TESTING News .... 2011

[DeeDee]

Teams, drivers lined up for Daytona test: The Goodyear tire test scheduled for next week at the repaved Daytona International Speedway is an important one for data gathering but not so important that all teams will attend to help the tire manufacturer confirm which tire would perform best for the Daytona 500. Plans for teams and drivers can still change before the Dec. 15-16 test on the new surface, but tentatively only four drivers from this year's Chase For The Sprint Cup- #24-Jeff Gordon #22-Kurt Busch, #31-Jeff Burton and #17-Matt Kenseth - say they plan on participating. Joe Gibbs Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports, Stewart-Haas Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Front Row Motorsports and Robby Gordon Motorsports are not planning on attending the test, which had been tentatively scheduled for Dec. 7-8. NASCAR will have an open test for all teams Jan. 20-22, and all teams are expected to attend that session. For some teams the test will be vital. Penske Racing drivers Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski will get their first chance to be on a restrictor-plate track with the new Dodge nose. All three 2010 winless Hendrick Motorsports drivers - #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and #5-Mark Martin will be there - to gather data and be with their new crew chiefs as well. Five-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson will not attend. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing will be there with #1-Jamie McMurray and #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, while Kenseth, and #6-David Ragan will represent Roush Fenway Racing. Burton and #27-Paul Menard will be there for Richard Childress Racing. Other drivers expected to attend are #47-Bobby Labonte (JTG Daugherty Racing), #83-Reed Sorenson (Red Bull Racing), #78-Regan Smith (Furniture Row Racing), #21-Trevor Bayne (Wood Brothers Racing), #13-Casey Mears (Germain Racing), #64-Todd Bodine (Gunselman Motorsports) and #92Brian Keselowski (K-Automotive Motorsports).(Scene Daily)(12-8-2010)~jayski

[DeeDee]

Some Day 1 testing news from Daytona: Statement From NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton About Goodyear Tire Test At Daytona International Speedway: "It was a very good day. The teams came well-prepared. Goodyear came well-prepared. The racetrack has a lot of grip. The surface is very smooth. It appears in drafting practice that they immediately went three-wide."(NASCAR)
AND Mark Martin awarded high marks to all parties after Day One of a Goodyear tire test at Daytona International Speedway today. Speaking to Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody, Martin said, "I think we ran six laps without even wearing the sticker off the left front tire. In fact, we could probably run the full 500 miles on the same set of tires. There will be zero tire issues during Speedweeks. The track is smooth, its fast and it's not wearing the tires at all. The grip is obscene, and I'm sure the guys from Goodyear are probably having a party tonight." Martin also offered his prediction for the upcoming Daytona 500, saying, "The race is going to be crazy. Everybody better start getting ready right now." Sources say speeds were in the neighborhood of 195 mph, with three-wide (and some four-wide) racing common. "we ran three-wide quite a bit," said Martin, "and toward the end, we got a little braver and tried four-wide. That's not going to work for very long before someone gets into the side of the guy next to him and causes a wreck." Only one major incident slowed the day's test, when David Ragan crashed his Roush-Fenway Racing UPS Ford. (Sirius Speedway)
IMAGES: see some images from Day 1 of testing by Motorsports Images and Archives on my December 2010 Daytona Testing page.(12-15-2010)
OOOOps!!! Poor David :(

Photos http://jayski.com/schemes/2011/daytona-testing-dec.htm

[DeeDee]

Teams, drivers lined up for Daytona test TODAY: The Goodyear tire test scheduled for next week at the repaved Daytona International Speedway is an important one for data gathering but not so important that all teams will attend to help the tire manufacturer confirm which tire would perform best for the Daytona 500. Plans for teams and drivers can still change before the Dec. 15-16 test on the new surface, but tentatively only four drivers from this year's Chase For The Sprint Cup- #24-Jeff Gordon #22-Kurt Busch, #31-Jeff Burton and #17-Matt Kenseth - say they plan on participating. Joe Gibbs Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports, Stewart-Haas Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Front Row Motorsports and Robby Gordon Motorsports are not planning on attending the test, which had been tentatively scheduled for Dec. 7-8. NASCAR will have an open test for all teams Jan. 20-22, and all teams are expected to attend that session. For some teams the test will be vital. Penske Racing drivers #22-Kurt Busch and #2-Brad Keselowski will get their first chance to be on a restrictor-plate track with the new Dodge nose. All three 2010 winless Hendrick Motorsports drivers - #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #24-Jeff Gordon and #5-Mark Martin will be there - to gather data and be with their new crew chiefs as well. Five-time defending Cup champion #48-Jimmie Johnson will not attend. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing will be there with #1-Jamie McMurray and #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, while Kenseth and #6-David Ragan will represent Roush Fenway Racing. Burton and #27-Paul Menard will be there for Richard Childress Racing. Other drivers expected to attend are #47-Bobby Labonte (JTG Daugherty Racing), #83-Reed Sorenson (Red Bull Racing), #78-Regan Smith (Furniture Row Racing), #21-Trevor Bayne (Wood Brothers Racing), #13-Casey Mears (Germain Racing), #64-Todd Bodine (Gunselman Motorsports) and #92-Brian Keselowski (K-Automotive Motorsports).(Scene Daily)(12-8-2010)
AND no word if any speeds will be reported but the Goodyear tire test will be open to the public with free access to the Oldfield Grandstands through the lobby of the Daytona International Speedway ticket office. And on Thursday at 12noon/et a press conference will be streamed live on daytonainternationalspeedway.com.(12-15-2010)

http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/~/media/60B75C9105A6449684473C74DD7F17E2.ashx

http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Fan-Info/Tire-Test.aspx

[DeeDee]

Next up - Daytona testing Jan. 20-22: The next on-track activity for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be January's three-day test at Daytona. The session, known as NASCAR Preseason Thunder, is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 20 through Saturday, Jan. 22. Sunday, Jan. 23 is the rain date. The 2011 edition of NASCAR Preseason Thunder will help teams further acclimate to the new pavement, plus speed their preparation for the 53rd Daytona 500 on Feb. 20. All NASCAR Preseason Thunder sessions begin at 9:00 am/et and end at 5:00 pm/et, weather permitting. Each includes a lunch break from noon until 1:00 pm/et. Fans seeking to rev up their new year can do so at the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest at Daytona  the companion event to the January test. Along with watching NASCAR Preseason Thunder track activity, fans can enjoy three Fan Fest sessions in Daytona's Sprint FANZONE  from 5-7 pm, and 7-9 pm, on Friday, Jan. 21 and from 5-7 pm, on Saturday, Jan. 22. Driver question-and-answer and autograph sessions are planned. Fans also can watch each day's testing at no cost, beginning at 9 am.(NASCAR)(12-16-2010)~jayski

[DeeDee]

Daytona Tire Test: Day 1

http://www.nascar.com/video/post-race/highlights/101216/cup-day-goodyear-test/index.html

Daytona Tire Test: Day 2

http://www.nascar.com/video/post-race/highlights/101216/cup-day-goodyear-test-day-two/index.html

[DeeDee]

