Back of car... Yellow flasher bar across the top, and yellow strobes in each back-up light.
Front of car... Strobes are located in the headlights, fog lights, and mirrors.
This is the car in RACE DAY configuration ABOVE (photo sent anonymously), and on display at Daytona USA BELOW (Photo courtesy of Timothy Stamper at thestampers.com) -- Note the 18 Inch CONCEPT NEEPER SHADOW wheels with Goodyear F1 Tires... Pontiac replaces these with the factory wheels when the car is released to the public... #@*%! I would LOVE to find a set of these wheels!
One of two PACE CARS used in the running of the 2000 DAYTONA 500.
The DAYTONA 500 is known as “The Great American Race”
The 2000 Daytona 500 was hailed as the “First Race of the Millennium”
To commemorate the 2000 Daytona 500, Pontiac introduced the Grand Prix GTP “Daytona 500 Pace Car” Edition. They built 2,000 of these vehicles which had several special features. Some of the features proved popular enough to be included on future Grand Prix models.
These features include:
NASCAR inspired roof rail fences (optional on later models)
Two-tone leather seating with embroidered “Daytona 500” logos
Small “Daytona 500” decal from the lower door to the back wheel well
“One of 2000 – Daytona 500” checkered flag emblem on center console
Special silver dash bezel and interior trim
Stainless steel exhaust tips
Special rear spoiler (optional on later models)
Hood heat extractors (optional on later models)
Two of the “Daytona 500 Pace Car Edition” Grand Prix GTP vehicles (both without sunroofs... I don't know if any other "Pace Car Editions" were built without sunroofs that year) were modified by TDM of Detroit and GM Racing for use as the actual Pace Cars for the 2000 Daytona 500.
Special modifications include:
Lowered suspension with stiffer springs setup for the Daytona International Speedway
Concept Neeper “Shadow” 18 Inch wheels with Goodyear F1 tires (taken off the car when sold to the public - Bummer... I need a set if anyone has them!)
Performance computer chip
PBR brakes
Whelen strobe system with special lightbar wing... The strobe system is still FULLY FUNCTIONAL with the flash pattern used in the race!
“Pontiac Racing” graphics set
The 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP was the OFFICIAL PACE CAR of NASCAR in 2000. (A few events designated their own Pace Cars in 2000, like the Brickyard 400, and the Daytona 500. Daytona used the two silver GTPs, and there were 13 races with MONTE CARLO Pace Cars). They used 26 Grand Prix GTP Pace Cars that year in the Winston Cup Series, and they all had the same basic "Pontiac Racing" graphics package. All of the Grand Prix GTP cars were white, EXCEPT the TWO Daytona 500 Pace Cars, which were silver to commemorate the first race of the Millenium. The two silver cars were modified "Daytona 500 Pace Car Edition" series vehicles. The white Pace Cars did not have some of the features unique to the "Daytona 500 Pace Car Edition" cars such as the roof rail fences, the "Daytona 500" embroidered seats, etc. Also, other tracks used their Pace Cars for multiple races, but the two silver Daytona 500 cars were ONLY USED to pace the 2000 Daytona 500.
There are a lot of "Pace Car Replicas" on the streets, replicas of the Daytona 500, the INDY 500, The Brickyard, and the non-race specific "Pace Car Edition" cars. I have always liked the different kinds of Pace Car Editions (except a few... Sorry to the INDY Beretta owners!) Actual Race Used Pace Cars are obviously less common, but they do exist. There are normally 3-5 ACTUAL Pace Cars for the INDY 500, and 2 or 3 for most races, and most tracks use their cars for multiple events. The Daytona 500 only has TWO Pace Cars each year, and they do not always make a replica edition, so I feel very fortunate to have an ACTUAL Daytona 500 Pace Car. Many of the actual Daytona 500 Pace Cars do not make it to the public, as race families, or GM Execs or museums often get them. To actually get one, and to get one with a history that includes both the 2000 Daytona 500 (used in the "First Race of the Millenium") AND the 2001 Daytona 500 (on display at Daytona USA with the 2001 Race logos for a year, and still in use by Daytona International Speedway on Feb 18, 2001 when Dale Earnhardt died), I really feel fortunate. I have seen the effect it has had on people when they realize what it is, and I have gained a lot of respect for what that history means now.
Another thing I learned is that if you want a car that you can actually drive on the street, and you're looking for something that shows your love of NASCAR or IRL, a real PACE CAR is the way to go. These things have some real history to them. Don't get me wrong, Pace Car Editions and Replicas are really awesome cars too. When I found this car, I was actually "LOOKING" (not really planning on buying anything) at "INDY 500 Pace Car Edition" Corvettes from 1978, and also older corvette convertibles (1968-1972). Then I saw this car for sale. RIGHT AWAY I thought "Wouldn't it be neat to have a REAL Pace Car from the Daytona 500?". I did some research, confirmed it was the real thing, and I bought it.
