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GM News Insider

Off-Road Warrior

The H2, or "Baby Hummer," can handle truly wild terrain -- even bomb craters

SmartMoney

August 1, 2002

By Paul Ingrassia

One thing for certain about the new Hummer H2 from General Motors : It isn't an MTSUV (as in, "me too" sport-utility vehicle). GM started with the U.S. military's toughest all-terrain vehicle, then downsized it and civilized it while retaining its go-anywhere ruggedness.

The Baby Hummer -- which, GM notes, is actually taller and longer than the original, though it's also 754 pounds lighter -- is no Chevy Tahoe in military drag. It is truly different. It isn't for everyone, nor for almost everyone. Although the H2 offers plenty of creature comforts, it is otherwise so faithful to its military heritage that it makes sense for only two kinds of people: serious weekend warriors and weekend warrior wannabes.

There are far more of the latter, of course. For a base sticker price of $48,800 (prices include destination charges), they can haul groceries in a 3-ton (actually, 6,400-pound) behemoth powered by a 316-horsepower, 6-liter V-8 gasoline engine. It gets about 12 mpg on the highway (maybe; there's no official EPA number) and rumbles from zero to 60 mph in 9.9 seconds. The H2 will handle parking-lot potholes that are, literally, as big as bomb craters.

The original military vehicle, the Humvee, played a starring role in the Gulf War, after which AM General, maker of the Humvee, started selling a modified version -- the Hummer -- to civilians in 1992. Since then only about 8,000 of the original model (now known as the H1) have been sold in total, and it's easy to understand why. For starters, the 7,154-pound H1's base price is $112,000 for the regular "wagon" version and $101,000 for the soft-top. Moreover, the H1 offers interior comfort best suited for boot camp.

These no-compromise characteristics, however, gave the H1 a military-chic appeal. So in 1999, GM approached AM General, bought the Hummer brand, licensed AM General to build the H2 on its behalf and set about building a dealer network.

The H2 went on sale in July at 156 Hummer dealers around the U.S. GM ultimately envisions 200 to 225 Hummer dealerships, most of which will include miniature off-road tracks with moguls, ditches, sharp inclines, steps, logs and perhaps even streamlets. Future product plans include a Hummer SUT (similar to the Chevy Avalanche) that may launch in 2004 and most likely a still-smaller H3 after that. Thus, a brand is born.

The first thing I noticed upon climbing into the H2 was, well, it really was a climb. I'm almost 6 feet tall, and I had to grab one of the "assist handles" inside the door frame to help pull me in.

Hummer offers two types of assist steps as options -- a bolt-on tubular steel model and a lighter model for quick removal when you're going off-road -- but even with them, hopping in requires some effort. The tubular assist steps are included in the $2,575 Lux Series option package, which also gets you a six-disc CD player, heated leather seats, extra chrome trim and custom floor mats.

With the Lux Series package, the H2's interior -- which seats five, with optional seating for one more in the far back -- is very comfortable. But it isn't plush. If your idea of rugged luxury is more luxury and less ruggedness, opt for Land Rover's new Range Rover or the Lexus LX 470, but be prepared to pay many thousands more than the H2 costs. The Range Rover's base price is $69,330, while the LX 470's is $61,855.

Both competitors have suspension systems with adjustable height control that can lower the vehicle for climbing in and out. In contrast, the H2's optional air-spring suspension system is designed for more-effective off-roading, not for everyday convenience.

With its boxy shape and near-vertical windshield, the H2 sports styling that is faithful to the original Hum vee's militaristic lines. There is no mistaking the H2 for, say, a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Driving such a box-shaped vehicle is "like driving a brick through the air," as one Hummer exec puts it, which creates certain challenges. The big one is wind noise, but GM has loaded the H2 with soundproof padding. To my ear, the padding does its job.

In fact, the H2 lumbers down highways nicely for a vehicle whose emphasis is on ruggedness. Handling and acceleration are quite responsive, even when passing on two-lane roads. And the heated side-view mirrors fold inward at the touch of a button to make parking easier.

Hummer officials acknowledge that many buyers will never take their H2 off-road. Too bad. That's where the H2 really distinguishes itself. The training track, for instance, includes a "V ditch" with a 60 percent decline followed by a 60 percent incline. If the percentages mean nothing to you, consider this: On the decline you are staring straight at the ground, and on the incline you are looking straight up at the sky. But the H2 climbs in and out with ease because it has short overhangs, meaning that the front and rear ends don't extend much beyond the tires.

All SUVs can go off-road, of course, but the H2 is made to handle wilder terrain than its rivals. Besides the short-overhang design and the huge 17-inch wheels, the H2 boasts enough underbody armor to shield the engine and transmission from any undue bumps.

The H2 can climb a 16-inch step with proper driving technique; the trick is to approach at a slight angle so you have a lead wheel going up. And it can hold its own on a 40 percent side grade. In addition, the cavernous 32-gallon gas tank gives the H2 a range of more than 300 miles between fill-ups.

The four-wheel-drive system offers five push-button mode selections. The "4 HI Open" mode is for normal driving on dry surfaces at any speed, while the "4 HI Locked" mode makes the front and rear wheels rotate at the same speed, for driving on snow, ice, sand or mud. Then there's "4 LO Locked," which reduces the gear ratios for climbing over big rocks, logs or the curbs in Lower Manhattan, and "4 LO Locked + Rear-Diff Locked," which locks the two rear axles together to allow you to climb steep grades filled with boulders. The fifth mode, "Neutral," allows an H2 to be towed by another vehicle. (Chances that you'll ever use No. 5 are slim.)

