GM Executive Vice President Mark Reuss emerges unhurt from the pace car he wrecked at the Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle last weekend.

Racing fans have seen plenty of crashes on Detroit’s Belle Isle course for the Detroit Grand Prix throughout the years, but perhaps none like the one that delayed the start of this year’s race by 27 minutes: the pace car crashed on the starting lap.

That pace car, a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, was driven by GM Executive Vice President Mark Reuss.

Reuss, an experienced driver, was leading the 12-car field through the opening lap of the second race when he lost control of the car in Turn 2, spinning the cobalt blue ‘Vette nose first into the wall with enough force to spray pieces of the car across the track.

Race officials dispatched crews to remove debris and hustled up the backup pace car while sending the racers back to the pits, giving crews time to examine their own vehicles to make sure there were no pieces of debris embedded in tires or other issues.

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GM's Mark Reuss driving a Camaro ZL1 is an experienced racing driver.

“We are thankful that there were no serious injuries. Both the pace car driver and the series official were taken to the infield care center, where they were checked, cleared and released,” GM officials noted in a released statement.

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

An embarrassed Reuss, who was not injured during the crash, issued an apology later via Facebook.

“I want to thank you all for your well wishes today. I am ok. I have driven this course many many many times. I have paced this race in the wet, cold, hot, and calm. On Z06’s, 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, 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.”

While many may believe that driving the pace car is a fairly simple affair, the incident revealed it’s more taxing than most observers realize. In fact, Reuss may be a better driver than he realizes as he’s in a club with some pretty impressive members.

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GM's Reuss loses control of the ZR1 coming out of Turn 2 at the Detroit Grand Prix.

Arie Luyendyk and Johnny Rutherford has lost control of pace cars while behind the wheel. Luyendyk lost control in the rain at Toronto in 2014 while Rutherford wrecked in Texas in 1999.

“You know, that’s racing, right?” IndyCar driver Will Power Power said, according to the Indianapolis Star. “I’ve seen plenty of pace car crashes. Like I’ve seen plenty of people coming off in the wet and crash. It’s not abnormal.”

Power was sympathetic to Reuss’ plight.

“I felt really bad for whoever was in the pace car,” he told the Detroit News. “It’s very easy to do, and the traction control must have been turned off. Wasn’t really his fault.”

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The winner of the race, Ryan Hunter-Reay, offered his own insights. “That’s a testament to the Corvette and 750 horsepower. I’ve driven one before and you don’t want to jump on the gas. That’s a fast car. It’s something that can happen and the race hadn’t started, so no big deal.”