Final Chapter Nears for Legendary Muscle Car

Jay Leno to Pace Daytona 500 with Collector Edition Firebird Trans Am

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., - Pontiac announced today that celebrity comedian, auto enthusiast and "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno will serve as the official pace car driver for the 2002 Daytona 500 on Feb. 17. Leno will drive the pace car version of the highly sought after 2002 Collector Edition Firebird Trans Am as part of Pontiac's ongoing celebration of the American muscle car icon during its last year of production.

"2002 is a special year for performance enthusiasts as Pontiac celebrates the Firebird and Trans Am with a special Collector Edition model," said Lynn C. Myers, Pontiac-GMC general manager. "Having Jay Leno behind the wheel at this year's Daytona 500 adds yet another element of excitement to this car's rich heritage."

According to Myers, the appearance of a Trans Am at 'the great American race' is not unusual. In fact, this year's Daytona 500 will be the 15th that has used a Trans Am as its pace car and the 30th race in a row paced by a Pontiac.

Leno Gets Help From "Teacher" Who's Been Around The Track

A true racing and automotive enthusiast and avid car collector, Leno has participated as a pace driver or guest in many NASCAR events but has never driven at Daytona International Speedway. To help him prepare, Pontiac asked its own NASCAR Winston Cup Grand Prix driver Tony Stewart to take Leno through the curves.

"There's definitely a unique thrill that only American muscle cars can deliver and Firebird is one of those classic cars that's forever etched into American culture," said Leno. "Driving in this car at a track as legendary as Daytona with Tony Stewart is an experience that I'm very much looking forward to.

" The Number 2 points scoring driver in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup circuit, Stewart also drove a Trans Am in '01 as part of the International Race of Champions (IROC) race series.

"It's really nice to see a Trans Am pace this race. I've raced Trans Am bodies in the IROC series for a long time and I really appreciate the significance it has as a great American muscle car," said Stewart. "And while it's sad to see them go after 2002, it's great to see Pontiac celebrate Firebird history."



Pace Car Will Excite On And Off The Track

According to Firebird Brand Manager Bob Kraut, the 2002 Trans Am Collector Edition's Ram Air WS6 performance and handling package is so good that the pace car needed only two changes to make it race ready: special Daytona 500 decals and a light bar.

"When race fans see this car on the track at the Daytona 500 it will be one of the few times they can actually go to their dealership and get the same car that paced the race -the car is just that good," said Kraut. "And with the Collector Edition's LS1 V8 churning out 325 horsepower at 350 lb-ft. of torque, it's bound to be just as much fun on the street as it is leading the pack at Daytona International Speedway."