Next up - Daytona testing Jan. 20-22: The next on-track activity for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be January’s three-day test at Daytona. The session, known as NASCAR Preseason Thunder, is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 20 through Saturday, Jan. 22. Sunday, Jan. 23 is the rain date. The 2011 edition of NASCAR Preseason Thunder will help teams further acclimate to the new pavement, plus speed their preparation for the 53rd Daytona 500 on Feb. 20. All NASCAR Preseason Thunder sessions begin at 9:00 am/et and end at 5:00 pm/et, weather permitting. Each includes a lunch break from noon until 1:00 pm/et. Fans seeking to rev up their new year can do so at the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest at Daytona – the companion event to the January test. Along with watching NASCAR Preseason Thunder track activity, fans can enjoy three Fan Fest sessions in Daytona’s Sprint FANZONE – from 5-7 pm, and 7-9 pm, on Friday, Jan. 21 and from 5-7 pm, on Saturday, Jan. 22. Driver question-and-answer and autograph sessions are planned. Fans also can watch each day’s testing at no cost, beginning at 9 am.(NASCAR)~jayski

[DeeDee]

Vickers testing in Orlando: Brian Vickers, who was forced to take a medical leave of absence from the Sprint Cup Series last spring, planned to make his first laps in one of his Red Bull Racing Team stock cars Monday at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, FL. Vickers posted on his Twitter feed, "Just got to Walt Disney World Speedway. Going to make the first laps of 2011 this afternoon -- Can't wait!" And just after 12:30 pm, apparently after making his first run, Vickers posted, "Damn that felt good. Everything fits just like I left it." Red Bull officials were not immediately available for comment about the test on the oddly-shaped one-mile oval that was used in the late 1990s for a couple Truck Series races, along with IndyCar Series events.(NASCAR.com)(1-10-2011)Good to hear that Brian is back behind the wheel.

[JiggaStyles09]

Good to hear that Brian is back behind the wheel.

+1 DeeDee

[DeeDee]

More teams test at Disney World: hearing that #29-Kevin Harvick and #00-David Reutimann also tested this week at the Walt Disney Speedway in Orlando, FL. #83-Brian Vickers tested there earlier this week. Also testing were the Camping World Truck Series #2, #3, #8, #33 & #88 teams.(1-15-2011)~jayski

[DeeDee]

More testing at Walt Disney Speedway UPDATE: last week more NASCAR teams tested at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, FL, including #18-Kyle Busch [Cup], Todd Bodine [Trucks] along with David Ragan, Brian Scott and Steve Wallace - unsure what series they were testing for. Supposedly there is more testing scheduled at the track this week.(2-1-2011)
UPDATE: testing at Walt Disney World Speedway on Tuesday were #31-Burton, #42-Montoya and #27-Menard.(2-2-2011)~jayski

[DeeDee]

Jeff Gordon testing at Pike Peak: Jeff Gordon traveled to Colorado on Friday to test his #24 Chervy at Pikes Peak International Raceway through today [Saturday]. Gordon arrived in Colorado early Friday morning before heading to the Pikes Peak track, just south of Colorado Springs in Fountain, CO. Gordon wants to test on a downforce track. Pikes Peak's low banking  the corners rise just 10 degrees  mimics the corners at Phoenix International Raceway. The Phoenix track  which has an 11-degree corner bank and is 1-mile long, like Pikes Peak  will host the Sprint Cup race that follows Daytona, on Feb. 27. Gordon and his team will be at the Pikes Peak raceway all day today. Testing is open to the general public, though admission is $10 (Denver Post)(2-5-2011)~jayski

[Jeni]

Ambrose to test at Disney World: The #9 Richard Petty Motorsports team are scheduled to spend Tuesday, February 15th testing at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, Florida.(RPM)(2-11-2011)

~ From Jayski's

Ok, I didn't see this posted here so I thought I'd go ahead and post this. Can't wait to see how Marcos will do in the 9 car this year :9:

[DeeDee]

No problem Jeni. I move it to the TESTING thread

[DeeDee]

Not Nascar related ... but I think it's fun to keep tabs on what some of the drivers do.

Kurt Busch tests at Gresham: Comedian, Ron White, and Sprint Cup driver, Kurt Busch, made a visit to Gresham Motorsports Park today. Both, the weather and the surprise guest made for an entertaining day at GMP. White pulled up in his customized, 1956 Corvette and moved over to the passenger's seat to let close friend, Busch, take the wheel and make laps around the track. Busch wasn't satisfied with just taking the car around the track; he had to test out the front straight away, and White's nerves, by spinning donuts down the front stretch. After winning the Budweiser Shootout, one of the Gatorade Duel qualifying races and finishing 5th in the Daytona 500, Busch returned to GMP to make laps on the half-mile track and make adjustments to his car.(Gresham PR)(2-23-2011)~jayski

[DeeDee]

Kurt Busch and his Steve Addington-led #22 Penske Racing team are among those teams testing for Goodyear at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next week (May 4-5) in preparation for the July 31 Brickyard 400. They will have their "PRS-750" and "PRS-738" Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Chargers on hand for the testing. "The '750' is a brand new car and the '738' is the car we raced at Phoenix," said crew chief Addington. "This is one of the most important tests of the season and we're happy that we'll be one of the teams there helping out our friends at Goodyear."(Tom Roberts PR (http://www.trpr.com/2011/Richmond/Richmond42011.html)). other teams scheduled to test: #21-Bayne (Ford), #27-Menard (Chevy), #42-Montoya (Chevy), #56-Truex Jr. (Toyota)(4-27-2011)

[DeeDee]

#42-Juan Pablo Montoya, #22-Kurt Busch, #16-Greg Biffle, #27-Paul Menard and #56-Martin Truex Jr. got a head start on preparations for the 2011 Brickyard 400 by participating in a Goodyear tire test May 3-4 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Menard said drivers and teams still gained plenty of important data and experience despite a high temperature of only 60, at least 20 degrees cooler than the probable Race Day temperature in July. "It was good," Menard said. "Goodyear is trying a bunch of different things, and we hit on a couple things that will hopefully make a great race even better come July. It's a nice, cool day, and we'll come back in July and it'll be really hot, so times will be a lot slower. You have to take that into account in what you do as a driver and kind of set up trends that we learn today and tomorrow that we'll apply for July, for sure."(IMS PR)(5-5-2011)

[DeeDee]

#21-Trevor Bayne will test drive this week in the hope he can return to racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bayne missed his third straight race weekend at Dover International Speedway. Bayne spent a week at the Mayo Clinic undergoing treatment for what doctors have called an inflammatory condition. He was released last week. Team owner Jack Roush said Saturday that Bayne's blurred vision is "by and large" gone. Bayne will drive test laps at Gresham Motorsports Park in Georgia. If Bayne feels comfortable, he could be cleared to return. Bayne could race in next week's All-Star race for the Wood Brothers, and return to his Nationwide ride in the May 22 event at Iowa.(Associated Press/ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/nationwide/news/story?id=6550163&campaign=link&source=JAYSKI))(5-15-2011)
Good. I hope all goes well. :D

[DeeDee]

there is an open Stock Car test at Virginia International Raceway scheduled for Tuesday, May 24th with many NASCAR Sprint Cup teams expected to test there in preparation for NASCAR's road race coming up at Infineon Raceway.(VIR (http://www.virnow.com/event/Stock-Car-Open-Test-Days-Pro-5-24-11--Regional-5-25-11--tentative---49))(5-15-2011)

