RSS Video: Chevy SS pace car catches fire at Daytona

[Ringo64]

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Performance, Etc., Safety, Videos, Chevrolet, Racing

All things considered, it's a pretty rare sight to see a stock car catch fire during a NASCAR race, but it happens. The racing can get pretty rough, after all, and they are powered by combustion engines - some of the most rudimentary still around, at that. But the pace car? Now that's another story.

What's known in other racing disciplines as the safety car is supposed to maintain just that: safety out on the racetrack. But during the Sprint Unlimited race at Daytona this weekend, the Chevrolet SS that was put on pace-car duty burst into flames while lapping the speedway. As our compatriots at WorldCarFans point out, the fire likely started from a glitch with the additional safety equipment fitted to the car - seeing as how the flames were shooting out the trunk and not the engine compartment.

Fortunately no one was hurt as pace car driver (and former NASCAR race winner) Brett Bodine pulled the car over in the infield where he and his co-pilot escaped from the smoke-filled cabin. A second Chevy SS was apparently on standby and was pressed into service to replace its grounded wingman.

According to the Associated Press, Chevy is investigating the fire, noting the presence of an "auxiliary electrical kit" in the trunk that governs the pace car's extra lighting. It is not yet known if the equipment contributed to the fire.

Watch the footage in the video clip below to see it all go down and share your favorite relevant Talladega Nights quotes in the Comments section.

Continue reading Chevy SS pace car catches fire at Daytona

Chevy SS pace car catches fire at Daytona originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Feb 2014 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[Ringo64]

Ughh... hopefully the aux equipment is the fault, don't need this car having any more issues...

[[ChaosweaveR]]

I know how these pace cars come prepped, there's secondary wiring for all the electrical and fuel system...basically, they're all switch controlled and need to be flipped on then start the car...probably has a race fuel cell as well.

This is an extreme case, I really doubt adding a simple AUX feature in a normal SS will cause an electrical fire...

[notallthere]

I did hear that it was the secondary wiring harness for all the lights and the cell that caught fire. It over heated and set the carpet of the trunk on fire.

[notallthere]

On the other side I like that colour blue.

[[ChaosweaveR]]

I did hear that it was the secondary wiring harness for all the lights and the cell that caught fire. It over heated and set the carpet of the trunk on fire.

Big 'ol DERP on the responsibility of the shop prepping these things. Surprised the wiring wasn't kept away/wrapped up enough from the carpet...or why the carpet was left in there in the first place.

[Young gun]

I'm sure it is what it says it is with all the extra crap fitted to the car but this still might hurt the sales of the cars. Which sucks but at the same time makes me a little happy because they could have done better with this holden. Cough MANUAL cough

[[ChaosweaveR]]

If Chevy is smart, they'll send out a notice to existing owners of the SS and tell that normal SS's shouldn't have to worry about this sort of accident.

[Ringo64]

If Chevy is smart, they'll send out a notice to existing owners of the SS and tell that normal SS's shouldn't have to worry about this sort of accident.

There sort of two issues at hand here and obviously current owners are the most important but they have a contact and would be more likely to contact GM or a GM dealer about it. Whereas future owners, might see it and just discredit it as their choice without having contact without anyone which is the real issue to hurt the validity of the line... You really have to find a nice way to reach both