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* 6 Millionth Taurus to pace field at AMS: A very special Ford Taurus is headed for NASCAR's NAPA 500 race this weekend.. It will take on the role of the pace car at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The car is the six millionth Taurus sold, built by employees at Ford Motor Company's Atlanta Assembly Plant (AAP) in Hapeville. At today's ceremony marking the sales milestone, James Padilla, Group vice president, Ford North America, drove the white pace car off the assembly line. NASCAR Ford Taurus Driver Dale Jarrett, riding in the front passenger's seat, accompanied him. Atlanta Assembly Plant Manager Patricia Reid and UAW Local 882 Building Chairman Mitch Smith also participated in the landmark event. Hundreds of AAP employees cheered during the "drive-off ceremony" at the end of the chassis line, knowing that the six millionth Taurus sold will not only go through its paces at a NASCAR event, but will also make a sprint for charity. The new pace car is being donated to the Georgia Juvenile Diabetes Foundation to raise money to find a cure for the disease. The foundation will sponsor a raffle among Atlanta Ford employees in conjunction with this year's Atlanta Walk to Cure Diabetes, scheduled for Saturday, October 26, 2002. On October 27, when the Taurus does laps at the NAPA 500, it will carry Ford President and Chief Operating Officer Nick Scheele, the Grand Marshall for the race.(Ford PR)(10-24-2002)