August 19, 2006 Monterey, CA

Lexus brought out their newest Pace Car to the field for the 33rd Annual Monterey Historic Automobile Races Presented by Toyota @ the world famous Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, CA. The New GS Pace Car was accompanied by two Hybrid vehicles, a Toyota Camry Hybrid and a Lexus GS450h. All three vehicles lead the pack for the many races throught the weekend. The New GS Pace Car also cleared the track for the 2006 Panasonic Toyota F1 car which broke a record for the fastest lap in Laguna Seca History clocking 1:06.596 averaging 121 mph.

More to follow both pics and story on the Monterey Historic and Panasonic Toyota F1 record breaker.



Here are a few preliminary stats on the car.

2006 Lexus GS430
Forged Aluminum 20" BBS RS GT Diamond Black
Bridgestone Potenza SO-3 Tires, 255/35ZR20 Rear, 245/35ZR20
Stop Tech Brakes, 6 Piston Front, 4 Piston Rear
Lowering Springs
Tanabe Medallion Touring Exhaust
Full Roll Cage
Four-Point Racing Harnesses
Safety Fuel Tank
On-Board Fire System
Whelen Safety Strobes

 

nice to see lexus getting out there again!!! don't really like the design of the graphics, but the mod list is nice. i especially love the brakes, very happy to see how stoptech is getting in line with lexus!!!!

 

Nice stiping

 

The only qualification to the record is that there have been quite a few track changes to Laguna due to MotoGP since Champ cars last ran there. For example, the berms used to have big "dragon's teeth" which are no longer there so you can use the berms. The track is a bit quicker than it was before. I saw a video of his run and the sound was worth the price of admission alone.

 

The sound of that V10 is bone chilling, especially when it was echoing throughout the whole track. I will have to downsize the video clips I took with my digicam. I totally forgot to bring my Mini DV.

According to my friend RMMGS4 who stayed for Sunday's race, Ricardo Zonta broke more records on it's last exhibition day.

 

Wow, more pics of the pace car!!!
Looks like Toyota's V-10 is ready to rip up F-1!! WE NEED SOME WINS!!

 

Is this the current 2006 Toyota F1 car or the 2005? If the 2006 shouldn't it be a V8? Or did they drop in the V10 just to break the record?

 

Great achievement and brand exposure.

 

That's what I was thinking... It should be the 2.4 V8.

Great looking GS. But we need more full size pics without the pesky ownership marks... so we can put them as our backgrounds without ruining a good photo.

 

No you're right. It was the V8. The record was broken with old tires on Friday's run.

 

I would like to do that, but since we've had issues with other websites in the past I've been forced to tag all the photos i have taken. Sorry.

 

Here are some links to the photos from Laguna Seca this past weekend. I'm still trying to sort out over the 400+ photos my friend and I took on a Canon 30D and 20D. I will also post a short blurb on the car corral parking Toyota set aside for us Toyota/Lexus & Scion enthusiasts including a group shot from up above! :

http://www.laguna-seca.com/pressrele...dex.cfm?ID=257
http://www.laguna-seca.com/pressrele...dex.cfm?ID=259

 

They STILL need to "up the ante" in the power stats. It would have been nice for them to showcase thier new V8 which will debut in the upcoming LS460. After having test drove every car in this class, and aside from the interior (like alot) I'm not wowed by this car.

 

Yup if the IS can accomodate the 5.0L there's absolutely no reason the GS can't take a 4.6L. The question is when.

 

Haha in the near future. Just watch.