[DeeDee]

#16-Greg Biffle, #29-Kevin Harvick, #2-Brad Keselowski, #38-Travis Kvapil, #20-Joey Logano, #5-Mark Martin and #00-David Reutimann are scheduled to test Goodyear tire compounds in preparation for Kentucky Speedway's July 9 "Quaker State 400" on Wednesday, June 1. Kentucky Speedway will become the first new venue on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule since 2001 when the inaugural 43-car "Quaker State 400" field takes the green flag at 7:30 p.m., July 9. Fans can reserve tickets, Fan Zone Pit Road passes, Fan Zone Prerace passes for a "Quaker State 400" race day concert with country music artist Clay Walker and Sprint Cup driver introductions in addition to Pit Road Club hospitality tickets online at kentuckyspeedway.com (http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com/), by phone at 888-652-7223 or by visiting the Kentucky Speedway offices.(5-28-2011)

[DeeDee]

#22-Kurt Busch and his Steve Addington-led "Double Deuce" team will be testing on several occasions during the month of June. Already on the schedule are test dates at the Virginia International Raceway road course on June 14 and at the Milwaukee Mile on June 20-21. "We're committed to getting back to where we need to be," said crew chief Addington. "If it takes testing every week, Kurt's all in for it and so is everyone on our Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Team."(Tom Roberts PR)(6-2-2011)

[DeeDee]

#16-Greg Biffle, #29-Kevin Harvick, #2-Brad Keselowski, #38-Travis Kvapil, #20-Joey Logano, #5-Mark Martin and #00-David Reutimann became acquainted with the race conditions at Kentucky Speedway Wednesday during a Goodyear tire test held just 36 days before the 107,000-seat venue makes its Sprint Cup Series debut with the July 9 "Quaker State 400." Biffle was pleased with his #16 3M Ford's setup off the hauler and the performance of the Goodyear tire compound. "We brought notes from Chicago, Kansas and basic mile-and-a-half racetracks, then, from what we did here before. We looked at all of that and picked out of a basket as to where to start. We hit it on the nailhead right out of the garage. We haven't made a lot of changes and we're running the same speed as all the guys. The track is taking rubber perfect. It's turning color and you can see the groove coming in. When we're through, you'll be able to stand in the grandstands and see the distinct black line around the racetrack where the cars are running," Biffle said. Joe Gibbs Racing's Logano, the only driver to reel off three consecutive NNS pole awards and 300-mile race victories at the track, also gave the tire compound solid reviews. "Goodyear brought one tire here, basically reassuring themselves that this is the tire they want. They've never had tire issues here before with the Nationwide Series, so I don't see this one being a problem. The tire isn't putting too much rubber down and I feel like it has decent grip."(Kentucky Speedway PR (http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com/newsline/news.aspx?newsID=1014))(6-2-2011)

[DeeDee]

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers #6-David Ragan, #00-David Reutimann and #66-Michael McDowell will take part in a test session at Infineon Raceway in preparation for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, June 24-26. The drivers will pilot late model stock cars during the test. The test is scheduled for Tuesday, June 14th.(Infineon Raceway)(6-13-2011)

[DeeDee]

Kurt Busch and his Steve Addington-led Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Team tested at the Milwaukee Mile Monday and Tuesday. "We've had this two-day test on the board for quite some time now," said crew chief Addington. "We'll be using it in an effort to be as strong as we can on the flat tracks coming up, especially in our preparation for Loudon (New Hampshire Motor Speedway). Kurt's had a lot of success on that track (three wins & 10 top-10s in 20 races) and we'll be looking to win when we get up there for the race next month."(Tom Roberts PR)(6-23-2011)

[DeeDee]

hearing that several drivers are testing Tuesday at Carolina Motorsports Park, including David Ragan and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in a Grand AM GT car, Alex Tagliani & Jacques Villeneuve in Penske Dodge Nationwide cars and Marcos Amborse in a Nationwide car.(8-9-2011)

[DeeDee]

Five drivers #2-Brad Keselowski, #6-David Ragan, #47-Bobby Labonte, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #31-Jeff Burton were strapped back in their racers by 10:00am/et Tuesday at Martinsville Speedway, less than 24 hours after finishing up a grueling race at Watkins Glen International in upstate New York. They were in town for a two-day Goodyear tire test, helping Goodyear improve its racing tires, and just as importantly to the drivers, perhaps gaining a little knowledge for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville on October 30. "It's not often you get to do any testing in this sport on tracks that mean anything and obviously Martinsville means a lot to our team," said Keselowski, who is still nursing a broken ankle from a crash a couple weeks ago. "It looks like there's a great potential for our team to be in the Chase, so anything we can bring back here in October is important." Early mornings are nothing new to these guys, even on the day after a long weekend at the track.
"A day like today is kind of normal for us. I'm up by 7:30 every Monday morning," said Ragan, who was involved in a brutal crash at Watkins Glen in Monday's rain-delayed race. "We have meetings every Monday morning at our race shop. The guys on the team are back at work at 6:30 every Monday morning. It's what we enjoy doing. I'm glad to be at the race track."
And the extra work this week could pay big dividends in October. "To get an opportunity to come to a race track where you have some data is a huge advantage," said Ragan. "We ran well here in the spring. We finished seventh. This fall is an important race for us and anything we can get out of this test will be big".
"You're lucky if you can hit on five or 10 percent of what you're trying to hit on and come back with it," said Keselowski. "It's hard to say how much it will help. We may do this whole test and not find a thing, but you got to try. I've had the good fortune to run three races here at the Cup level and feel like if I could grow just a little more could win one of these. Hopefully the extra seat time will help." The Goodyear tire test will continue Wednesday at Martinsville Speedway with the same drivers. The session is open to the public at no charge. Testing will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an hour break at noon. Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on Sunday, October 30, the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, October 29 and the NASCAR practice day on Friday, October 28 are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com (http://www.martinsvillespeedway.com/).(Martinsville Speedway)(8-17-2011)

[DeeDee]

For the second straight day, Martinsville Speedway was turned into a half-mile laboratory. #31-Jeff Burton and four other NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #6-David Ragan, #2-Brad Keselowski and #47-Bobby Labonte finished up a two-day tire test at Martinsville Speedway on Wednesday. The goal was to help Goodyear come up with a better racing compound for this fall's TUMS Fast Relief 500. "Goodyear is always trying to make tires better and they work hard at building different compounds, different rubbers, different constructions," said Burton who has 21 victories in 18 years of Sprint Cup racing. "They do a lot of lab testing, but really, this is the best place to test, at the race tracks. We've been picking out the tires we like and then we confirm what we like and don't like on long runs. So we've made a lot of 10 and 20-lap runs and a bunch of 75-lap runs to confirm what we like. That is our main objective to being here." With only one or two cars on the track at a time, and no real racing, tire testing seems like a monotonous exercise, but Burton says it is vital. Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on Sunday, October 30 are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com (http://www.martinsvillespeedway.com/).(Martinsville Speedway)(8-18-2011)

[DeeDee]