The H2 offers a list of more than 30 optional accessories, including a Montague mountain bike like the one used by paratroopers that costs around $800. The bike roof rack to carry it will run under $200. Add about $1,000 more for the "Mars lights" (four 6-inch spotlights on the roof) and two more lights on the grille guard.

But my favorite accessory -- yet to be priced at press time -- is the winch with 9,000 pounds of pulling capacity, which will let you rescue people who go off-road in inferior vehicles


I like the "Mars lights" option >:D
But it's still boxy and ugly :rolleyes:
 
How do you have an article posted that is dated August?

Nonetheless, keep the stuff coming. I may have to trade in my 99 Grand Am now.....
 
midlifecrisis said:
How do you have an article posted that is dated August?

I hope that is the issue date of the artilce for Smart Money. Like when we receive the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition the Thursday or Friday prior to the cover date.

I know that none of our members would ever knowingly post ANY advanced information that has been released with an embargo date.

goo929
 
Thanks zimmsAV for all the information you post here. I like being one of the first to find out what's new in the automotive world.
 
Some of the articles I post are written for magazines and other published columns in the near future.
FYI - If anyone is looking to buy a small car and interested in the cavalier/sunfire, your time is short. We are going to start production of the 2003's at my plant in about 3 weeks. So since the field supply is around 28 days for each, all the 2002's (and the deals that go with em) will prob be gone by the end of sept.
 
Zimms...great information, thanks for taking the time to keep us all updated.
this is a great club.
thanks again,
Damon
 
Thanks for the appreciation ?:love:
Yup, a great site with a plethera :eek: of stuff to learn from.


GMC Debuts All-New Midsize Pickup
DETROIT - GMC announces the latest step towards Professional Grade with the debut of the 2004 Canyon, an all-new mid-size pickup.

"The mid-size truck segment is extremely important and highly competitive, " explained Craig Bierley, marketing director - mid-size trucks. "Canyon will dramatically enhance our competitiveness in this important segment," he added.

Production begins in the fourth-quarter 2003 at General Motors' Shreveport, Louisiana truck plant. GMC Canyon represents the sixteenth new truck introduced by the Professional Grade division since 1999.

GMCCanyon.jpg

 
Eager Fans Hope To Get GM's Goat

Chicago Tribune

July 29, 2002

By Jim Mateja

CHICAGO -- If too many cooks spoil the broth, how many cooks will spoil the Goat?

The Goat, of course, is the term of endearment bestowed on the Pontiac GTO when it roamed the streets before being dropped after the 1974 model year.

The GTO returns in late 2003 as an '04 model built off the rear-wheel-drive Monaro coupe produced by General Motors' Holden subsidiary in Australia.

The new GTO promises a 300-plus horsepower version of the 5.7-liter Corvette V-8 with 6-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Pontiac says engineers are tweaking the V-8 to get more "plus" for the final horsepower rating.

GTO enthusiasts and performance aficionados in general are eagerly awaiting the offering, which will be limited to 18,000 units the first year.

The fact that so few will be available and that the new GTO exists only as a computer rendering adds to the mystique.

"We're getting lots of e-mail from people who say they want to be the first to get one and want to send us a deposit check," said Lynn Myers, Pontiac/GMC general manager. "We aren't taking any orders now, so we aren't taking any deposits.

"But we also are getting e-mail from people who say they want to help us develop the new car," she said, citing enthusiasts offering tips ranging from design cues and equipment choices to engine and transmission options.

And, as if hundreds of GTO e-mails daily aren't enough to keep her busy, Myers said one top-ranking GM executive who in his past life was vice chairman of Chrysler has been passing along his mail as well.

Taking any of those tips from wannabe stylists and engineers who want to help?

"We're listening," said Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson. "We appreciate the interest because the whole idea of bringing a GTO back was to pay homage to what Pontiac stood for back in the '60s and '70s."

By the way, while some called the original GTO the Goat, Bill Lovejoy, group vice president of sales and marketing for GM, calls the '04 version "the exclamation point for Pontiac."

Let's call it the Goat.


GM INTRODUCES NEW FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY CENTER ....
GM is expanding its ability to develop fuel cell technology with the unveiling of a new research facility in Honeoye Falls, NY. The 64,000 square foot development center -- revealed today by Larry Burns, GM vice president of Research and Development, and Planning, New York Gov. George E. Pataki and several key policy leaders -- will develop fuel cell technology for commercial use. It will initially focus on developing fuel cell stacks, fuel processors, electrolyzers and the systems around them into products for both stationary and transportation uses.
With the opening of the new facility GM can determine how to offer fuel cells on a large-scale basis in preparation for market-ready products.

"GM is committed to being the first company to sell one million fuel cell vehicles. To do this, we're going to continue to invest in the resources - like this facility - necessary to get us there," said Larry Burns, GM's vice president of Research and Development, and Planning.

Burns said GM expects to have significant numbers of fuel cell-powered vehicles available by the end of the decade.

Currently, GM has 500 people working on fuel cell technology at its U.S. facilities in Honeoye Falls, N.Y., Warren, Mich. and at its research facility in Mainz-Kastel, Germany.


