Oldsmobile Owner To Drive Ceremonial Indy 500 Pace Lap In Tribute To Her Late Father
FOR RELEASE: May 18, 2001Oldsmobile Owner To Drive Ceremonial Indy 500 Pace Lap In Tribute To Her Late Father
DETROIT, May 18, 2001 - Oldsmobile will make the dream of driving an Indianapolis 500 pace vehicle come true for Susan Wagener of Bloomington, Ind. Wagener, the Grand Prize winner in Oldsmobile's "Pace the Race" contest, will drive a 2002 Bravada Official Pace Vehicle before the start of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" on May 27. She will lead a parade of historic Oldsmobile pace cars on a ceremonial lap as Oldsmobile celebrates its 11th and final appearance as the pacesetter at the Indy 500.
CEREMONIAL LAP TO BE TRIBUTE TO WINNER'S LATE FATHER
Wagener's winning entry was selected from 1,350 e-mails submitted to Oldsmobile's web site. Contestants were asked to describe why they wanted to participate in the pageantry of the Indy 500. Wagener cited the memory of her late father in her moving essay.
"I would like to drive the Bravada Pace Vehicle as a tribute to my father, Don Rice, who worked for Indianapolis Oldsmobile dealers for 51 years until he passed away suddenly last fall," Wagener wrote. "The last afternoon we spent together, we went for a drive in my new Bravada, which he had just sold me. The next day he passed away. For as many years as I can remember, he went to the 500 time trials and race with his fried chicken lunch. This would be a wonderful and fitting tribute to my dad and his 51 years with Oldsmobile."
FIRST RUNNER-UP HAS LIFELONG PASSION FOR INDY 500
First runner-up James Lawson of Indianapolis was nominated to drive the Bravada Pace Vehicle by his daughter, Marianne Vogt, who described her 82-year-old father's lifelong involvement with the Indy 500: "He represents the spirit of America - past, present and future - through dedication to his family and fellow man, bravery, honesty, and hard work," Vogt wrote. "Isn't that what racing and Oldsmobile are all about?"
Family ties also figured in the entry of second runner-up Bruce Bisping of Edina, Minn. "I am the son of a retired Oldsmobile dealer and I grew up with Olds," wrote the owner of 12 classic Oldsmobiles. "Everything I know about the love and passion of cars comes from Oldsmobile."
OLDSMOBILE ACKNOWLEDGES OWNER LOYALTY
Oldsmobile will host the three finalists and their guests at the Indianapolis 500. "Oldsmobile has one of the most loyal group of owners in the automotive industry," said Jim Vurpillat, brand manager for Bravada. "This is an opportunity to acknowledge the very special feelings that many customers have for their vehicles."
BRAVADA MAKES HISTORY AS FIRST SUV INDY 500 PACE VEHICLE The all-new 2002 Bravada is the first sport utility vehicle selected to pace the Indianapolis 500. "Just as Oldsmobile is making history with the first SUV to pace the race, we have also involved Oldsmobile owners in a way that has never been done before," added Vurpillat.
Fashion model Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp will make history as the first woman to pace the Indianapolis 500. The 85th running of the world's most famous auto race is scheduled to start at 12 noon EDT (11:00 a.m. Indianapolis time) on Sunday, May 27, 2001. The race will be televised live by ABC Sports.