103rd Indianapolis 500 to Be Paced by the 2019 Corvette Grand Sport

BAY CITY, Mich. -- The 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport will serve as the official pace car of the Indianapolis 500 on May 26th, marking the 103rd year of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing", as well as the 30th year a Chevrolet vehicle has led the field starting in 1948 when a Fleetmaster Six had the job. No other brand in automotive history to date has served as the 500 Pace Car more than Chevy, which is a highly appropriate record to hold given the brand's deep roots in racing and the 500 itself, having been founded the same year the inaugural race took place. Along with his brothers Arthur and Gaston, Louis Chevrolet himself even competed!

“Chevrolet is honored to lead the way for the 500 once again,” said Steve Majoros, director of Chevrolet passenger car and crossover marketing. “The Grand Sport is a particularly excellent choice as its wide body and aerodynamic features are steeped in racing heritage.”

Fans of the Indy 500 will also see thirty-three 2019 Corvette Stingrays out cruising the roads of Central Indiana this spring, as well as in IPL 500 Festival Parade taking place on May 25th in downtown Indianapolis, provided to business leaders and dignitaries in the area for important promotional purposes. This is the first year of the race since 2007 that both the Official Pace Car and parade cars match each other.

“We continue to be grateful for our long-running partnership with Chevrolet,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “It’s such a strong bond that has proven integral to the success of our events. The 2019 Corvette Grand Sport is a world-class machine that exudes speed, performance and excitement, a perfect fit to lead the 500 field. Personally, there is nothing quite like driving an Indianapolis 500 Chevrolet Corvette around Indiana in May, and I know our fans also will enjoy seeing the Corvette Stingray festival cars around town throughout the Month of May.”

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Chevy News: Indianapolis 500 Winner and New Vehicle Packages, Options Announced

BAY CITY, Mich. – Chevy has been in the news a lot recently, as they continue to have a successful 2018. On top of rolling out new information on the 2019 Silverado 1500 and 2019 Suburban, Chevy was proud to have two of their vehicles place 1st and 2nd in the recent Indianapolis 500. Now is an exciting time to be a Chevy driver, so read below for more updates on your favorite Detroit motor-brand!

Chevrolet Finishes in 1st and 2nd Place in the 102 Indianapolis 500

The most exciting Chevrolet news revolves around the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet Driver Will Power. On May 27th, Power claimed victory at the 102 Indianapolis 500 in Indianapolis, Indiana. His Chevy victory news came as he won a 3.1589 victory over Ed Carpenter, a pole sitter.

“I can’t describe it,” Power stated. “I feel like collapsing. I want to cry. I was wondering if I would ever win it and thoughts went through my mind during the month. This was the last box to tick, but I’m done.”

This Chevrolet news of triumph dates back to the days of Rick Mears, who won the pole for Team Penske during 1988. Power is the first Australian to win the Indy 500 and to gain victory on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval and the 2,439-mile, 14-turn road, which uses sections of the 2.5-mile oval to complete the sweep.

2019 Suburban RST Performance Package Announced

While Power’s victory is hitting the top of the Chevy news everywhere, what is just as exciting is the announcement of the new 2019 Suburban RST Performance Package. The new 2019 Suburban RST will sport a 420 hp, 6.2L V-8 engine, a modern Hydra-Matic 10L80 10-speed automatic transmission, and Magnetic Ride Control with performance calibration.

This marks the first time Suburban will offer the 6.2L V-8, which has 460 lb-ft of torque and 420 horsepower.

“The RST Performance Package made its debut on the Tahoe RST last spring, and the response from our customers was overwhelmingly positive,” Chevy Trucks Marketing and Advertising Director Sandor Piszar stated. “In fact, Tahoe RST with the Performance Package is the fastest-turning Tahoe model, and we’ve received customer requests to offer the same performance and power to Suburban RST.”

Chevy fans will be excited to hear that the Suburban RST performance accessories include a custom tuned Performance Dual-Side Exit exhaust system and an available Performance front brake upgrade package. The Performance Package is available as an upgrade to the Suburban RST, introduced last year.