 
PRODUCT NEWS
NEW INLINE 5 AND INLINE 4 ENGINES TO POWER THE 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON .... Leveraging the technology of its highly successful Vortec 4200 inline six-cylinder engine, GM has created two additional inline engines that will power the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon: the Vortec 3500 inline five-cylinder and Vortec 2800 inline four-cylinder engines.

The Vortec 3500 and Vortec 2800 are scaled down versions of the award-winning Vortec 4200 six-cylinder engine -- sharing 75 percent of their components with Vortec 4200 and 89 percent of their components with each other. With their common design, the new inline I-5 and I-4 engines feature the same all-aluminum construction, dual overhead camshafts and four-valves-per-cylinder technology as the Vortec 4200.

The new engines also share the I-6's high 10:1 compression ratio, electronic throttle control, exhaust cam phasing, coil-on-plug ignition, direct-mount accessories and easy maintenance features.

The Vortec 3500 I-5 is targeted to produce 215 horsepower and 225 lb.-ft. of torque. The Vortec 2800 I-4 is targeted to deliver 170 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque.

Both engines will share manufacturing space in a new facility at GM's Tonawanda, N.Y., engine plant.
 
August 1
PONTIAC UNVEILS 2003 NASCAR RACE CAR; DAYTONA 500 PACE CAR CONTEST .... Pontiac today took the wraps off its new 2003 Grand Prix NASCAR race car prior to this weekend's Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis.

NASCAR recently approved the design of the new Pontiac, which will make its racing debut at the 2003 Daytona 500 in February.

To celebrate both the new Grand Prix race car and Grand Prix's role as the official pace car of the 2003 Daytona 500, fans will have the chance to design the ultimate Daytona pace car.

Pontiac will offer NASCAR fans the opportunity to submit proposals for the pace car's paint scheme through an innovative on-line system. Beginning September 9, 2002, fans can electronically design a complete pace car paint scheme on a three-dimensional model of the vehicle.

Five finalists will be chosen from all of the entries and each of the five finalists will win a trip to the 2003 Daytona 500, where the winning design will be unveiled in a special ceremony just before the race. The winner will receive a special parade lap around Daytona driven by Vin Diesel, star of the upcoming movie "XXX."

I can't wait to see that movie!
 
Hey Zimms,
Do you have any info or rumors on the return of the Camaro?
 
Last I heard is that it's a goner. They are working on a replacement for in that sports car category - more than likely it will be a little 2 seater. There is also talk about bringing a 4-door sports sedan from Holden over here.

More news for today:
Daewoo Motor Sales Sees Record H1 Profit

Reuters

July 31, 2002

By Samuel Len

SEOUL - Daewoo Motor Sales Co, the marketing arm of South Korea's third largest automaker, said on Wednesday it expects record first half net profit as it benefits from restructuring and investment plans by General Motors.

Daewoo Motor Sales put preliminary first half net profit up by almost 130 percent at around 50 billion won ($42.44 million), against about 22 billion won a year ago.

Shares of Daewoo Motor Sales, which trade as a proxy for Daewoo Motor Co, closed up 2.6 percent after having fallen more than 1.5 percent at one point. The broader stock market index ended down 0.84 percent.

But analysts said the company faces a bumpy road, because of the prospect of changed business conditions under General Motors Corp.



In April, GM agreed to invest $251 million in a joint venture with Daewoo Motor creditors, which will give the world's biggest automaker a 42.1 percent stake -- the largest -- while its business partners will hold 24.9 percent.

"Restructuring measures, including a switch to a performance-based wage system for sales staff and brisk sales of the new Kalos (compact passenger car) contributed to the increase," Daewoo Motor Sales spokesman Kim Ki-ho told Reuters.

"An improved image due to GM's acquisition of Daewoo Motor's assets also contributed to the increased profit," he said.

CHANGED ENVIRONMENT
Song Sang-hoon, an auto analyst at Dongwon Economic Research Institute, said it remained uncertain how the sales commission of Daewoo Motor Sales might be affected after the launch of the joint venture, expected later this year.

"Profitability is not expected to improve since GM may lower the commission it pays Daewoo Motor Sales," he said.

He said GM may also enlist the services of other companies to distribute GM-Daewoo automobiles, cutting into profits for Daewoo Motor Sales.

Daewoo Motor Sales was left out of the GM joint venture, but will continue to serve as an independent domestic distributor.

First half operating profit at Daewoo Motor Sales rose to 58.2 billion won from 16.1 billion a year ago, Kim said, confirming preliminary data provided by the regulatory Financial Supervisory Service (FSS).

Sales rose to 1.8 trillion won from 1.6 trillion won over the same period, Kim said.

Daewoo Motor Sales laid off 12 percent of its workforce, nearly 400 of its 3,400 workers, in February. Some 520 employees opted for voluntary retirement last year.

The GM-Daewoo joint venture consists of two of Daewoo Motor's South Korean plants, one in Vietnam and a number of units in Western Europe and one in Puerto Rico, most of them sales units.

Japan's top minivehicle maker, Suzuki Motor Corp, said last month it would take a 14.9 percent stake in the joint venture, paying $89 million for the holding.

GM owns 20 percent of Suzuki.

