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Lexus Debuts Its IS 300 Pace Car at the CART FedEx Championship Season Finale

25 October 2000

Lexus Debuts Its IS 300 Pace Car at the CART FedEx Championship Season Finale

    TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 24 A new CART champion won't be the
only thing fans can look forward to seeing this weekend at the Marlboro 500
Presented by Toyota.  A race-modified Lexus IS 300 pace car is scheduled to
lead the pack at the CART FedEx Championship season finale, Friday Oct 27
through Sunday Oct. 29, at the California Speedway in Fontana, Calif.
    Not quite your traditional Lexus, the bright yellow IS 300 has been
outfitted with race and safety modifications to handle the special demands of
pacing Champ Car races.  The pace car features a 5-speed manual transmission
and a Toyota Racing Development (TRD) supercharger, which adds 50 horses for a
total of 265 horsepower.
    Other modifications in the body-building regimen include a roll cage,
race-tuned suspension that hugs the track and provides plenty of nimble
handling and driver feedback through Eibach racing coil springs and Bilstein
shocks.  Increased cornering control is achieved with 18" front and 19" rear
BBS wheels and Bridgestone Potenzza 225/35ZR/18 tires in the front and
245/35ZR/19 in the rear while Brembo brakes help keep the IS 300 in check.
    Special PPG exterior finishing will definitely turn heads with the slick
silver, brushed aluminum and purple graphics added by Molly Design reflecting
the chronograph-style instrument panel gauges of the IS 300.
    This is the third foray into the CART pace car line-up for Lexus.  The
SC 400 sport coupe led the way in 1992 and the high-performance GS 400 rounded
the track first in 1997 at the Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey.
    The Lexus IS 300 went on sale June 23 and like the pace car, shows a less
traditional side of Lexus which is attracting a younger, edgier crowd.  Lexus
is also working with TRD to create an L-Tuned version of the IS 300.  Body
effects would feature front fascia and lip spoiler, choice of grilles, side
skirts, rear wing and wheel/tire set.  Suspension modifications would include
shocks, springs, front and rear sway bars, brake pad and slotted brake rotors
as well as a performance high-flow exhaust.  Stay L-Tuned for further
information.

                        Specifications IS 300 Pace Car

    VEHICLE TYPE         4-seat, 4-door RWD compact sport sedan
    ENGINE TYPE          24-valve, in-line 6 TRD supercharged
    DISPLACEMENT         2997 cc
    HORSEPOWER           265@5800 rpm
    TORQUE (lb-ft)       245 lb-ft
    TRANSMISSION         5-speed manual
    WHEELBASE            105.1 in.
    FRONT SUSPENSION     Double wishbone Eibach racing coil springs
    REAR SUSPENSION      Double wishbone Eibach racing coil springs
    SHOCK ABSORBERS      Bilstein
    WHEELS               BBS Front - 18" x 8" Rear - 19" x 8 1/2 "
    TIRES                Bridgestone Potenzza SO-2 Pole Position
                         Front - 225/35ZR/18
                         Rear - 245/35ZR/19
    BRAKES               Front - Brembo four piston caliper w/12.9"
                                 floating ventilated discs
                         Rear - single piston caliper w/12" rotor
    PAINT                PPG Automotive Finishes
    GRAPHICS             Molly Designs