The Acura Integra Type S Safety Car for this year’s Rolex 24 could potentially be seen from space.

      Jerry Perez

      Frequently underestimated, safety cars play an essential role in any racing event, be it Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, or, in this case, IMSA. These specialized vehicles are engineered to lead the pack at the race's beginning or during safety interruptions, but what matters more to the manufacturers that create them is their marketing potential.

      I’m not sure how much Acura invested in securing the Safety Car rights for this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona from IMSA or Daytona, but it will probably reap significant rewards when the gold-chrome-wrapped Integra Type S is broadcast to millions of viewers on television. Additionally, those flying over central Florida this weekend will likely get a glimpse, and perhaps even people in space might catch sight of it.

      Jerry Perez

      I’m being a bit hyperbolic, of course, but not excessively so. In photos, the Integra appears shiny and reflective, but in person, especially under sunlight, it positively radiates. I mean that literally, as even after sunset, when the safety car is deployed, it features glow-in-the-dark components on the roof, hood, and doors to assist fans at the venue and viewers at home in keeping track of it. You know, just in case the orange flashing lights aren’t already sufficient.

      While there are around a dozen automakers participating in IMSA, only a select few provide safety cars throughout the season. It’s typical to see a Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, a BMW XM, or a Porsche 911 Turbo leading the pack in various races—but those are rather standard. They are merely regular production vehicles with safety lights added, nothing more and nothing less. I applaud Acura for opting for something bold and attention-grabbing, even if it's not to everyone’s taste.

      Acura

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