($1=1178.1 won)

 
August 2
SALES
GM TOTAL U.S. SALES UP 24 PERCENT IN JULY .... GM announced that its dealers in the United States sold 465,843 new cars and trucks in July, up 24 percent over last year. GM truck sales were up 36 percent for the month, and July retail truck deliveries were up more than 40 percent. GM's car sales were up 11 percent overall and up 18 percent retail. For the year, GM overall retail sales are up nearly 6 percent and retail truck deliveries are up 16 percent.

JULY PRODUCTION RESULTS, 3RD QUARTER PRODUCTION FORECAST .... In July, GM produced 316,100 vehicles in North America, compared with 281,000 vehicles produced in July 2001. GM is increasing its third-quarter production forecast for North America to 1.262 million vehicles, up 17,000 units from last month's forecast of 1.245 million units. In the third quarter of 2001, GM North America produced 1.238 million units.

The following is production forecast for GM's international regions:

GM Europe - 421,000 vehicles, a decrease of 4,000 vehicles from last month's forecast.
Asia Pacific - 79,000 vehicles, an increase of 5,000 vehicles from the prior forecast.
Latin America, Africa and Middle East - 131,000 vehicles, a decrease of 20,000 vehicles from June's forecast
 
zimmsAV said:
August 2
SALES
GM TOTAL U.S. SALES UP 24 PERCENT IN JULY .... GM announced that its dealers in the United States sold 465,843 new cars and trucks in July, up 24 percent over last year. GM truck sales were up 36 percent for the month, and July retail truck deliveries were up more than 40 percent. GM's car sales were up 11 percent overall and up 18 percent retail. For the year, GM overall retail sales are up nearly 6 percent and retail truck deliveries are up 16 percent.

JULY PRODUCTION RESULTS, 3RD QUARTER PRODUCTION FORECAST .... In July, GM produced 316,100 vehicles in North America, compared with 281,000 vehicles produced in July 2001. GM is increasing its third-quarter production forecast for North America to 1.262 million vehicles, up 17,000 units from last month's forecast of 1.245 million units. In the third quarter of 2001, GM North America produced 1.238 million units.

The following is production forecast for GM's international regions:

GM Europe - 421,000 vehicles, a decrease of 4,000 vehicles from last month's forecast.
Asia Pacific - 79,000 vehicles, an increase of 5,000 vehicles from the prior forecast.
Latin America, Africa and Middle East - 131,000 vehicles, a decrease of 20,000 vehicles from June's forecast

What a tremendous increase in sales for July. Does anyone have any idea what caused the surge?

Maybe it is cuz they are built like a rock?


Supermobile
 
zimmsAV -

You mentioned you work for GM. What sort of work?

Thanks for all your posts!

 
zimms - Would you be an early recepient of news about GM incentives? For example, there is a post on the CAFC about a $1,000 rebate on 2003s that I just noticed.

Thanks!
 
I work in Manufacturing Systems for GM Metal Fabrication Division, Small Car Platform, Lordstown, Ohio. We make the cavalier, sunfire, doors for the vans, and stamp out some other parts for the plants in Mansfield, Parms, and Marion OH.

No I have not heard anything about rebates on '03 models. I'm not arguing against that other post, but I don't think there will be, at least for a while.
 
Team Monte Carlo - Chevrolet Pre-Race Bullets
  • Chevrolets have won the most Winston Cup races here: four of the eight held; Ford is next with three
  • Chevrolets have collected three Winston Cup pole positions here, one less than Ford
  • A Chevrolet won the first two Brickyard 400 races: Jeff Gordon (1994) and Dale Earnhardt (1995)
  • Jeff Gordon, driving the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet Monte Carlo, has won the most Winston Cup races here, three
  • Jeff Gordon won the 1994 inaugural Brickyard 400, the first NASCAR Winston Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • The furthest back a winner has started in the eight races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was 27th by Jeff Gordon in 2001
  • Two Chevy drivers qualified in the top four here: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet Monte Carlo) and Robby Gordon (No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet Monte Carlo). Four of the eight NASCAR Winston Cup races at Indianapolis have been won from a top-four starting position, but none has been won from the front row.
  • Jeff Gordon leads all other drivers, posting three Bud Poles at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
    Jeff Gordon has finished sixth or better, including three victories, in six of the eight NASCAR Winston Cup races at Indianapolis
  • Jeff Gordon has led the most laps in the Winston Cup races at Indianapolis, 306 of the 1280 laps (24 percent)
  • Jeff Gordon has led at least one lap in seven of the eight races at Indy, the only driver to lead in more than four races since the inaugural race in 1994
  • Jeff Gordon has been running at the finish in 51 consecutive races. His last DNF came at Darlington in March 2001. Gordon has remained winless in 28 straight races (since Kansas ? September 2001)
  • Mike Skinner, No. 4 Kodak Films Chevrolet Monte Carlo, has an 8.50 average finish at Indianapolis, the best of drivers with two or more starts
  • Mike Skinner has finished ninth or better in three of his four races at Indianapolis

Stats courtesy of Winston/NASCAR


 
Anderson and Capps Advance to Finals at Infineon Raceway

SONOMA, Calif., August 4, 2002 - A packed house at the newly renovated Infineon Raceway watched Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson and Funny Car competitor Ron Capps drive their Chevrolets to the final round today at the Fram-Autolite Nationals.

Anderson's Chevy Cavalier was the pole sitter for final elminations today. He defeated Tom Martino in round one, and in round two, knocked off Allen Johnson after setting both ends of the track record with a run of 6.780 seconds at 203.52 mph. In round three, Anderson took out V Gaines to set up a championship battle with Larry Morgan in what would be Anderson's sixth final round appearance of the season.