Goodyear officials will return to Bristol Motor Speedway next month to continue development of a race tire suitable for the 0.533-mile concrete track, but the move is not in response to concerns following Saturday night's Irwin Tools Night Race, according to Goodyear officials. The test, scheduled for Sept. 27-28, had been planned well in advance of the race, officials said. Teams expected to participate are Earnhardt Ganassi Racing (#1-Jamie McMurray), Richard Petty Motorsports (#9-Marcos Ambrose), Germain Racing (#13-Casey Mears) and Furniture Row Racing (#78-Regan Smith). The tire used in this year's night race was the same combination for left- and right-side tires that was used in the 2010 night race. In addition, the right-side tire code was run previously this season at Auto Club Speedway and Kansas in Cup events, as well as Nashville for Nationwide and truck series races. Goodyear brought a different tire to BMS for the track's spring races this year, but was forced to change during the race weekend due to wear issues and a lack of rubber build-up on the racing surface.(Scene Daily (http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/Goodyear_to_return_to_Bristol_for_September_tire_t est.html))(8-30-2011)

[DeeDee]

Goodyear is conducting a tire test Monday and Tuesday (August 29-30) on Phoenix International Raceway's new surface, with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers #48-Jimmie Johnson, #14-Tony Stewart, #99-Carl Edwards, #22-Kurt Busch and #18-Kyle Busch participating. The testing sessions will be closed to the general public.(PR)(8-29-2011)
UPDATE Goodyear concludes tire test Five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Johnson, Edwards, Stewart, Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch completed a two-day Goodyear tire test at Phoenix International Raceway on August 29-30. The tests ran from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day and provided NASCAR's official tire manufacturer with data and feedback on PIR's new racing surface following the August 12 completion of the track's first major paving project since 1990. The research gathered from the tests will assist Goodyear in selecting a tire for the Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at PIR on November 13. In February, Phoenix International Raceway announced details related to the 47-year old NASCAR facility's first major track pavement project since 1990. Construction began in March with the removal of the facility's former racing surface and the subsequent installation of a new race track. Monday and Tuesday's tests offered all five drivers their first runs on a new surface that included a series of changes implemented to promote side-by-side racing. One such change, the alteration of PIR's signature back-stretch dog-leg to include banking and elevation variances, improved what Kurt Busch referred to as the "fun factor" at PIR. Tickets for the Kobalt Tools 500 are available now and start at just $25. For Phoenix International Raceway tickets and information, call 866-408-RACE (7223) or visit PhoenixRaceway.com (http://phoenixraceway.com/).
Race fans eager to see the stars of NASCAR take on Phoenix International Raceway's newly repaved and reconfigured 1-mile oval will have their first opportunity to do so during a Sprint Cup Series testing session at PIR on Tuesday, October 4. More info at PhoenixRaceway.com (http://www.phoenixraceway.com/Articles/2011/08/NASCAR-Testing-Session.aspx).(PIR)(8-30-2011)

[DeeDee]

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has completed a two-day tire test at the freshly repaved and reconfigured Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz. Goodyear held its test this past Monday and Tuesday, in preparation for PIR's Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend scheduled for November 10-13. Five teams participated in the test, including the #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy with Tony Stewart, #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota with Kyle Busch, #22 Penske Racing Dodge with Kurt Busch, #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy with Jimmie Johnson and #99 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford with Carl Edwards. "First of all, thanks to all five teams and drivers for their commitment to the Phoenix test," said Greg Stucker, Goodyear's director of racing. "Being on track at 6:30 each morning and working though 110-plus-degree temperatures was not easy. Since we were the first cars on the new surface, getting a handle on the grip level of the asphalt and the configuration of the track was a struggle for awhile, but we accumulated a large number of laps and test data over the two days. We met with all five drivers and crew chiefs together to get their collective feedback. We've still got a lot of information to digest and discuss, but we feel confident we can determine a good combination for the pre-race testing in October, and the race in November." NASCAR has scheduled an open test for all Sprint Cup Series teams at PIR on October 4.
Next up on Goodyear's test schedule is the concrete half-mile of Bristol Motor Speedway on September 27-28. Teams and drivers scheduled to participate in that test are the #1 Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing Chevy with Jamie McMurray, #9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford with Marcos Ambrose, #13 Germain Racing Toyota with Casey Mears and #78 Furniture Row Racing Chevy with Regan Smith.(Goodyear)(8-31-2011)

[DeeDee]

NASCAR will hold fuel injection tests Oct. 18 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Oct. 20 at Talladega Superspeedway and Oct. 30 at Martinsville Speedway. Teams will be allowed to test fuel injection Oct. 4-5 at the open Phoenix test but with the other three tests already scheduled, they might not trek that far.(SceneDaily (http://www.scenedaily.com/blogs/bobpockrass/Roush-Fenway-Racing-running-out-of-time-to-find-sponsors-for-four-teams-in-2012.html))(9-8-2011)

[DeeDee]

NASCAR Preseason Thunder, the annual three-day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test session at Daytona International Speedway in advance of the prestigious season-opening 54th annual Daytona 500, will be held on Jan. 12-14. All NASCAR Preseason Thunder test sessions begin at 9 am and end at 5 pm, weather permitting. Each includes a lunch break from noon until 1 pm. Race fans can also rev up their new year at the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest the companion event to the January test sessions. Along with watching NASCAR Preseason Thunder track activity from the Sprint FANZONE, fans can enjoy two Fan Fest driver sessions from 5-9 p.m., on Thursday, Jan. 12 and from 5-7 p.m., on Friday, Jan. 13.
The schedule of driver question-and-answer and autograph sessions will be finalized closer to the event. Tickets for the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest, which include autograph session wristbands, will be available for purchase at a later date. For fans who would like to be contacted regarding NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest ticket information can sign up online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/thunder (http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/thunder). Fans can also watch each day's testing at no cost from a section of the Oldfield Grandstands. Information on tickets for both the NASCAR Preseason Thunder and the Roar Before The Rolex 24 will be available online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com (http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/) or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(9-29-2011)

[DeeDee]

#9-Marcos Ambrose was one of four NASCAR Sprint Cup regulars who participated in a tire test at Bristol Motor Speedway Tuesday. With swarms of creative Goodyear engineers taking notes, Ambrose and company experimented with a variety of tire compounds. "I think our objective here is to get a tire that works on the bottom of the track and on the top. That makes for a better race," said Ambrose, moments after his long and laborious session. #1-Jamie McMurray, #78-Regan Smith and #13-Casey Mears also took laps at BMS Tuesday. Tires were a major story at BMS last March, as numerous Sprint Cup and Nationwide teams experienced problems with a new right-side tire compound in the first practice session. Facing pressure and criticism, Goodyear officials responded the following morning by bringing in new tires which allowed drivers to go through the corners without having problems with tire wear. Tires were not an issue at BMS' August race, though some hardcore fans complained about the lack of action. Goodyear officials have worked overtime to find the most effective tire-combination since the Car of Tomorrow was introduced in 2007. There have some headaches along the way, but the racing has remained competitive for the most part. The tire test, which is closed to the public, concluded Wednesday.(Bristol Herald Courier (http://www2.tricities.com/sports/2011/sep/28/auto-racing-ambrose-others-test-tires-bms-ar-1341836/))(9-29-2011)

[DeeDee]

