---
title: "GM Executive Mark Reuss Issues Apology for Crashing Chevy Corvette ZR1"
description: "The 755-horsepower Corvette rocketed towards the wall after losing traction coming out of Turn 2."
date: "2018-06-04"
modified: "2018-06-05"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21316/gm-executive-mark-reuss-issues-apology-for-crashing-chevy-corvette-zr1"
categories:
  - "Chevrolet News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "2019 Corvette ZR1"
  - "Belle Isle"
  - "Car Crash"
  - "Chevrolet"
  - "Corvette"
  - "Coupe"
  - "Crash"
  - "Detroit Grand Prix"
  - "General Motors"
  - "indycar"
  - "Indycar Series"
  - "sports car"
  - "Supercar"
---

# GM Executive Mark Reuss Issues Apology for Crashing Chevy Corvette ZR1

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/06/gettyimages-904625318.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Mark Reuss, General Motors executive vice president of global product development, has issued an official apology for [crashing the Corvette ZR1 pace car](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21283/chevy-corvette-zr1-bites-gm-exec-at-detroit-indycar-race>) at this weekend's Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.

The crash, which severely damaged the Corvette and triggered the sports car's airbags, happened while Reuss was making his way through the tricky [Turn 1-2 sector](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21306/indycars-ryan-hunter-reay-soaks-in-the-glory-of-his-dominant-detroit-victory>) following the temporary course's main straightaway. The Belle Isle circuit, which is known for its irregular surfaces and violent bumps, certainly played a role in the crash, but it was ultimately driver error that caused the incident. It's unclear whether it was IndyCar, Chevy, or both, who approved Reuss' driving of the pace car during the internationally televised sporting event.

First, it was General Motors that issued an official statement about the crash, naming variables like "weather" and "track conditions" as one of the many factors that contributed to the crash. Oddly enough, it was [dry and sunny when the accident happened](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21280/alexander-rossi-claims-pole-for-detroit-dual-ii-honda-sweeps-top-10>), and while heavy rain on Sunday morning washed away any rubber that had been worn into the circuit, the long skid marks on the ground point to the deactivation of the traction control system as the culprit.

https://youtube.com/embed/fyKODVVdpDY

"We are thankful that there were no serious injuries," said a GM spokesperson. "Both the pace car driver and the series official were taken to the infield care center, where they were checked, cleared, and released."

"It is unfortunate that this incident happened. Many factors contributed, including weather and track conditions. The car’s safety systems performed as expected."

Meanwhile, today's apology from Reuss himself was much more descriptive and heartfelt:

"I want to thank you all for your well wishes today. I am ok," Reuss wrote on [Facebook](<https://www.facebook.com/mark.reuss.10>). "I have driven this course many many many times. I have paced this race in the wet, cold, hot, and calm. On Z06s, Grand Sports, and other things. It is never a casual thing for me, but an honor to be asked."

"Today I let down my friends, my family, [Indycar](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21292/imsa-detroit-cadillac-wins-while-acura-shines-in-prototype-and-gtd-categories>), our city and my company. Sorry does not describe it. I want to thank our engineers for providing me the safety I know is the best in the world."

Reuss and his ride-along passenger, an IndyCar official, were both cleared from medical control and did not suffer any injuries as a result of the crash.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)