In the title heat, Morgan grabbed the advantage with a starting line holeshot and held off Anderson's Cavalier at the finish. The performance numbers for Morgan were 6.845 seconds at 201.50 mph, and for Anderson, 6.799 seconds at 202.45 mph. The margin of victory for Morgan was .0002 of a second or approximately one inch!

"This Chevy Cavalier was the best race car out here all weekend and we didn't follow through," said Anderson. "You have to take advantage of these opportunities when they are presented because they don't happen very often."

With his effort this weekend, Anderson moved into second place just 14 points behind first-place Jim Yates who lost in round one to Greg Stanfield.

By advancing to round three of the eliminator today, Jeg Coughlin Jr. moved into third place in the points standings just 52 points behind Anderson and 66 points behind Yates.

"This Jeg's Mail Order Cavalier was a great race car today and we moved up to third in the NHRA POWERade Championship," said Coughlin. "We're looking forward to continuing our charge to the top in Brainerd in two weeks. Our goal is to be in the top spot by the end of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals next month in Indianapolis."

In Funny Car, Chevy Camaro driver Ron Capps was six inches from victory when points leader John Force snatched it away. Both drivers left the starting line with identical .490 reaction times, but Force passed Capps at the stripe with a 4.953 e.t. to Capps' 4.956-second run. The margin of victory was .001 of a second.

"I thought I had him," Capps said after the run. "The car got out there and I never heard him. Our Chevy Camaro hooked up and made a great move in the middle of the track and then, right near the end, it stopped pulling as hard. I hit the 'chute and thought we had the win, but I looked over and his guard rail light was on. It was a heartbreaker. The winning margin was as big as a mile.

"Track conditions really changed for the final. We had a lot of clouds come in and the track cooled off. We gave the fans a heck of a race for their money, but it would've been nice to come out on the winning end. On the bright side, we're running well and I'm excited about going to Brainerd (Minn.) for the next race."

PRO STOCK

Winner - Larry Morgan (Dodge) 6.845ET/201.58MPH Runner-up - Greg Anderson (Chevrolet Cavalier) 6.799ET/202.45MPH
No. 1 Qualifier - Greg Anderson (Chevrolet Cavalier) 6.791ET/203.34MPH
Top-10-
1. Jim Yates (Pontiac SC/T Grand Am), 940;
2. Greg Anderson (Chevrolet Cavalier), 926;
3. Jeg Coughlin (Chevrolet Cavalier), 874;
4. Warren Johnson (Pontiac SC/T Grand Am), 832;
5. Ron Krisher (Chevrolet Cavalier), 749;
6. Darrell Alderman (Dodge), 712;
7. George Marnell (Pontiac SC/T Grand Am), 690;
8. Mike Edwards (Chevrolet Cavalier), 654;
9. Bruce Allen (Pontiac SC/T Grand Am), 643;
10. Mark Whisnant (Chevrolet Cavalier), 621.

FUNNY CAR

Winner - John Force (Ford) 4.953ET/303.09MPH
Runner-up - Ron Capps (Chevrolet Camaro) 4.956ET/300.46MPH
No. 1 Qualifier - John Force (Ford) 4.864ET/309.20MPH
Top-10-
1. John Force, 1086;
2. Tony Pedregon, 987;
3. Gary Densham, 961;
4. Del Worsham (Pontiac Firebird), 932;
5. Whit Bazemore (Pontiac Firebird), 862;
6. Scotty Cannon (Pontiac Firebird), 819;
7. Ron Capps (Chevrolet Camaro), 767;
8. Dean Skuza, 667;
9. Johnny Gray (Pontiac Firebird), 661;
10. Tommy Johnson Jr. (Chevrolet Camaro), 632.

TOP FUEL

Winner - Doug Herbert 4.727ET/308.85MPH
Runner-up - Doug Kalitta 4.766ET/305.36MPH
No. 1 Qualifier - Larry Dixon 4.608ET/317.94MPH
Top-10-
1. Larry Dixon, 1,320;
2. Kenny Bernstein, 1,222;
3. Cory McClenathan, 942;
4. Darrell Russell, 915;
5. Tony Schumacher, 878;
6. Doug Herbert, 815;
7. Doug Kalitta, 804;
8. Andrew Cowin, 660;
9. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 630;
10. David Grubnic, 628.

 
Chevrolet/Team Monte Carlo Notes and Quotes: Five Chevys in Top 10 at Brickyard; Harvick Top Chevy Driver in Fifth

Kevin Harvick, driver of the GM Goodwrench Service Chevrolet, led the way for Team Monte Carlo with a fifth-place finish at the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Five Chevy drivers placed in the top 10, giving Chevrolet slots five through nine in the finishing order. Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender Jimmie Johnson, rallied from his 37th starting position to finish 9th. Johnson moved into 2nd place in the Winston Cup Series point standings - just 93 points behind the leader, Sterling Marlin. Post-race comments follow:

KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 29 GM GOODWRENCH CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO (top Chevrolet of the day - finished 5th): "We were just a little bit tight. We played our cards right and got a good finish out of it. We were really, really tight. If we would have gotten up front, we probably would have been really good. We played good track position and did what we had to do. So all in all, to come away with a top five today wasn't bad."