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has a two-day test session at Phoenix International Raceway scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 4-5. Teams will be on track from 10 am to 4 pm. In March, construction began on Phoenix's first track repave since 1990. This test provides the first opportunity for all teams to run on the new surface in preparation for Phoenix's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race on Nov. 13. Though Phoenix International Raceway remains one mile in length, changes to the banking and configuration have been implemented to promote side-by-side racing. As of today, 37 teams have entered for the test. In addition, three have opted to test fuel injection [no word which teams], as NASCAR and its teams continue to prepare for the introduction of fuel injection for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.
Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition, comments on the upcoming test at Phoenix: "The test at Phoenix will give teams the opportunity to gather data for everything they need for their chassis and simulation work in preparation for November's Chase race. Not only is Phoenix getting a repaved surface, there is a track configuration change to go along with it. The backstretch will now have a more defined dogleg and the bank angles have changed. It's almost like we'll be looking at a new race track."(NASCAR)(10-3-2011)

[yatesracing]

GOLLY, they forgot to list who will be testing for FORD/ROUSH

Testing will run from 10 AM to 4 PM PST (not televised) and will also feature a trio of drivers working on fuel injection testing for 2012. Aric Almirola for Hendrick Motorsports, Sam Hornish, Jr. for Penske Racing, and Mike Skinner for TRD are expected to roll out the next-generation equipment for development.

[TeamBlueOval]

That's because Ford I not testing fuel injection.

[yatesracing]

That's exactly where I was directing my SARCASM

(hoping this decision will not let us get behind AGAIN)

[JiggaStyles09]

Didn't Ricky test fuel injection at some point earlier this season?

[yatesracing]

in a cup car??????????

[TeamBlueOval]

Didn't Ricky test fuel injection at some point earlier this season?

Yes, he did.

[yatesracing]

again I ask, in a cup car or a MUSTANG

[TeamBlueOval]

Cup car

[DeeDee]

By Sporting News Wire Service
October 04, 2011 11:02 PM, EDT


AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Chances are that wider, smoother, slicker Phoenix International Raceway will have serious implications in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Fortunately for the Cup teams, they have two days to figure out the repaved, reconfigured one-mile track.

As part of a massive renovation project, Phoenix widened its frontstretch to 62 feet (an increase of 10 feet), moved the dogleg on the backstretch out 95 feet -- shifting the apex by approximately 200 feet -- and added graduated banking to the corners (though the difference from the bottom of the track to the top is only one degree).

To Regan Smith, it might as well be a different race track.

"The only place that seems familiar to me is Turn 3," Smith told Sporting News during a break in Tuesday's test session at PIR. "It seems kind of similar in the feeling and how it drives. When we first got here, it was a handful, but now that it's taking rubber, it's starting to turn into a normal race track again.

"I think by the time we race here [Nov. 13], it might not be two grooves, but it'll at least be a lane and a half, and we'll have a little wider area to work with."

Smith said the reconfiguration radically changed the entry points to the corners.

"It feels like you can run lower into [Turn] 1 than you used to, because your turn-in point is so much earlier," Smith said. "The whole dynamic of the angles that you run is a lot different now."

By the time the series gets to Phoenix this fall, the Cup championship will be on the line. The Kobalt Tools 500 is the penultimate race in the Chase.

David Reutimann, who is not in the Chase, doesn't believe the importance of the race in determining a champion should have delayed the repaving project, as some have suggested. The renovation began after the February race at PIR and was completed in August.

"I don't know," Reutimann said. "I mean, the track wanted to redesign. The sooner the better really is kind of how I look at it. We have to get laps on the race track, rubber on the race track and get used to it. I think the more laps we get on it, the better it'll be, but right now it's pretty scary.

"As far as the Chase guys go and determining a championship -- I guess we'll find out when we get here. We all have to race on the same race track, and no one has an advantage or disadvantage on a new race track. As long as we all know ahead of time what to expect, I don't have a problem with doing it now."

While most teams took the opportunity to try to dial in their cars for the November race, several cars came to the track equipped with electronic fuel injection -- a look ahead to 2012, when fuel injection is scheduled to replace carburetors on Sprint Cup cars.

Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition, said Tuesday at PIR that fuel injection is still on track to debut in the Daytona 500. The first test of the new system on a restrictor-plate superspeedway is scheduled for Oct. 20 at Talladega, three days before the Chase race there.

Testing at PIR resumes Wednesday morning.

[DeeDee]

Among the grocery list of items needed to repave a one-mile race track located just outside of Phoenix: 23,000 tons of asphalt, 7,000 cubic yards of concrete and 600 pounds of rebar. Combine all of that, and you have cars on the race track in Arizona, and the first opportunity for a full-scale NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test on the newly repaved Phoenix International Raceway.
Testing on the repaved and reconfigured one-mile Phoenix oval kicked off Tuesday, the first of a two-day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test session. This was the first opportunity for most teams to test the new track surface following the five-driver Goodyear tire test in late August.
"I think it is a really unique layout," said #31-Jeff Burton of the new track. "The exit of Turn 2 is very unique; very different; the back straightaway has a lot of banking and it's like falling into a hole; it's pretty cool and it is neat to do something different here." In February, the 47-year-old facility announced it would undergo its first major paving project since 1990. While protecting the integrity of the one-mile oval, changes were implemented to the banking and configuration to promote side-by-side racing.
"It's cool with the new banking," said #6-David Ragan. "There is a little bit more speed. Anytime you repave a race track you always have that 6-8 month period where the asphalt is wearing. It is curing and it is coming into its own. It gives us a hard time to figure it out, but the track will only get better with time. I think it is going to be a good race."
Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition, noted that the test session is an opportunity for teams to prepare for next month's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix. "This is a brand new facility," said Pemberton. "These teams will have to throw out their notebooks and start over. It takes time for these newly paved tracks and that's why we are here testing. The teams are experimenting with a lot of different options and that's what they need to do."
In addition to testing the new asphalt and configuration, three teams were also here testing Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) cars. Hendrick Motorsports, Penske Motorsports and Michael Waltrip Racing brought additional cars to test in preparation for the launch of EFI in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2012.(NASCAR)
AND The Richard Petty Motorsports machines posted Ford's quickest speeds of the day during today's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test session at Phoenix International Raceway. Marcos Ambrose, driver of the #9 Stanley Ford Fusion, posted the eighth quickest speed of the day and teammate AJ Allmendinger, pilot of the #43 Best Buy Ford, sat 11th on the charts at the conclusion of the first day of the two-day test. Thirty six Sprint Cup Series cars took to the track on Tuesday. Teams will have the opportunity to test at the newly reconfigured track again Wednesday (RPM). No speeds have been posted as far as known.(10-5-2011)

[yatesracing]

Any Roush Drivers testing at Phoenix besides Ragan?

[TeamBlueOval]

Any Roush Drivers testing at Phoenix besides Ragan?

Yes they are all there.

[yatesracing]

Thanks.............reason I ask, there hasn't been any mention of the Roush drivers but Ragan. The only thing that was mention was that the RPM were the fastest FORDs Marcos 8th & AJ 11th.

