Chevrolet Volt Gets Approval From Race Car Drivers Andretti and Johnson

We're seeing an increasing number of gearheads getting into electric cars, and it's not really surprising.

With impressive performance, plenty of torque and by simply allowing us to drive more without incurring the expense of fossil fuels, there's a lot for even traditional car fans to like.

That includes racing drivers like Marco Andretti, who recently tried a Chevrolet Volt at the annual Woodward Dream Cruise.

Normally an event for the best the hot rod world has to offer, this year Volt drivers from Michigan and Northern Ohio were welcomed along to enjoy the drive in atypical silence.

The Detroit News managed to get IndyCar driver Andretti and a Volt together for a test of efficiency--rather than Andretti's preferred discipline, speed.

Despite admitting that he's not a good "fuel economydriver", Andretti managed to complete the 40-mile Dream Cruise route entirely on electric power--and the engine only cut in after another seven miles.

That range, as an increasing number of Volt drivers is finding out, is more than enough for their daily route, and many have spent very little time at all in gas stations. So far, 63 percent of Volt miles have been all-electric.

Andretti was certainly impressed, describing the Volt as "the future"--even in a racing environment.

NASCAR racer Jimmie Johnson checks out theChevrolet Volt

"This car's performance isn't measured by horsepower, but it is so smooth and has so much torque at the bottom that it really accelerates. I am looking forward to this in my racing future."

Andretti isn't the only racing driver to have checked out the Volt recently, either.

Team Chevy NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson has also been checking out the car. The five-time Cup Series champion was invited to the Detroit-Hamtramck facility to get a closer look at the Volt assembly line.

Johnson drove to the plant from the Dream Cruise in another Volt, though it may be some time before NASCAR itself goes down the electric route...

Source: Green Car Reports