2019 Silverado 1500 Engine and Transmission Options Announced

The announcement of the engine and transmission options for the 2019 Silverado 1500 could not have come sooner for Chevy lovers. With eight different trim levels as paired with six engine and transmission options, they are seeking to serve three different customers: High Value, High Volume, and High Feature. Options for the engine include the 4.3L V-6, 2.7L Turbo, 5.3L V-8, and the Duramax 3.0L inline-six Turbo Diesel. Silverado 1500 Chief Engineer Tim Asoklis said the performance of the different engines and transmissions will benefit from the truck being lighter.

“With less weight and less wind resistance, we improved the driving dynamics without sacrificing fuel efficiently,” Asoklis said. He said the chassis feels more responsive and acceleration is more pronounced. With so many options for your new Chevy ride, Graff Bay City can help take you through all of your different options during your vehicle search. More Chevrolet news will be hitting the wire soon. So stay tuned!

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Chevrolet Camaro’s History at the Indy 500

BAY CITY, Mich. – On May 29th the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS served as the official pace car for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. Chevrolet has held the honor of serving as the official pace car 27 times, that is more than any other manufacturer. The Chevrolet Camaro has been the official pace car 9 of those times. In celebration of the 100th race, take a look below at Chevrolet Camaro’s history at the Indy 500.

1967 Camaro RS/SS
As the first Camaro to serve as the Indy 500 pace car, this model was also the original Camaro built.

1969 Camaro RS/SS
This pace car made its mark as becoming one of the most recognizable pace cars in the speedway’s history with orange-over white paint scheme.

1982 Camaro Z28
The Camaro Z28 introduced the third generation of the Camaro and was driven by Indy 500 winner, Jim Rathmann.

1993 Camaro Z28
In 1993 the Camaro Z28 showcased daring back and white paint scheme highlights with multicolored ribbons and matching interior.

2010 Camaro SS (2009 and 2010 Indianapolis 500)
The 2010 Camaro SS made its mark at the famous brickyard in its first and only back-to-back appearance. First in 2009 the Camaro was driven by “Transformers" star Josh Duhamel, and then in 2010 it was driven by “Good Morning America” anchor Robin Roberts (who was only the second woman to ever drive an Indy pace car).

2011 Camaro SS
In 2011 the Camaro debuted for its third year in a row as the pace car. That year it had also paid homage to the 1969 pace car and was dressed in white and orange.

2014 Camaro Z/28
This version of the Camaro pace car became the most track-focused Camaro with a 7.0L LS7 V-8 engine, high performance brake rotors, and 19 inch aluminum wheels.

2017 Camaro SS 50th Anniversary Edition
This year the Camaro sported “100th Running of the Indianapolis 500” graphics in celebration of the 100th anniversary, as well as the 50th anniversary of the Camaro. 

The Chevrolet Camaro’s history at the Indy 500 has created a strong relationship between the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Chevrolet. If you want to get your hands on a 2016 Camaro, our team at Graff Bay City can make that happen! Experience the power behind the vehicle model that has been around for decades. Schedule your test drive for the 2016 Camaro today.

At Graff Bay City we want to make the financing process easy. That is why we have a new and improved Buying vs. Leasing page. Now you can compare and contrast the two options for a better understanding of which best fits your lifestyle. When you make a decision on which direction you want to finance, take a look at our How to Buy and How to Lease pages for commonly used terms, and a step-by-step process with our financing team. If you have more questions about financing with Graff Bay City, contact our finance experts today.

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 to Pace Indy 500

BAY CITY, Mich.– As we move into the warmer months of spring, it also means that we get closer to the greatest spectacle in racing, the Indianapolis 500. During the 98th running on May 25th, the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 will pace the Indy 500 making it the 25th time a Chevrolet has paced the race and the 8th time a Camaro has been the pace car!

The Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 will pace the Indy 500 with three-time winner Dario Franchitti behind the wheel! Not only does the Camaro pace car carry on Chevy's longstanding history with the Indianapolis Motor Speeday but it also signifies Franchitti's Chevrolet-powered driver development role with Chip Ganassi Racing for the 2014 IndyCar season. Both Franchitti and the Z/28 have earned the respect of competitors and race fans alike, making their Indy 500 partnership a match made on the track.

Chevrolet looks forward to sharing their long history both on and off the track. If you're looking to get behind the wheel of quality and capability, look no further. We can help you find the Chevy Silverado or Chevy Corvette of your dreams! Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706. For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our websites: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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