[DeeDee]

On-track preparations for the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend at Phoenix International Raceway are officially complete as teams concluded a two-day test session on Wednesday. This second day of testing hosted 35 teams on the newly repaved and reconfigured one-mile oval. There were a variety of reactions to the new track, but change seems to be the one constant that drivers have seen to the 47-year-old facility. "As we ran the track, it got a lot better with rubber," said #99-Carl Edwards. "As treacherous as this place was in the Goodyear tire test, as tough as it was to drive, it got better the whole day. I think we have a lot to look forward to once the track gets more rubber on it. To me it's going to be pretty amazing to be the penultimate race and have all those opportunities for something crazy to happen, it could shake everything up. I don't know how all those dynamics are going to work out. I think as we see the other series run, we'll learn where the problem spots are."
Crew chiefs have also had to adjust a little over the last two days and try a variety of set ups and strategy. "It's awesome," said Steve Addington, crew chief #22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge and driver Kurt Busch. "They've done an awesome job with the racetrack, plus they've done an awesome job on pit road. You look forward to picking a pit. All the pits should be good when we come back to race. I think that's going to be the action place. We were talking about it last night, about the double file restarts, getting through two. Getting into the dogleg is going to be exciting. During the test, everybody is giving. When you catch a car, they let you go. But when they start racing, it's going to be pretty interesting through there. That's going to open up another can of worms to see how all the action takes place back through there. Getting into it, positioning yourself, where you get a run on the guy, whether it's on the outside or inside of him, the give and take is going to be pretty interesting."
As teams took their last lap around the track and completed their final notes, the new Phoenix International Raceway certainly has teams and NASCAR ready for an exciting Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race come November. "Testing here has allowed the teams to really focus on their strategy and gather crucial data as they prepare for the upcoming race weekend," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. "This is a totally new race track and as with all newly repaved facilities, time is going to play a factor in how these cars compete. It will certainly be an exciting weekend in Phoenix for sure."(NASCAR)
SPEEDS #14-Stewart was the fastes on the 2nd day of testing with a speed of 137.762mph followed by #48-Johnson and #29-Harvick. The all time track qualifying record, run under the old track configuration was 137.279mph, set by #99-Carl Edwards this past February. See testing speeds on my 2011 Phoenix Testing page (http://jayski.com/stats/testing/testing2011phoenix.htm).(10-5-2011)

[DeeDee]

THE SPEEDS - Day 1 - October 4, 2011

Sprint Cup Testing at Phoenix International Raceway


Day 1 - October 4, 2011


Rank
Car#
Driver
Manu
Time
Speed
Lap Run


1
31
Jeff Burton
Chevy
134.590
26.748
125


2
39
Ryan Newman
Chevy
134.118
26.842
75


3
27
Paul Menard
Chevy
133.929
26.880
120


4
56
Martin Truex, Jr.
Toyota
133.854
26.895
86


5
5
Mark Martin
Chevy
133.814
26.903
86


6
78
Regan Smith
Chevy
133.605
26.945
77


7
29
Kevin Harvick
Chevy
133.581
26.950
101


8
9
Marcos Ambrose
Ford
133.581
26.950
78


9
33
Clint Bowyer
Chevy
133.561
26.954
122


10
48
Jimmie Johnson
Chevy
133.467
26.973
85


11
43
AJ Allmendinger
Ford
133.393
26.988
119


12
24
Jeff Gordon
Chevy
133.328
27.001
109


13
88
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Chevy
133.269
27.013
101


14
14
Tony Stewart
Chevy
133.259
27.015
70


15
18
Kyle Busch
Toyota
133.195
27.028
106


16
42
Juan Pablo Montoya
Chevy
133.121
27.043
57


17
4
Kasey Kahne
Toyota
133.082
27.051
137


18
00
David Reutimann
Toyota
132.959
27.076
66


19
22
Kurt Busch
Dodge
132.812
27.106
112


20
11
Denny Hamlin
Toyota
132.743
27.120
104


21
16
Greg Biffle
Ford
132.709
27.127
86


22
6
David Ragan
Ford
132.377
27.195
110


23
83
Brian Vickers
Toyota
132.358
27.199
131


24
20
Joey Logano
Toyota
132.358
27.199
115


25
99
Carl Edwards
Ford
132.324
27.206
62


26
2
Brad Keselowski
Dodge
132.227
27.226
113


27
47
Bobby Labonte
Toyota
132.207
27.230
86


28
51
Landon Cassill
Chevy
132.125
27.247
90


29
17
Matt Kenseth
Ford
131.979
27.277
91


30
1
Jamie McMurray
Chevy
131.970
27.279
69


31
35
Stephen Leicht
Chevy
131.830
27.308
105


32
13
Casey Mears
Toyota
131.593
27.357
70


33
*00
MWR EFI
Toyota
131.473
27.382
80


34
*24
HMS EFI
Chevy
130.900
27.502
118


35
*2
Penske EFI
Dodge
130.814
27.520
99


36
23
Scott Riggs
Ford
130.208
27.648
37



(NASCAR Media)

[DeeDee]

I think Jayski meant to say Day 2 October 5, 2011



Sprint Cup Testing at Phoenix International Raceway


Day 1 - October 4, 2011


Rank
Car#
Driver
Manu
Time
Speed
Lap Run


1
14
Tony Stewart
Chevy
137.762
26.132
99


2
48
Jimmie Johnson
Chevy
137.736
26.137
117


3
29
Kevin Harvick
Chevy
137.258
26.228
102


4
33
Austin Dillon
Chevy
137.044
26.269
116


5
43
A.J. Allmendinger
Ford
136.835
26.309
138


6
31
Jeff Burton
Chevy
136.747
26.326
120


7
42
Juan Pablo Montoya
Chevy
136.090
26.453
64


8
56
Martin Truex, Jr.
Toyota
135.598
26.549
136


9
27
Paul Menard
Chevy
135.506
26.567
115


10
17
Matt Kenseth
Ford
135.461
26.576
97


11
16
Greg Biffle
Ford
135.384
26.591
102


12
39
Ryan Newman
Chevy
135.333
26.601
81


13
9
Marcos Ambrose
Ford
135.039
26.659
110


14
22
Kurt Busch
Dodge
134.897
26.687
164


15
00
David Reutimann
Toyota
134.892
26.688
91


16
5
Mark Martin
Chevy
134.842
26.698
85


17
1
Jamie McMurray
Chevy
134.801
26.706
89


18
4
Kasey Kahne
Toyota
134.741
26.718
151


19
88
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Chevy
134.731
26.720
132


20
18
Kyle Busch
Toyota
134.640
26.738
113


21
11
Denny Hamlin
Toyota
134.574
26.751
98


22
47
Bobby Labonte
Toyota
134.489
26.768
110


23
78
Regan Smith
Chevy
134.389
26.788
117


24
24
Jeff Gordon
Chevy
134.363
26.793
100


25
6
David Ragan
Ford
134.273
26.811
171


26
20
Joey Logano
Toyota
134.148
26.836
115


27
13
Casey Mears
Toyota
134.078
26.850
80


28
99
Carl Edwards
Ford
133.829
26.900
118


29
51
Landon Cassill
Chevy
133.690
26.928
132


30
*24
HMS EFI
Chevy
133.650
26.936
175


31
83
Brian Vickers
Toyota
133.605
26.945
78


32
*00
MWR EFI
Toyota
133.215
27.024
129


33
2
Brad Keselowski
Dodge
133.111
27.045
40


34
23
Scott Riggs
Ford
132.100
27.252
30


35
35
Geoffrey Bodine
Chevy
125.545
28.675
4



(NASCAR Media)

