Samsung/Radio Shack 500 - GM Racing Perfomance Points

March 28, 2003

* Pontiac is showing no signs of growing pains in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series with its new Grand Prix. Through six races, Pontiac already has one victory, which equals its 2002 total at the same point in the season. Its top two drivers are also ranked higher overall than its top two drivers were last season. Ricky Craven sits seventh in the series standings, while Johnny Benson rides 13th. In 2002, Tony Stewart stood as the highest ranked Grand Prix driver in 12th, followed by his teammate, Bobby Labonte, in 16th. Pontiac has also scored four more points in the chase for the manufacturers' championship, accumulating 27 markers thus far compared to 23 in 2002.

* With six races Winston Cup races in the books and 30 to go, GM drivers are well accounted for near the top of the series point standings. Chevrolet driver Tony Stewart stands third, while Chevrolet's Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., ride fourth and fifth. Monte Carlo driver Jimmie Johnson is currently sixth, Pontiac's Ricky Craven seventh, Chevy's Bobby Labonte eighth and Chevrolet's Jeff Gordon 10th. Overall, GM drivers occupy 10 of the top 13 spots in the Winston Cup standings.

* Chevrolet has enjoyed a strong start to its 2003 racing effort. In addition to winning the Daytona 500, Chevrolet shined again two weeks ago in the "Sunshine State" as Corvette Racing won the GTS class in the 12 Hours of Sebring. A trio of Chevy drivers - Ron Fellows, Johnny O'Connell and Franck Freon - put the Corvette C5-R in the winner's circle in the opening round of the American Le Mans Series at the historic Sebring track. Chevy Cavaliers also dominated Pro Stock at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. Kurt Johnson notched his 24th career NHRA Pro Stock victory in his new 2003 ACDelco Cavalier at Gainesville Raceway, defeating the Cavalier of reigning NHRA champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the final round.

* The Chevrolet Silverado, which is the winningest brand competing the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, is approaching a milestone. Silverado currently owns 99 series wins and will look for its landmark 100th victory when the series resumes April 12 at Martinsville Speedway.

* Representatives from Chevrolet and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced March 26 that the all-new 2003 Chevy SSR will serve as the "Official Pace Vehicle" for the 87th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 25. This marks the 14th time a Chevrolet product has served in this capacity - the most appearances by any brand - and the first time a truck-based Chevrolet will lead the charge to the green flag.

* Herb Fishel, the executive director of GM Racing, will drive the Chevy SSR "Official Pace Vehicle" at the start of the 2003 Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. As "Official Pace Vehicle" driver, Fishel will lead the 33-car starting field of the world's greatest auto race to a green-flag start at 11 a.m. (EST) Sunday, May 25. Fishel is entering the 40th year of his career and has been a powerful behind-the-scenes force in American motorsports.

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