CHARLOTTE, N.C. - When Chevrolet debuts the Impala SS at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 25, the Chevy model for the Car of Tomorrow will bring with it many additional safety and aerodynamic benefits. GM Racing and its engineers played an important role in these advancements, which are to improve performance and competition in an even safer race car.

"GM Racing worked in conjunction with NASCAR to develop an even safer race car that will continue to provide competitive and entertaining racing on the Nextel Cup circuit," said Pat Suhy, GM Racing NASCAR group manager. "The improvements, many of which GM helped develop using data from previous production and race car testing, will better protect not only our Impala SS drivers but all Nextel Cup competitors. We shared some, but not all of the aerodynamic information we generated in an effort to help NASCAR come up with an aerodynamics package that all of our teams could be comfortable with. Naturally, we'll help them make the Impala SS race car even better once it hits the track. "Unlike the aerodynamics area, where some secrecy is necessary, we feel that safety developments and information is an area we must share fully with NASCAR in order to provide the safest possible environment for drivers and spectators."

The Car of Tomorrow race car concept, to which all manufacturers must conform, was designed with several new safety features. Inside the Impala SS the driver has been moved four inches to the right to be closer to the center of the vehicle while the roof is two inches higher and the cockpit is four inches wider. Double roll bars have been added to the driver's side and outside roll bars are steel plated to help prevent intrusion to the Impala SS upon impact. Other improvements include a mandatory steel floorboard underneath the driver, energy management materials installed in door panels to reduce impact and an enclosed 360-degree steel containment tunnel for the driveshaft to prevent the possibility of flying metal if disengaged.

New developments to the aerodynamics of the Impala SS Car of Tomorrow include the addition of a rear wing, the installation of a front splitter and the lowering of the back bumper by three inches. Other advancements consist of reduced offsets in the Impala SS body, less front overhang and a higher, wider, blunter body shape. When applied to the Impala SS these modifications result in up to 30 to 40 percent less downforce, more drag and less side force which NASCAR believes will ultimately produce improved competition on the race track.

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