[DeeDee]

NASCAR has three Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) tests scheduled this month for the Sprint Cup Series: Oct. 17 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Oct. 20 at Talladega Superspeedway and Oct. 31 at Martinsville Speedway. The tests are part of the continued development of the EFI Research and Development for the teams. Electronic Fuel Injection will be fully implemented in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning at Daytona International Speedway in February 2012.(NASCAR)(10-12-2011)

[DeeDee]

UPDATE: As of Thursday, 12 teams have entered for the Charlotte test on Monday. Those include teams from Hendrick Motorsports (4), Joe Gibbs Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, NEMCO Motorsports, Stewart-Haas Racing (2) and Richard Childress Racing. Teams will be on track from 9am - 3pm/et.(NASCAR)(10-13-2011)

[DeeDee]

Teams representing 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars turned upwards of 400 miles Monday during a test of Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Both NASCAR officials and drivers were optimistic about the continued development of the system. Plans call for the full implementation of EFI in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning with the 2012 season. Four Hendrick Motorsports teams, two Stewart-Haas Racing teams, one team from Richard Childress Racing, one team from Michael Waltrip Racing, one Earnhardt-Ganassi team, a team from Joe Gibbs Racing and one team from Roush-Fenway Racing participated in Monday's test session. The #6 Roush Fenway Ford, driven by Trevor Bayne, turned in the day's fastest lap with a speed of 189.793 mph. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. also tested the #6 Ford on Monday. Another NASCAR EFI test is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 20 at Talladega Superspeedway. The test is set to run from 10 am - 4 pm/ct.(NASCAR)(10-18-2011)

[DeeDee]

Electronic Fuel Injection Test at Talladega UPDATE: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will test Electronic Fuel Injection at Talladega Superspeedway as research and development continues leading up to the full implementation of EFI in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for the 2012 season. Testing is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 20. Teams will be on track from 10 am 4 pm/ct. Ten teams have entered for the test [as of Wed, Oct 19th]. Those include teams from Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Penske Racing, Roush Fenway Racing (2), Richard Childress Racing (2), Michael Waltrip Racing, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing.(NASCAR)(10-20-2011)

UPDATE: For the second time this week, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams tested Electronic Fuel Injection on track, as 10 cars whirled around the 2.66-mile high banks of Talladega Superspeedway Thursday. Ten cars turned laps, including two teams from Roush Fenway Racing and Richard Childress Racing, and one team each from Hendrick Motorsports, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Penske Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing. Teams also tested EFI last Monday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Plans call for the full implementation of EFI in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning with the 2012 season.
Teams opted to test with a 7/8" restrictor plate size, the same size plate openings used at last April's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Talladega. NASCAR increased the restrictor plate opening by 1/64" for this weekend's event, with teams preparing and practicing with a 57/64" size plate starting Friday.
"The test went really smooth," said #27-Paul Menard, the 2011 Brickyard 400 winner. "I had no issues at all with the motor. I think they have worked through the growing pains and we have a really good product right now. If we had to go racing with the Electronic Fuel Injection right now, we'd feel pretty comfortable with it."
Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition, says NASCAR continues to be pleased with the progress the teams have shown with the EFI. "It was important that we tested on a superspeedway and the teams will be able to use this data in preparation for Speedweeks in 2012," said Pemberton. "We have one more test scheduled at Martinsville (Oct. 31) and then we will be gearing up for Daytona in January. We're confident that with the partners we've selected, we will continue to have a level field of competition throughout the garage." Pemberton also said the teams experimented with a smaller spoiler over the last 30 minutes of the test session Thursday. "Some of the early feedback that we received was that it might have been a little harder to hook up in the draft and a little harder to back into the car behind you," said Pemberton. "We'll see what the information and data shows us."
Fuel injection is expected to positively impact the fuel mileage in the NASCAR Sprint Cup cars. To what extent, however, is something that will only be determined with continued R&D, says #20-Joey Logano. "That's a great question," said Logano, when asked how much of an increase in fuel mileage the cars might receive next season. "Once the teams figure out the fuel maps and begin to perfect the fuel injection system even more, I think we'll have a much better understanding of that." Trevor Bayne, the 2011 Daytona 500 winner, drove one of the Roush-Fenway cars today and posted the fastest lap of the session at 194.444 mph.(NASCAR)(10-20-2011)

[DeeDee]

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will test Electronic Fuel Injection at Martinsville Speedway as research and development continues leading up to the full implementation of EFI in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for the 2012 season. Cars will be on track Monday, October 31 from 10am - 4 pm/et. Currently nine teams have entered for the test. Those include teams from Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Penske Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Furniture Row Racing, NEMCO Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing (2).(NASCAR)(10-27-2011)

[DeeDee]

UPDATE: Joe Gibbs Racing is scheduled to have Denny Hamlin drive. Aric Almirola will drive for Hendrick Motorsports. Regan Smith will be in the Furniture Row Racing car. Kurt Busch will drive the Penske Racing car in the morning session and Sam Hornish will drive it in the afternoon. Jamie McMurray will drive the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing car. Also, AJ Allmendinger is scheduled to be in the Roush Fenway Racing car, Mike Skinner will drive for Michael Waltrip Racing, Joe Nemechek will be in the NEMCO Motorsports car, with Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman both driving for Stewart-Haas Racing.(Virginian-Pilot (http://www.roanoke.com/sports/racing/wb/300504))(10-31-2011)
UPDATE 2: For the third time this month, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams tested Electronic Fuel Injection on track, as 10 cars churned out laps around the .526-mile paper clip layout at Martinsville Speedway Monday. Teams from Roush Fenway Racing, Penske Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, NEMCO Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Furniture Row Racing, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing and two teams from Stewart-Hass Racing participated in Monday's session. This marked the third EFI test for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this month. Previously, teams had tested at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. Plans call for the full implementation of EFI in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning with the 2012 season. John Darby, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series director, said today's test "was just one more step in the planning process for EFI." "Since the time we first began testing EFI in July in Kentucky, I think the teams have been able to work through just about all the configurations of race tracks and the different extremes of weather that they will see in 2012," said Darby. "At Kentucky it was brutally hot and the teams were faced with the extreme heat and this morning it was 30 degrees here at Martinsville, so they've been able to test this system under a variety of conditions."(NASCAR)(10-31-2011)

[DeeDee]

NASCAR has scheduled an electronic fuel injection test at Daytona International Speedway in an effort to better prepare baseline packages for the January 12-14, 2012 Preseason Thunder testing at DIS. The test will be conducted on Tuesday, November 15 from 10:00am-5:00pm/et. Teams participating will be determined and released next week.(NASCAR)
AND: NASCAR has been looking for ways to break up the two-car tandem drafts that have become the norm at Daytona and Talladega, where the series requires the use of restrictor plates to limit speeds. Using a different restrictor plate, a smaller spoiler and a different cooling system are among the options being considered by NASCAR.(Scene Daily (http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/NASCAR_sets_Nov_15_Daytona_test_to_work_on_racing_ package_for_Daytona_500.html))(11-2-2011)

[yatesracing]

What do you think about this move? Which Mfg. has the best cooling system? Which Mfg will be effected the most? Which Mfg did the most complaining to Nascar? Don't you wonder who came up with this idea?
Oh that's right NASCAR ISN'T BIAS.

