cues, such as a dual-port grille, fog lamps, bold wheels and a confident, wheels-at-the-corners stance. The car’s design accents Pontiac’s performance lineage, with fenders that flare over the wheels, seemingly hugging the wide tires and enhancing its athletic posture.

The Rolex 24 at Daytona will once again see the start televised live on FOX starting at 1:00 p.m. ET. SPEED Channels coverage of the Rolex 24 will encompass two parts totaling 15.5 hours of coverage. Part 1 airs from 2:30 to 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 26, with programming returning to SPEED on the morning of Sunday, January 27 beginning at 6:00 a.m. ET and continuing through the checkered flag and post-race interviews. In addition to the network coverage, the first 90 minutes of the event will be simulcast on the 1,400-square foot News Astrovision by Panasonic Screen prominently located at One Times Square in New York. In Europe, Eurosport 2 will carry race coverage.


http://www.g8board.com/media/rolex24_1.jpg

http://www.g8board.com/media/rolex24_2.jpg

http://www.g8board.com/media/rolex24_3.jpg

http://www.g8board.com/media/rolex24_4.jpg

http://www.g8board.com/media/rolex24_5.jpg

The pacecar looks very sharp, thanks for posting the pics! This will give some timely exposure to the car around the time they begin to arrive.

GT with V6 Wheels?

GT with V6 Wheels?Must have been one of the show cars that had the wrong wheels, but you would think they would update it by now?

man i hope we can get an up close view tomorrow

GT with V6 Wheels?
Whoever painted it was severely inebriated, apparently. :eek2:

All is right with the world, again. Pontiac is the pace car at Daytona; it is a triumphant return.

updated first post to include press release

Whoever painted it was severely inebriated, apparently. :eek2:

Agreed

If only I could justify a drive from here ( Atlanta ) just to hear that exhaust....

so is it 361hp or 362hp? The paint on the pace car does nothing for the g8, except distract.

I would of loved to been able to drive down and enjoy the Rolex 24 race. I have made prior commitments to help out my father on the 26th. It was -1 here this morning and I would have loved to been on the road heading south.

DY, I hope you can get more tickets for races later this year. I'm wanting to take a long road trip in the Goat. There's no better reason to go watch a race and enjoy good hospitality.

The car was so embarassed about it's paint job it spit up 1 HP. :drool:

BTW DY, I found a really cool spot on the internet where you can buy real brand new Rolex watches for only $9.95 each!

I have ordered several dozen so far.................but they always seem to come in a green finish instead of the gold I ordered. Want some? For you, only $10.95 ea. :pimp: :wall:

BTW DY, I found a really cool spot on the internet where you can buy real brand new Rolex watches for only $9.95 each!

I have ordered several dozen so far.................but they always seem to come in a green finish instead of the gold I ordered. Want some? For you, only $10.95 ea. :pimp: :wall:

Its good that they are staying with the Rolex Grand Am racing. For the past few years LS1GTO has sent over 420 Pontiac Owners to hospitality events at NHRA and Grand Am races. They had GTO pace cars, GTO.R & GXP.R race cars, GTO & GXP promod drag cars.

I dunno - free tickets to a race, free meals, special parking corral, driver autograph sessions, tech discussions with engineers, pace car rides, parade laps, free trips to bondurant race school ....... Pontiac treats us well I think :)

Its good that they are staying with the Rolex Grand Am racing. For the past few years LS1GTO has sent over 420 Pontiac Owners to hospitality events at NHRA and Grand Am races. They had GTO pace cars, GTO.R & GXP.R race cars, GTO & GXP promod drag cars.

I dunno - free tickets to a race, free meals, special parking corral, driver autograph sessions, tech discussions with engineers, pace car rides, parade laps, free trips to bondurant race school ....... Pontiac treats us well I think :)
Better & better. :popcorn2:

Whoever painted it was severely inebriated, apparently. :eek2:The design came from the GM design group directed by Kip Wasenko. Kip is very enthused about the G8 / Rolex relationship. Btw, I like the paint...

Pontiac goes all out IMO.

My non GM friends are especially jealous when I tell them about these events.

That G8 look'd good running as the pace car but those G6's look'd real good in the race. They were the most non torn apart cars in the race.

Randy

I'm not aware of any other MFG that treats their fans like Pontiac has the GTO / Solstice fan and now hopefully the G8 fan.

Love the car and paint but is way too high and those wheels suck for a pace car, Pete fix that car!

so is it 361hp or 362hp? The paint on the pace car does nothing for the g8, except distract.

SAE Certified 361
http://media.gm.com/us/powertrain/en/product_services/2008/HPT%20Library/Gen%20IV/Gen%20IV%20Car/2008_60L_L76_G8_GT.pdf

Its good that they are staying with the Rolex Grand Am racing. For the past few years LS1GTO has sent over 420 Pontiac Owners to hospitality events at NHRA and Grand Am races. They had GTO pace cars, GTO.R & GXP.R race cars, GTO & GXP promod drag cars.

I dunno - free tickets to a race, free meals, special parking corral, driver autograph sessions, tech discussions with engineers, pace car rides, parade laps, free trips to bondurant race school ....... Pontiac treats us well I think :)

I remember going to that first hospitality event. I had a field day. I got to watch as the GTO.R was put on the dyno to make sure it was in compliance. I think they were just showing off. I will have to admit, the GTO pace cars were painted much more attractively.

http://www.g8board.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=363&stc=1&d=1201818524
http://www.g8board.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=364&stc=1&d=1201818524

I will have to admit, the GTO pace cars were painted much more attractively.

http://www.g8board.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=363&stc=1&d=1201818524
http://www.g8board.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=364&stc=1&d=1201818524
This is sarcasm, right?