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO (sixth): "We had a good car there at the beginning and we kind of lost a handle on it but it got real, real tight. We?re fortunate to get back up and get some good track position and get a pretty good run at it, I?m real happy sixth, best we were all day and it was a fun time. I was pleased with that."

SEEM LIKE NOBODY WAS GOING TO CATCH BILL ELLIOTT?? Congrats to Bill and Ray and those guys and that team. They came prepared and were in a league of their own and we?re in trouble in a lot of places for the rest of the year if they keep running like that."

WHAT KIND OF TOLL DID THE HEAT TAKE ON YOU IN THE CAR?" It was hot and it put a lot of rubber down on the track and it was slick. And you thank God for the cautions, and if we hadn?t had as many cautions as we had it would have been as much tougher to get through. But I had just enough to come in and get something to drink and cool myself off and take a breather and then get back out there and get back to work."

WAS IT FUN RACING AGAINST TONY STEWART AGAIN? "Oh yeah. I like racing this place, but I can?t seem to get a qualifying run too good. But once I get out there in the race? it?s fun setting guys up, especially when the car is running right and you know you have to take advantage of any opportunity you can. And every time those guys get side by side, especially by the end of the race, I?m gonna take them three wide. It?s a bit disappointing the way things turned out because we wanted the win, but there was really only one car out there that was fast enough and that was Bill. If he would have fallen out it would have been a heck of a race. We?re real proud of the Dupont Chevrolet and what we did today, coming back from 21st and fought hard all day, had good pit stops and come home sixth.

WE HAD HEARD SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH YOUR OIL GAUGE, PERHAPS IT WAS BROKE? WHAT IMPACT DOES THAT HAVE ON YOU WHILE DRIVING? "I didn?t even notice it until the caution came out and I looked down and it was just zero. I said, OEuh oh..? (laughs) The motor was still running and I kinda knew by the way the gauge was reading it wasn?t pegged to zero -- it was pegged over 100 which is going the opposite way. So it was a good indication that it was a broken gauge and we just stayed after it. It?s been a good week for us. That was a good solid run and that?s what we needed today. We never gave up and had good pit stops good strategy and made smart calls and really pretty much came home about the best we were all day."

IS THIS THE TOUGHEST CONDITIONS YOU?VE RACED UNDER? "Oh, yeah, it was so hot out there. Indianapolis is not a real demanding track from a drivers? standpoint with it being a flat grade as it is. It was so miserable hot."

STEVE PARK, NO. 1 PENNZOIL CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO (seventh, highest finish this season and best finish since his crash in Darlington, September 2001): "It was hot. But the reason why we eat right and work out is for days like today. I don?t feel bad, I just felt elation. This team I felt last week turned a corner and we didn?t get a chance to race the whole race; we got on our roof, but the same kind of deal here, we qualified good and raced good all day long. My hat?s off to this whole Pennzoil team. I said it even last week; we turned a corner last week. We found some things in the car that really are to my liking and it?s totally different than what we had last year. We can?t look at last year and say, Well, we finished 10th with this setup and this car and bring it back OEcause we know it don?t work. I?m real happy for this whole Pennzoil team; they worked hard for this; we all did, and it is a moral victory for all of us."

THIS WASN?T A ONE-LANE RACE TRACK. YOU HAD TO WORK OUT THERE: "It was just one of those deals where you could race. If your car wasn?t set up right you would lose the handle and jump back a little bit, but you could pass on the outside and we seen some three-wide down the back straight and stuff. I just love Indy. I think it?s a great race track. We love coming here to race and the Pennzoil Chevrolet was a really good race car all day today. Track position was key right there at the end. I don?t know how the leaders felt, but as soon as I got behind the 24 car I could roll with him but I would get too tight."

TWO TIRES, FOUR TIRES, NO TIRES AT THE END? "We took four with 30 to go and then when everybody pitted right there at the end for two we stayed out. We gained the track position we needed. Paul Andrews did a really good job in the pits calling the race and calling the tires. Right there he said, OEWe got enough gas and tires to go to the end, so have a good day. We?ll see you when it?s over.? We?re just glad to be here and have a top-10 finish."

WHAT DOES THIS DO FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE? "All of us. The whole team. Last week at Pocono was the first time that I seen people walking around with their heads up a little bit, a little skip in their step and we qualified good and ran good and ended up on our roof. So to come here and qualify and run so good is definitely a morale booster, not only for myself, but for the whole entire Pennzoil team."

PAUL ANDREWS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 1 PENNZOIL CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO: "?(He had) scrapes and cuts from trying to get out. Other than that he was in topnotch shape. We?ve all worked really hard on our safety equipment and NASCAR has done a lot with that, and we followed everything to the letter on the safety deal and we can?t complain about that. Our driver was ready to go; I wasn?t worried about him at all. This heat, Man, let it get hot, the hotter the better, I like it. Usually, the better-handling cars show up at the end in hot races. I think that?s where we?re the strongest."

WHAT WILL A GOOD, SOLID FINISH DO FOR STEVE?S CONFIDENCE? "That?s everything. It?s all about finishing these races. It?s all about finishing these races with good runs. We definitely had some good runs in the past that didn?t quite make it, but we also had just plain hell of a lot of bad runs; we just didn?t run good like we needed to. There?s been more of that than others. A good solid run is what Steve needed for his confidence and what everybody on this team needed."