All I can say is I really had NO IDEA what I was getting myself into when I bought this thing. (I still haven't grasped the historical significance of what it is according to some people). But I have no regrets, it has been a real kick owning this car. Like a guy said after we did a pre race lap before the Michigan Nextel Cup race in August, "That has to be fun". He hit the nail on the head. Just stopping for gas can turn into a mini car show with a lot of people asking questions about it. And that is BEFORE you turn the strobes on for them! (They ALWAYS ask to see the strobe system). If you do not like attention, get a Honda Accord. You don't realize how big the DAYTONA 500 is to some people until you see their reactions when they check out the car.
One other cool thing is the car IS a Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, a really awesome car in its' own right. Now I know why these cars have such a loyal following. They are an absolute blast to drive! (Just visit "ClubGP.com" or "grandprix.net" to see how much of a following these cars have. ClubGP is about to surpass 20,000 members).
I am very interested in hearing from people with other Pace Cars, especially anyone near Chicago. I recently found out that one of the 24 white Pontiac Gand Prix GTP NASCAR Pace Cars from 2000 is in the same County that I live in. A friend of mine told me about it because it is his cousins car! I have talked to several Pace Car owners now, and they all say getting an actual NASCAR Pace Car is one of the best things they ever did.
The 2000 Daytona 500 was won by Dale Jarrett in the number 88 Ford Quality Care car. It was his third Daytona 500 victory, and he was following the PACE CAR when he went under the checkered flag! (The race ended under caution).
The 2000 Daytona 500 was notable for many reasons. It was the first NASCAR CUP race of the year, and was known as the "First Race of the Millenium". Several memorable cars were in the race. Dale Earnhardt Sr. drove the RED TAZ Monte Carlo in its' only race. It was Dale Jrs. FIRST Daytona 500, and the first race of what is considered to be his "rookie" season (he ran a very limited number of races the year before). There are pictures of the two RED Earnhardt Monte Carlos running side by side that are pretty spectacular. Jeff Gordon ran the silver DuPont car, which has proven to be a top collectible in the diecast world. Track star and new Race Car Team Owner Jackie Joyner-Kersee was a special guest of honor dropping the green flag, and Steve Park was penalized a lap for PASSING THE PACE CAR (that'll teach him!). A member of Tony Stewarts pit crew was injured after being hit in the pits by the number 20 car. Also, any time any driver wins a third Daytona 500, it is something special, even if he was following the Pace Car!
After the DAYTONA 500, Daytona International Speedway retains the WINNING RACE CAR, and ONE of the two Pace Cars for a one year period for display at DAYTONA USA. This is THE Pace Car that they retained. The car had its event graphics (door and roof graphics) changed with logos for the 2001 SPEEDWEEKS, and the 2001 DAYTONA 500 to promote the next years events. The car was also used to provide rides around the track, and DIS put somewhere between 6000 and 10000 miles on the car during that time (I am still researching this. The car has 23000 miles on it now, and will be driven very little now). The car was released back to Pontiac in June 2001, then went on a tour of some Pontiac/GM dealerships. The car was at Daytona USA during the fateful 2001 Daytona 500, and though I do not know if the car was being used that day (I have heard it gave some rides that day), I know that it was part of Daytona Speedway at that time. I intend to leave the graphics as they are with the 2001 logos to preserve the correct history of the car, and as a small tribute to Dale Earnhardt. It is interesting to have a car that has some real NASCAR history to it, with the logos AND DATE of the 2001 Daytona 500 on the doors. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM GM RACING AND PONTIAC ON THE HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE. I AM WORKING ON GETTING FURTHER DOCUMENTATION FROM PONTIAC HISTORICAL SERVICES AND DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY AS WELL (as of OCT 15, 2004).
Car on display at Michigan a few hours before the Cup race. This walkway would soon be crowded with people attending the race!
This was our first NASCAR event with the Pace Car, and my first NASCAR event since I was a kid. We did a pre-race lap before the Busch Series Cabelas 250, and before the NEXTEL CUP Gordon Food Service Marketplace 400 races on Aug 21-22, 2004.
The laps were run with the "Pace Car Club of America".
Lining up for the Pre Race lap at MIS before the Cup race on Aug 22.
The Pace Car Club of America was started by Paul Cwiklinski, of East Aurora, NY. The club started out as a club for owners of the 1998 40th Anniversary Daytona 500 Pace Car Edition Pontiac Grand Prix cars (1500 were made). They have since expanded to include the 2000 Pace Car Editions, and other commemorative vehicles. Other cars include Pace Car Editions, Intimidator Monte Carlos, Dale Jr. cars, Tony Stewart cars, and yes, even Jeff Gordon cars (they go to the end of the line though! OK. That was a joke). The club is active in parades, and some track events.
The "Pace Car Club of America" website is at:
pacecarusa.com
Personally, I'd like to get a 1979-1981 Daytona 500 Edition Trans Am to drive around a few tracks!
By the way, Hot Wheels ROCKS! We love you AMY!
Charitable Work: This is the best part of owning this car! So far I have used the car for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and we sold some "Victory Junction NASCAR DAY" Checkered Flag Ribbon Pins at the Michigan race (Plans are in the works to maybe do more next year). I have also supported some local charities by letting them use the car in parades. I personally support the following charities as well, and would be willing to attend any events that support these charities: 
dalejarrettfoundation.org
cff.org
VICTORY JUNCTION
VICTORYJUNCTION.org
