I was at the F1 Grand Prix in Indianapolis this weekend, and was sitting in the Worldcom Sweet, when out of nowhere I heard something going around the track that sounded like a freaking stock car. "What was that I thought", and I go outside and about a minute and 45 seconds later, I see and hear the new AMG SL55 safety car going about 160 down the front straightaway. To put it in perspective, the car was LOUDER than the Porsche Supercup Cars and Ferrari Challenge Cars. IT was a silver car with about 14.5 inch brakes and 19 inch wheels. Well, I later went on the Pit Walkabout and Got to see the car first hand. They had 2, onw with the top up, and the other with the top down. They had full racing seats and seatbelts, paddle shift, and a roll cage. On the Side of the car, next to the "M3-like" gill slits, it said "V8 Kompressor" My uncle got to talk to Burt Maylander, who is the Saftey Car dirver and his friend, and he said that without ESP, the car was uncontrollable. Yet, this was not the regular SL55, for it had been lightenedd up and boosted up. He estimated that this car had upwards of 500 hp, and the exhaust was an unreleased, unobtainable AMG race exhaust. This was the most beautiful car I had ever seen. Just thought Id tell you to watch F1 on Speedvision or something and try to get a glance of this car because you will not believe your eyes. Not to mention that parked next to it was the C32 Estate with also an unbelievable engine note, but when they both left the pits one after another, the sl55 made the c32 look like it was in reverse. Well, ask me anything if you want to know it!!
Harris

Its great someone on the board got to go to the F1 race, and its great McLaren-Mercedes had 2 of its drivers on the winners podium. Im really intrugied by the exhaust note of the SL55 now that you have said how nice it sounds. Imagine if they had the option for that exhaust on the production SL55. I don't get Speedvision, but I saw the last part of the race on ABC. I didn't get to see the SL55, anyone catch a glimpse? Did you take any pictures?

i didnt have a camera, but I believe my uncle did so if he does get a picture, I will post it. There is no way that that exhaust will be an option on the car. It was AS LOUD as a stock car. When it lead the F1 cars on the reconaissance lap, I could still hear it. Normally, the F1 car would drown out the safety car like last year's CL55, but the Sl could still be heard. BTW, the thing had 4 massive pipes coming out of the back.

I can't remember when I saw the SL55 in an F1 race for the first time (on TV)..
but the camera was lookina t it from a distance.. i could only see the car from the front.
it looked so much likee the CL55.. but i was like.. "No way... "
then yeah.. as the camera swerved.. it was the SL55..
what a car!

I remember when Schumacher's Ferrari died off, I can't remember where it was.. but he hitched a ride in the Mercedes

Quite surprised frankly that the SL55 is loud (the pace car..)

man.. that Benz could make a BMW M3 look like a toy!
maybe not speed/handling wise (i could be wrong..)
but the M3 doesn't look quite as awesome..
even the Z8 doesn't cut it.. but that's cuz im totally biased..
the only Benz I hate is the C Coupe.. and the BMW's i hate are...
the new 7 series... OMG... euww.. and the Z/M Coupe.. just doesn't make any sense...

anyway.. off topic :p

I wish I could go!!!
damn...

Just for you guys






and


FI Safety Car at Indy





Cardude
See you guys At Road Atlanta this weekend!

Thanks for the pic! The SL55 looks nicer and nicer everytime I see pics of it. The production car should have those rims in the picture instead of the DTM style rims. Holson, speed/handling wise, the new SL should be a great car to drive because they really evaluated the competition.

Damn, the car is gorgeous, definitely goes up there w/ the likes of Porsche..
in fact, i'd take the SL55 or even Sl500 over a Porsche 911 (996).. maybe not the Turbo though

As much as I like the 996 911 Turbo, I would still rather get a SL55.

I agree the AMG thin spoke Rims Pictured should be used on the production model. The planned DTM style just doesn't fit the new SL's style, looks a bit too busy. And those numerous bike like spokes would be a pain to clean.

I know u all want the real thing...but a company (AutoArt) will soon release a model (1/18th scale) of the F1 Safety Car along with a "normal" AMG version too.

I can keep people posted if you want. I collect a bunch of model in this scale.

Reny

PS It was very nice to see Mika and David on the podium...just like old times. Hope Mercedes can find the power for next year.

I drove my 16 valve to the race not expecting the karma flux to affect the race results, but there were Mika and David on the podium, and then there was me, driving home in the Benz sure everyone was longingly watching as I left them behind.
I saw the SL55 pace the historic F1 parade at Indy and could not believe that it walked away from some of the older cars. Around the banked turn on the speedway, you could see the car was oversteering just slightly, at 140mph. The driver worked that car over and made it look like a Sunday drive. The exhaust note I also heard before I even saw the car, and it did sound like an old Vette with sidepipes. No longer the bluehair chariot, now the fantasy car that the original 300SL was in the 50's.

Yeah, I agree with you there. There's something special to the SL55. It is the modern day 300SL .

What a waste of such a nice car...bolting an emergency light onto a brandnew SL55AMG .

greetingz,

__________________
1990 300SL-24
1993 C250D with a minor 600+k kilometer
www.MBenzNL.com(the Netherlands)