IS THE TEAM RALLYING AROUND STEVE TO KEEP HIM IN THIS CAR NEXT YEAR? "Well, we?re just trying to get through this year. We want to work with what we?ve got and we?re happy to have Steve and we?d love to have him back for next year but that?s not up to us. That?s up to Steve and DEI and we just want to finish this year on a good note. We just want to get Steve back to where he was. He?s a good friend of ours and everybody on the team. We?ve been through a lot together and we want to see him back where he needs to be."

ROBBY GORDON, NO. 31 CINGULAR WIRELESS CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO (eighth): "Good day all day. Kevin (Hamlin) gave me great pit stops; track position was key. I?m real happy with everybody here. Richard (Childress, team owner) kept me calm; I got real mad there for a while, and he kept me calm. I?m just extremely proud of everybody here at Richard Childress Racing because we have turned this program around. Too bad we weren?t this strong at the beginning of the year; we might have been there for the championship."

YOU WERE STRONG IN THE BEGINNING THEN FELL BACK: "Had to get out of the gas one time; thought I was going to run into Kevin (Harvick) and got freight-trained by four or five guys. After that it was track position."

HOW ARE YOUR FEET? "Feet didn?t give me a problem; I think we?ll be strong at Watkins Glen next weekend. I was kind of hoping we?d start the ball rolling here but it looks like we?ll have to start it next weekend."

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE'S CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO (finished 9th and moved into second place in the point standings): "More than anything, our good stops all day long really kept moving us up to where we could race with the good guys and end up with a top ten (finish).

(On Sterling Marlin and Mark Martin having troubles) "That definitely helped us move up in the points. I was going along and saw the No. 40 (Marlin) slow down and then the No. 6 (Martin) and the No. 99 (Jeff Burton) slowed down on the same straightaway. It made me start thinking about my power plant. I know the Hendrick group has great strong engines. We didn't have any trouble. You don't wish anything (bad) on anybody, but when we saw that happen, it made me realize that the No. 40 car is human. Those guys have had a pretty solid year and this is there first real hiccup."

(On the hot track) "This was my first time here, so I don't really have the experience about the track conditions and the heat, but I think it stayed relatively similar to what it was yesterday in final practice. We adjusted from there last night and were able to come back today and have a solid day today."

(How did you handle the heat?) "It wasn't too bad. The cautions were hard, but we worked hard to keep the inside of our cars cool. I had an air-conditioning box blowing air to my back and into my helmet. Don't get me wrong; it was hot. But I feel pretty good right now."

RICK HENDRICK, TEAM OWNER, HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS (NO. 24, NO. 48, NO. 25, NO. 5): THIS TEAM HAS BEEN STRUGGLING: "We?re not winning, but we finished today sixth and ninth." YOU WERE THERE AT THE END: "Well, that?s what you?ve got to do. I think we were in race trim better than we were in qualifying trim and we had a problem at Pocono. I think we just missed it a little bit. But Terry?s (Labonte) coming on good. I think the Chevrolets?they either need to do something to help the Chevrolets or they need to do something to take away from the Fords or the Dodges, because last year when they made that adjustment to penalize us and give to them they went too far and they?d never really done anything about it. I always said, when we were the first Chevrolet, then we could complain. We weren?t the first Chevrolet, there was one in front of us, All in all, today, we had a good race. Jeff (Gordon) looked good in the beginning and worked his way up to the top 10. And from where Jimmie started to where he finished, he was competitive there all day. Terry (Labonte) had a good day; Joe (Nemechek) finished the race in 20th. Hey, we?ll just have to take it and go on."

CHEVROLETS ARE NOT ALWAYS THERE IN THE BEGINNING, BUT THEY MOVE UP TO THE FRONT AT THE END LATELY: "I think that it just shows you that track position is tough and the cars don?t take as much power to run fast. The cars were built as race cars and we?re racing a car that?s basically off a production-car model. Until we get a new Monte Carlo under those templates, we?re going to be giving up. I think they made too much of an adjustment last year and I don?t think Chevrolet?s ever had a chance to come back. It?s like you see Tony Stewart up there driving his butt off with the Pontiac and Jeff Gordon up there, Kevin (Harvick) and all of them sideways and rooting and gouging for all they can. When you run against guys that can run on used tires faster than you can run on new tires there?s not a lot you can do. I don?t know anything we can do. We?re doing all we can. This is it."

DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 8 BUDWEISER CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO (22nd); "It was tight all day; we went to the back real quick; couldn?t get any side grip getting out of the corners. It started all right, and then went away after the first couple of stops. We?ve got to figure it out; don?t know what we have to do."

ON THE HEAT, HOW DID COOL SUIT WORK? "It worked pretty good; it was pretty hot, though. It was real hot. Hottest I believe I?ve ever been in the car, probably. That?s part of it. I?m still hot."

WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR TODAY? "There was no grip in the front; it pushed real bad."

WERE YOU THINKING, IT WAS A LONG DAY, IT?S HOT, MY CAR?S RUNNING BAD: "I was hoping we?d get the car back underneath us, but we never did, never."

WAS THIS THE TOUGHEST RACING CONDITIONS YOU REMEMBER? "I don?t think so. I?ve been in some pretty tough ones. St. Louis is pretty hot."

WHAT DID YOU DO TO DEAL WITH IT? "Bring as much air to the car as we could, inside the car itself, move the air around inside the car. It wasn?t too bad; I?m still alive."

