GM's Fishel to Retire After 40 Years

    DETROIT - Herb Fishel, executive director of GM Racing, will retire
Sept. 1, leaving a legacy in racing spanning 40 years. Fishel will be on
special assignment to GM Service and Parts Operations from June 1, until
his retirement.

    One of Fishel's final duties with GM Racing will be to drive the
Chevrolet SSR official pace vehicle to start the 87th running of the
Indianapolis 500 on May 25.

    Doug Duchardt, Group Manager for GM Racing's oval track group, will
assume Fishel's responsibilities at GM Racing effective June 1. Pat Suhy,
Jr., an engineer at GM Powertrain, will replace Duchardt.

    Fishel, 61, worked with late Zora Arkus-Duntov and Vince Piggins,
who initiated GM's rebirth into racing and performance parts with the
Corvette and small-block Chevy V8 engine in the 1950s. Fishel has
influenced GM's performance programs throughout the second half of the 20th
century. On Oct. 8, 1991, all of GM's racing programs were combined under
his supervision. 

    "The name Herb Fishel has been synonymous with championship
racing programs at GM for decades," said John Middlebrook, GM vice
president of marketing and advertising. "Herb is leaving a legacy of
success that is both remarkable and inspiring: nine consecutive Winston Cup
Manufacturers' titles at one point, and 21 of 24 driver's titles through
last year. In 2001, Herb's team did something no one else had done in
nearly 30 years, by winning the Daytona 500, Indy 500 and 24 Hours of Le
Mans." 

    In 1997, Fishel was named by Hot Rod magazine as one of the 100
most influential people in the first 50 years of hot rodding. He also has
been recognized by Racer magazine as one of the dozen most influential
people in racing. 

    Duchardt, 39, has been responsible since 1999 for all program
management and technical development in the areas of engine, chassis and
aerodynamics for the Chevrolet and Pontiac racing efforts in the NASCAR
Winston Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series. Duchardt has been with GM
since 1983 and holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from
University of Missouri-Rolla and a master's degree in engineering from
Purdue University. 

    Suhy, 39, is the fuel system design engineer for Gen 3 and 4 V8 and
high feature V6 engines. He joined GM Powertrain in 1990 as dynamometer
engine development project engineer after earning bachelor's and master's
degrees in engineering from Michigan Technological University. Suhy also
has been active in the American Sedan class of the Sports Car Club of
America's (SCCA) national road racing series, where he has simultaneously
served as owner, crew chief, engine builder and driver of his own racing
team.