Toyota Celica All-Trac Turbo – 1991 PPG Pace Car
One of the more obscure PPG Pace Cars.
History
The Toyota Celica All-Trac Turbo was rated at 200 HP for the US market, thanks to it’s 3S-GTE turbocharged engine. Coupled with All-Wheel-Drive and smooth exterior styling with slightly bulged fenders, the All-Trac was ahead of its time when introduced.
During the 1991 Indycar/CART Long Beach race, Michael Andretti and Emerson Fittipaldi collided in the pit lane. The Celica All-Trac Turbo Pace Car was being driven by Johnny Rutherford, who understeered the Toyota into a tire barrier @ 4:35 in the video.
Specifications
Unknown.
Current Status
Unknown.
I’m unable to find any documentation of this Pace Car online. Please let me know if you have any information on this vehicle, as I’d love to add it to this page!
This is a terrible quality video but it’s the only one I could find on YouTube of the chaos during the 1991 Long Beach Grand Prix which I remember watching on live TV.
https://youtu.be/dsVw48653Vk
John Andretti (RIP) crashed bringing out a full course caution and the leaders dove into pit lane. There was no speed limit in pit lane back then, and Michael Andretti and Emerson Fittipaldi had a pretty nasty crash in the pits.
While all this was going on, the pace car driver, who I believe was Johnny Rutherford, understeered the Toyota Celica All Trac pace car into a tire barrier, nearly taking Rick Mears with him.
Love the site and glad I could contribute in some small way.
Thanks so much! I’m going to add the video to the page.