NO ADJUSTMENTS WORKED? "Yeah, we tried everything. Nothing worked. I don?t know what was wrong with it. Tough, frustrating deal. We should have run better."

MIKE SKINNER, NO. 4 KODAK FILMS CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO (finished 36th - engine failure): "We lost a motor - started losing a cam or something yesterday in practice and we had to change the engine. The Kodak Max Chevy was really good. We hit on something finally. We put on four tires and the car got a little bit tight. We felt like on the next stop, we could put it back like we had it the stop before. And the stop before, it was pretty fast. We were catching a lot of really good cars. It looked maybe we could get back and get us a top-10 finish - maybe a top 15 if nothing else. But it wasn't meant to be today. Something in the motor cut loose."

 
GM Daewoo: Will Buy Daewoo Motor Sales Stake As Planned

By Jeongjin Lim



SEOUL (Dow Jones)--GM Daewoo Automotive & Technology Co., through its local media relations agency, Friday denied a newspaper report that said it won't take over a 11% stake in Daewoo Motor Sales Co. from Daewoo Motor Co.



The Chosun Ilbo, citing an unnamed General Motors Corp. official, reported earlier Friday that GM Daewoo Automotive will look for a third-party investor to buy the Daewoo Motor Sales stake before GM Daewoo Automotive formally launches its business.



GM Daewoo Automotive is a new company set up by GM and Daewoo Motor's creditors to buy key assets of the bankrupt Daewoo Motor's passenger car business. It plans to formally launch its business later August or early September in South Korea.



"Nick Reilly, president and chief executive officer of GM Daewoo Automotive, said he is 100% sure that GM Daewoo Automotive will buy the Daewoo Motor Sales stake as specified in the final contract signed in late April," said Kenneth Hong, an official at GM's South Korea media relations agency KPR & Associates Inc.



Reilly also said, however, that GM Daewoo Automotive hasn't determined whether to hold the stake or sell it at a later date, according to Hong.



Daewoo Motor Sales has been an exclusive domestic dealer of Daewoo Motor, but it will be a non-exclusive Daewoo-brand car dealer for GM Daewoo Automotive, according to GM's acquisition contract.



The Chosun Ilbo said GM Daewoo Automotive decided not to acquire the stake as a special consumption tax will be imposed on cars when it sells the cars indirectly through Daewoo Motor Sales.



The new company will also have to pay an acquisition tax when it buys the Daewoo Motor Sales stake, according to the paper.



 
GM Boosts Inline Engine Family For New Trucks
Automotive News
August 05, 2002
By Richard Truett

General Motors' 4.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine, praised for its power and smoothness, has become a key selling feature of the automaker's mid-sized sport-utilities.

GM hopes to duplicate that success with new 2.8-liter inline four-cylinder and 3.5-liter inline five-cylinder engines, which use the same architecture as the inline six. Those engines will be introduced in the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon mid-sized pickups, which are scheduled to go on sale in the fall of 2003.

About 75 percent of the parts the 2.8-liter and 3.5-liter engines are carried over from the 4.2-liter engine, said Ron Kociba, chief engineer for the inline engines. Common architecture elements include aluminum blocks, dual overhead camshafts, variable valve timing and balance shafts. Shared parts include the pistons, connecting rods, valve train, bearings and the electronic throttle control system.

The 2.8-liter inline four replaces the overhead valve, cast iron 2.2-liter inline four that is the base engine in the current Chevrolet S10 and GMC Sonoma trucks. The 3.5-liter inline five replaces the overhead valve, cast iron 4.3-liter V-6 as the optional engine.

More power, less fuel

Horsepower figures are not final, but GM expects the 2.8-liter four-cylinder to produce about 170 hp, a 50-hp gain over the current 2.2-liter inline four. The 3.5-liter inline five-cylinder should develop about 215 hp, up from the 180 or 190 available in the current 4.3-liter V-6.

"I can tell you those figures will not be going down," said Kociba.

Both engines are expected to deliver fuel economy about 5 percent better than the engines they replace, GM said.

GM says there are no plans to offer the 4.2-liter inline six from the sport-utilities in the Canyon and Colorado, and no plans to use the inline engines in the sport-utilities. GM said on Wednesday, July 31, that it will offer a 5.3-liter V-8 as an option in its mid-sized sport-utilities beginning this fall.



Production of the inline engines begins next spring at GM's Tonawanda, N.Y., engine plant. Both four- and five-cylinder variants are scheduled to be built on the same line.

GM also can produce the inline five-cylinder engine in its Pontiac, Mich., engine plant on the same line as the 4.2-liter inline six, using the same tooling, Kociba said.


Both engines can be teamed with a new five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic. Four-wheel drive will be optional for both engines.

'Nail it'

The launch of the new engines is being watched by GM Powertrain Vice President Tom Stephens and Vice Chairman Robert Lutz.

"Lutz and Stephens said, 'You've got to nail it,'" Kociba said. "We are under pressure to make sure we don't have any startup quality issues and don't lose volume," he said on Tuesday, July 30, at a media briefing and test drive of the new engines.

The 4.2-liter inline six suffered two early problems when it was launched 18 months ago: Bad tooling caused a cylinder liner to break free from the block, and improperly cleaned cam phasers didn't work right. About 200 engines were replaced.

Kociba predicted there will be no quality hiccups with the new engines. "We have the advantages of family commonality."



 
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