Love the car and paint but is way too high and those wheels suck for a pace car, Pete fix that car!
Hmmm, maybe the first G8 owner to fax over thier purchase agreement should get Pedderised -- for free? Hmmmm.... Should it be GSR or eXtreme? Hmmm

Nah, Pedders would never do anything like that..... ;)

This is sarcasm, right?

No. It is just an opinion.

No. It is just an opinion.

Didn't you know you're not entitled to have an opinion, this is the internet. :judge:

Didn't you know you're not entitled to have an opinion, this is the internet. :judge:

Yeah. And most opinions are typed with their foot in their mouth.

Possibly this has been posted elsewhere - but the 2008 Grand Am G8 Pace Car is listed in the upcoming Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction later this month. Lot #405.3.
Also listed is a GXP in lot 405.4.

DVR is set :wink2:

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All New Pontiac G8 To Pace Grand-Am Rolex 24 Hour At Daytona
G8 out front at Daytona

Daytona Beach, Fla., January 25, 2008 – The all new Pontiac G8 performance sedan will make its North American track debut pacing the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 46th running of the Rolex 24 Hour At Daytona.

http://www.g8board.com/media/rolex24_1.jpg

http://www.g8board.com/media/rolex24_2.jpg

http://www.g8board.com/media/rolex24_3.jpg

http://www.g8board.com/media/rolex24_4.jpg

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Nice color choice!

Hmm wonder what it will go for. I also wonder and have noticed that some of the early 08's in north america came with V8's but the split spoke (V6 wheels....)...anyone know why?

Hmm wonder what it will go for. I also wonder and have noticed that some of the early 08's in north america came with V8's but the split spoke (V6 wheels....)...anyone know why?
I have seen pictures of two 08 GT's with V-6 Wheels. One was the rolex pace car and the other was 50 cents GT before it was modified. Both cars were pre production models. 50 cents GT was built of 07 SEMA show which was in October or November, and artice I saw on Rolex pace car was date line about same time. G8 production started December 14, 2007.

I have an 09 GT with V6 wheels, but then someone in the Cary NC area has a V6 with 19" GT wheels :)

Just me or is that thing ugly as hell.

I have seen pictures of two 08 GT's with V-6 Wheels. One was the rolex pace car and the other was 50 cents GT before it was modified. Both cars were pre production models. 50 cents GT was built of 07 SEMA show which was in October or November, and artice I saw on Rolex pace car was date line about same time. G8 production started December 14, 2007.


Another was the actual non-GXP options car... it was red with bright-silver looking twinspoke rims. It's the one that had the concept car dart, and the twinspoke rims looked really nice. It was a GT and also had a one-off partially-converted interior. I believe it was one of the first left hand drive VE's produced. Some of it's uniqueness never made it to production. Notice the steering wheel text as well as the gauges.

LINK (http://allcarsreview.com/2007/10/06/walkaround-2008-pontiac-g8-gt/)

This very car was what inspired me to buy my twinspoke summer rims in May 2009 and I've been running them ever since! :):)

Another was the actual non-GXP options car... it was red with bright-silver looking twinspoke rims. It's the one that had the concept car dart, and the twinspoke rims looked really nice. It was a GT and also had a one-off partially-converted interior. I believe it was one of the first left hand drive VE's produced. Some of it's uniqueness never made it to production. Notice the steering wheel text as well as the gauges.

LINK (http://allcarsreview.com/2007/10/06/walkaround-2008-pontiac-g8-gt/)

This very car was what inspired me to buy my twinspoke summer rims in May 2009 and I've been running them ever since! :):)

Zep, Middle East has had the VE since 2007 MY I believe, so the Pontiac wouldn't have been the first left hand drive VE's. :)

I think the twin-spokes look way better than the GT 18's.

I have a picture standing next to it in 2008. Pretty sick watching it go round the track. Wish they ran one as the 2009 GXP.R before Pontiac's demise. Plan to go again this year. BMW 1 Series M will pace. Not fancy on trim packages, but whatever.

Does anyone know if the '08 pace car sold last week at B-J? How much did it bring?

The Rolex G8 Pace Car sold for $22,500.00.

I would expect the pace car had a lot of seat time around the tracks of the year or so they had it actually pacing the races.

They had a GXP in the next lot (know as a "Hot Lap Car") went for $45100.00.

Check out this link http://www.g8board.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42050&page=3

Does anyone know if the '08 pace car sold last week at B-J? How much did it bring?

The Rolex G8 Pace Car sold for $22,500.00.

I would expect the pace car had a lot of seat time around the tracks of the year or so they had it actually pacing the races.

They had a GXP in the next lot (know as a "Hot Lap Car") went for $45100.00.

Check out this link http://www.g8board.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42050&page=3

Thanks Philip. Wow, 45.1k is pretty high for a stock GXP that's had the hell driven out of it!

Sweet Now thats 1 rare CAR to own

Anybody know where to find some high resolution pics. of the G8 Pace Car? I would like to add it to my screen saver. I did a google image search but didn't come up with anything high resolution.

amazing. wow.

Anybody know where to find some high resolution pics. of the G8 Pace Car? I would like to add it to my screen saver. I did a google image search but didn't come up with anything high resolution.

Does anyone have the high-res. i have been looking for them as well and have turned up none. i thought for sure i would find videos of it pacing laps as well on youtube but did not find those either, just one in car video.

best i found

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m129/cccfabioccc/g8pacecar.jpg

I had no idea...glad the care got some recognition in its limited two year production run!

Was looking through some racing pictures today, noticed these. Had no idea I caught the G8 pace car on camera, at the time I didn't even know about the G8 at all.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/screwxallxyall/IMG_1779.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/screwxallxyall/IMG_1780.jpg

Does anyone have . . . . . [/IMG]

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