[:@]WTF ? are they on drugs ?[8D]
October 25,06 - NASCAR may be saying goodbye to the Monte Carlo. Although it has been the most successful car in Nextel Cup racing history, GM has apparently gotten approval from NASCAR to replace it. According to a report in the Charlotte Observer, NASCAR has given General Motors permission to drop the Monte Carlo SS, and replace it with the Impala SS. This despite the fact that the Monte Carlo has the most Cup wins of any model in history with 400. Sources told the Observer a Hendrick Motorsports built Impala SS by will be unveiled at the official announcement Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.The Impala actually won the Cup way back in 1960 and 1961, but the Monte Carlo took over the NASCAR duties for Chevy after its debut in 1969. The Monte didn't actually race until 1971, but it captured the pole for its first race at the 1971 World 600 at what is now Lowe's Motor Speedway. The new Impala SS will run in 16 Nextel Cup races next year, according to the Observer.

ESPN NEWS: The most successful car in Nextel Cup racing history is reportedly about to be history.

According to a report in the Charlotte Observer, NASCAR has given General Motors permission to phase out the Monte Carlo SS, which has the most Cup wins of any model with 400, and replace it with the Impala SS. Sources told the Observer an Impala SS built by Hendrick Motorsports will be unveiled at the official announcement Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The Impala SS will run in 16 races next season and will only be used in Cup competition, according to the Observer, because it will serve as Chevrolet's version of NASCAR's "car of tomorrow." In races not using the "car of tomorrow," teams will still run Monte Carlos.

The first Monte Carlo in Cup competition was on the pole for the 1971 World 600 at what is now Lowe's Motor Speedway. [X(]It's a Sad Day[X(]
Good Night `Space

 

thats pretty sad, but i bet it will still do good just look a little different

 

Update
Hendrick: Issue with COT is performance, not sales
Chevrolet phasing out Monte Carlo SS in favor of Impala SS for 2007
By David Newton, NASCAR.COM
October 25, 2006
04:11 PM EDT (20:11 GMT)


CHARLOTTE -- Nextel Cup owner Rick Hendrick is more concerned about performance than he is selling cars when it comes to the Car of Tomorrow.

Although he declined to comment on the new Impala SS that will replace the Monte Carlo SS in the 16 COT races next season, Hendrick isn't worried the COT's boxy shape, rear wing and front-end splitter will create a lack of identity for manufacturers and car dealers.

"What we put out there in the car now, there's nothing we deal with that is like that car," said Hendrick, who is one of the largest car dealers in the United States. "The Monte Carlo is a little closer to it [than the COT], but I don't see that being a problem.

"Put the stripes and lights on it and the nose and tail, and it'll be OK."

That doesn't suggest Hendrick is sold on the COT. In many ways he believes it's a "big mistake."

"If it stinks the show up NASCAR is not going to be too happy," said Hendrick, whose driver Jeff Gordon was critical of the car during testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway last week. "We've got some pretty good racing right now."

But Hendrick doesn't believe the COT will negatively impact sales for Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge or Toyota.

"We'll overcome that," he said.

Meanwhile, a prototype of the Impala COT built by Hendrick Motorsports will be unveiled this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, multiple sources said.

It is the first step in phasing out the Monte Carlo, which has won more races than any model car in Cup history. General Motors has opted to switch to the Impala SS because it has become a bigger volume seller at the dealerships.

The Monte Carlo SS will continue to be used in non-COT events and the Busch Series next season.

Dodge also is looking to switch from the Charger to the Avenger.


The Monte Carlo was introduced to NASCAR in 1971. From 1973 to 1979 the Monte Carlo produced four Cup manufacturer's championships.

Chevrolet won five consecutive manufacturer's championships from 1983-87 and 95 of 183 races before being replaced by the Lumina from 1989-94.

Monte Carlo was re-introduced to NASCAR in 1995 when Gordon began a string of three championships in four years. Chevrolet has won the last three manufacturer's championships, including last season when Tony Stewart won the Cup title.

The Monte Carlos SS has produced 20 of the 32 wins this season, including six of the last seven and 13 of the last 17. Seven of the top 10 drivers in points are in Monte Carlos
If anyone finds a pic, please post. What do you think of the changes ?
Whose's going to Win the Championship this year ?

 

According to most that I've read over the net lately, I thought that the 06-07 Monte *WAS* a 2-door Impala. (Or the Impala was a 4-door Monte, whatever.)[sm=dontgetit.gif]

 

Thats what I thought

 

2007 Chevy Impala NASCAR Car of Tomorrow
[IMG]local://upfiles/714/1F248DAE511B4FD087B491617D1FED9B.jpg[/IMG]
Chevrolet's Car of Tomorrow, the Chevy Impala SS is unveiled Friday, October 27, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia. After a decades-long hiatus from stock car racing, the Impala returns to the NASCAR circuit and will run 16 races on the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. The Impala SS will make its first run at Bristol in March, sharing the 2007 schedule with the current Monte Carlo SS. The Car of Tomorrow race car concept, to which all manufacturers must conform, is designed to produce safer and cheaper vehicles. The cars will be tunable for all the tracks on the Nextel Cup circuit, thereby eliminating the need for specialized cars for different race tracks.

Chevrolet's Car of Tomorrow, the Chevy Impala SS, will run 16 races on the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series it was announced Friday, October 27, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia. After a decades-long hiatus from stock car racing, the Impala returns as a result of NASCAR's decision to have manufacturers run two different cars in 2007. The Impala SS will make its first run at Bristol in March, sharing the 2007 schedule with the current Monte Carlo SS. The Car of Tomorrow race car concept, to which all manufacturers must conform, is designed to produce safer and cheaper vehicles. The cars will be tunable for all the tracks on the Nextel Cup circuit, thereby eliminating the need for specialized cars for different race tracks.
Chevrolet's Car of Tomorrow, the Chevy Impala SS takes center stage during its unveiling Friday, October 27, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia. After a decades-long hiatus from stock car racing, the Impala returns to the NASCAR circuit and will run 16 races on the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. The Impala SS will make its first run at Bristol in March, sharing the 2007 schedule with the current Monte Carlo SS. The Car of Tomorrow race car concept, to which all manufacturers must conform, is designed to produce safer and cheaper vehicles. The cars will be tunable for all the tracks on the Nextel Cup circuit, thereby eliminating the need for specialized cars for different race tracks.
Can you see the difference ? Peace `Space

[IMG]local://upfiles/714/1F248DAE511B4FD087B491617D1FED9B.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/714/84E9A59C33E14918953C2A6446369324.jpg[/IMG]

 

ugly ugly bad move but i guess with 07 being the last year of the monte they had to do somthing

 

Nascar states that they have to run a production vehicle for their nameplate. This seems to be regardless of what the vehicle actually looks like. Since the Monte and Grand Prix are discontinued at the end of December 2007 for the plant move, Chevy has to replace it with the Impala.

I'm confident the Monte will be resurrected in the next 10 years or so.... seems to be a GM tradition to revitalize a line.

 

I hear we will see the Impala SS only in the car of tomorrow races in 07. Then in 08 the whole schedule. [sm=crossbonesgif.gif]

 

I'm begining to hate NASCAR more and more. Now they only race 4-door sedans WTF!!! Bring back the good years of NASCAR - Winston Cup!!!