New Chevy Indy (IRL)V8 Update: 500-Mile Test

DETROIT, Oct. 30, 2001 -- Seven months before the start of next
year's Indianapolis 500, the new Chevy Indy V8 has already successfully
completed its first 500-mile race -- not on the immense 2.5-mile
Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, but on a computer-controlled engine
dynamometer in suburban Detroit.

    "Our first prototype Chevy Indy V8 completed a trouble-free
500-mile simulation test," said Joe Negri, GM Racing IRL/Road Racing Group
manager. "To reach this milestone at such an early stage in the development
program gives us confidence in the ultimate success of the new Chevrolet
powerplant.

    "In addition to achieving our durability and reliability goals, we
also have met our initial performance targets for horsepower and torque,"
Negri continued. "Based on these results, we believe that the new Chevy
Indy V8 will be more than competitive with the Infiniti 35A next season."

Computer-controlled test duplicates Indy 500

    GM Racing's dynamometer simulation program precisely duplicates a
220-mph race pace at the famed Brickyard. Computerized controls accelerate
and decelerate the engine under load to reproduce the aerodynamic and
mechanical forces that affect an Indy car as it circles the speedway. After
32 "laps" (the equivalent of 80 miles on the 2.5-mile track), the program
pauses for a simulated pit stop while the test cell is refueled.

    "Typically we have to work through a number of issues before a new
engine successfully completes a full 500-mile schedule," Negri noted. "The
dyno simulation is extremely demanding because there are no caution periods
that allow the engine to rest. Our experience has shown that when an engine
is developed to the point that it can endure this validation test, it is
usually very reliable on the track as well."

New Chevy Indy V8 designed in house by GM Racing

    GM Racing designed and developed the major components of the new
Chevy Indy V8 in house using GM personnel and GM's technical resources. The
Chevy Indy V8's block, cylinder heads, cam covers, front cover, valvetrain
and rotating assembly were specifically engineered for the IRL's current
3.5-liter engine formula. The new Chevrolet engine is smaller, lighter, and
has a lower center of gravity than the Oldsmobile IRL Aurora V8 that won 49
of 51 races and swept the IRL championships for five consecutive years.

    The Chevy Indy V8 will make its competition debut in the
season-opening IRL race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., on
March 2, 2002. Chevrolet will return to open-wheel racing after dominating
the sport from 1988 to 1993.

First parts scheduled for delivery to engine builders in November

    "We are on schedule for the start of the 2002 season, and we will begin
to deliver our initial production run of Chevy Indy V8 components to
independent engine builders next month," said Negri. "The first track tests
of the new Chevrolet engine will take place in the near future.

    "This is a significant step in a long journey as Chevrolet prepares
to return to Indy-style racing," Negri added. "GM Racing will continue to
pursue a rigorous testing schedule to validate and improve the
performance, reliability, durability and quality of the new Chevy
powerplant."

GM Racing designing second all-new engine for 2003

    GM Racing is simultaneously designing an all-new "Gen 3" Chevy Indy V8
to meet the new IRL engine rules that will take effect in 2003. The 2003
version will be even lighter and smaller than next year's engine.

    "The 2002 Chevy Indy V8 will provide a benchmark as we move toward an
even more refined engine package for the 2003 season," said Roger Allen, GM
Racing lead engine designer. "By combining real-world test results with
powerful engineering tools such as computer-aided design, finite element
analysis, computational fluid dynamics and three-dimensional solid
modeling, we are rapidly developing the next-generation Chevy Indy V8."

    Although the start of the 2002 IRL season is four months away, the
race for the championship is already underway in sealed dyno cells and
GM engineering centers.

                              # # #


  E-mail from: Rick Voegelin, 29-Oct-2001