2003 Monte Carlo given official approval.

The all-new 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo racecar has been given the green light by NASCAR. Officials with Chevrolet and GM Racing received the final approval this week.

For the past six months, key representatives from GM Racing have been working diligently with NASCAR and Chevrolet Winston Cup drivers, team owners, and engineers to develop, build, and submit a brand new Monte Carlo for Winston Cup competition.

Hendrick Motorsports (HMS), Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI), Richard Childress Racing (RCR), and Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) pooled their talents to design the new racecar, which will make its official debut at Daytona Speedweeks in February 2003.

With valuable input from Joe Gibbs Racing, which was one of the teams leading an earlier 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix submission, GM Racing engineers were able to streamline their entire course of action and accomplish the task in a relatively short period of time. Each team played a significant role in the development of the new Monte Carlo. RCR built the downforce car, DEI built the Superspeedway car, and HMS built the final submission car.

GM Racing concentrated on the challenge of building a car that not only conforms to the new aerodynamic platform established by NASCAR, but that also retains the styling characteristics of the street Monte Carlo.

When the fans see this new Monte Carlo racecar, they will easily recognize its distinct and sporty style. Among its familiar features are the sloping hood, front & rear fascias, rear quarter glass panels, short rear deck, and sleek overall shape.

No manufacturer has carried more drivers to more Winston Cup championships than Chevrolet, and Monte Carlo has won more NASCAR races than any car in history. The newly designed Monte Carlo promises to continue its winning record in '03 and beyond.

Chevrolet's Winston Cup teams are eager to obtain the new Monte Carlo templates from NASCAR, and will begin building the new Monte Carlo racecars as soon as possible.

Comments by Kurt Ritter, General Manager of Chevrolet: "Chevrolet and Team Monte Carlo are excited about the new racecar and anxious to see it in action. We are especially pleased that the design retains the same sporty styling cues that are distinctively Monte Carlo. With an unmatched lineage that reaches back three decades, we look for Chevrolet to maintain its successful domination in NASCAR Winston Cup racing.

"The development of this new model was facilitated by a talented group of owners, drivers, and teams; and we are very appreciative of the time and energy they put into this project. Everyone really worked together which made it a smooth process."

Comments by Doug Duchardt, GM Racing's Oval Track Group Manager: "Joe Gibbs Racing was a big help to us on this project and we learned a lot from their experience in building the 2003 Grand Prix. I'm really pleased about the way NASCAR worked with us to expedite the development and submission process. They also understood our goal of designing a Monte Carlo that maintained its brand character."

Comments by Terry Laise, GM Racing's Chassis & Aero Development Manager: "We didn't begin the '03 Monte Carlo project until last March. But we were able to use the lessons and technology applied to the development of the 2003 Grand Prix in creating a new and distinct Chevrolet Monte Carlo. For example, the nose, the front fascia, and the rear deck lid are definitely Monte Carlo. We had also broken ground with a new GM aero package, which enabled us to develop both the Pontiac and Monte Carlo iterations.

"The most important part of the development was to meet NASCAR's aero criteria, retain the lines and style of the Monte Carlo, and make it through the approval process within NASCAR's timing deadline. We were able to do it all."