[speedfan]

What do you think about this move? Which Mfg. has the best cooling system? Which Mfg will be effected the most? Which Mfg did the most complaining to Nascar? Don't you wonder who came up with this idea?
Oh that's right NASCAR ISN'T BIAS.

It's definitely against Ford who had the best cooling system at Daytona last Feb.

I don't get why NASCAR wants to break up the 2 car tandems. This is an effort to stop them, but the ratings are up with the tandems, without them all we will get at Daytona is 200 laps of single file racing which is boring as all get out.

[yatesracing]

Speedfan, EXACTLY, you get the GOLDEN STAR.

BTW add to that a lot of far more serious crashes, Look at the History

[yatesracing]

Which Mfg did the most complaining to Nascar? Don't you wonder who came up with this idea?----CHEVY--HENDRICKS--and one of the biggest CRY BABY in Nascars JEFFIE POO

[DeeDee]

It's definitely against Ford who had the best cooling system at Daytona last Feb.

I don't get why NASCAR wants to break up the 2 car tandems. This is an effort to stop them, but the ratings are up with the tandems, without them all we will get at Daytona is 200 laps of single file racing which is boring as all get out. I totally agree!!!!!!!!

[DeeDee]

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams are scheduled to test at Daytona International Speedway in an effort to evaluate and prepare aerodynamic baseline packages for the January 12-14, 2012 Preseason Thunder Test at DIS. Testing is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 15th from 10 am - 5 pm/et. Teams scheduled to participate include: Hendrick Motorsports (two cars with drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Aric Almirola); Roush Fenway Racing (two cars with drivers David Ragan and Marcos Ambrose); Joe Gibbs Racing (one car with driver Joey Logano), Michael Waltrip Racing (one car with driver Martin Truex Jr.), and NEMCO Motorsports (one car with driver Joe Nemechek). A section of the Oldfield Grandstands will be open free to the public with access available through the lobby of the Daytona International Speedway (http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/) ticket office.(DIS)(11-11/15-2011)

[DeeDee]

Seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams turned laps at the high banks of Daytona International Speedway Tuesday, seeking the best baseline aerodynamic package for next January's Preseason Thunder Test at "The World Center of Racing."
Teams participating in Tuesday's test included Hendrick Motorsports (Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Aric Almirola); Roush Fenway Racing (David Ragan and Marcos Ambrose); Joe Gibbs Racing (Joey Logano); Michael Waltrip Racing (Martin Truex Jr.); and NEMCO Motorsports (Joe Nemechek).
After the track was dried following an early morning rain shower, teams first got on the track at 11:45 a.m. The initial restrictor plate size was 29/32 inch and the initial spoiler size was 4 ½ inches tall, 63 inches wide, which was the same spoiler size for last July's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona. By day's end, the size of the rear spoiler had been reduced to 3 inches tall by 62 inches wide. The smaller spoiler results in less down force and drag, but still allows the cars to maintain high speeds and remain under control.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (#88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevy), a 13-time race winner at Daytona, said Tuesday's test session was a "positive step in finding a solution to the drafting style at Daytona."
"I did not anticipate finding a magical solution here today, but we will be much better off and a lot smarter about things by having tested," said Earnhardt. "This is just part of the work that needs to get done. There are a lot of creative minds out here. We're learning what we need to know. I think we're all in agreement that we probably won't totally rid ourselves of the tandem racing, but I'm confident we can get to the point where it will not be the norm."
Martin Truex Jr. (#56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota), a two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and solid restrictor plate racer, said there was a lot of mixing and matching going on in the garage this afternoon. "We tried several different packages out there today and what we're trying to do is put an end to this two-car draft, or at least make it so we can only get together for a lap or two and have to switch or run in a pack," said Truex. "NASCAR is being smart about all of this and they are going through some steps to see if the changes that we're making will result in what they think they will be."
John Darby, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director, said that Tuesday's test should allow NASCAR the ability to formulate a solid baseline aerodynamic package that teams can work on heading into next January's three-day test session at DIS, Jan. 12-14. "One of our goals is to give the teams more options when it comes to how they draft and we believe we're headed in the right direction on that," said Darby. "We want to be able to reduce the difference in the speeds between the tandem style of racing and more of the pack style of racing and we made a lot of good progress on that here today."
Both Earnhardt and Truex agreed that the transition to Electronic Fuel Injection in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is right on track. The sport's premier series will implement EFI beginning at Daytona next season. "The computer guys like what they've seen so far with the EFI test and I'll tell you what, when I've tested the EFI car, it drives as well or better than the carburetor cars," said Earnhardt. "To be honest with you, if you didn't know it when you got into the car, you couldn't tell a difference," said Truex. "The only thing that's different is the way it starts. You don't have to pump the gas like a normal carburetor. You just flip the switch and crank it up like a street car."(NASCAR)(11-15-2011)

[DeeDee]

#87-Joe Nemechek, a driver/car owner, reached 203 mph without a drafting partner during Tuesday's test session at Daytona International Speedway. The day was supposed to belong to NASCAR as it tested various setups in an effort to break up the two-car tandem draft. But instead, Nemechek was the talk of the garage and what it might mean for qualifying if Tuesday's changes are implemented for the Feb. 26 Daytona 500. "We were changing the restrictor plates and all kinds of stuff," Nemechek said. "I mean, (the speed is) just the product of putting more horsepower to the back tires. I think we're going to be quite a bit faster when we come back here for qualifying day. It's going to be interesting. All the teams are going to have to do some more homework." Nemechek was testing with Triad Engine Development, a North Carolina-based company. "We were using a 1 1/16-inch plate and a 3-inch radius spoiler," Triad Racing Development head engine builder Jon Dysinger said. "This was better than we expected."(Daytona Beach News Journal (http://www.news-journalonline.com/racing/sprint-cup/2011/11/16/nemechek-reaches-203-mph-without-drafting-partner.html))(11-16-2011)

[DeeDee]

Brad Daugherty may be best known as a five-time NBA All-Star or for his work as an ESPN analyst for NASCAR's top touring divisions. However, his passion for racing runs deeper than just with his co-ownership of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team JTG Daugherty Racing. Taking a closer look at Daugherty's fervor for racing, he dabbles as a driver himself in the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) and other racing series. In preparation for competition in the NASA Southeast Region next season, he has decided to test a NASCAR Camping World Series truck at Martinsville Speedway on Wednesday. Daugherty plans to race in eight NASA Southeast Region events during the 2012 season. Daugherty already has the races circled on his calendar that he will compete in during the first half of the season before he returns to work as a TV analyst.(JTG Daugherty Racing)(11-28-2011)
:-o

[Dog]

There's cars big enough for him lol

He's a tall dude

[DeeDee]

according to wiki .... "Listed height 7 ft 0 in" ... yep that's tall

[DeeDee]

Brad Daugherty has watched lots of races at Martinsville Speedway, as a fan, car owner and TV analyst for ESPN. After last month's TUMS Fast Relief 500, he knew he had to turn some laps himself on the historic oval. And that's what he did most of Wednesday, run laps at Martinsville Speedway, in a race truck, specially modified to allow plenty of room for his 7-foot-1 frame. The former NBA All-Star recorded some pretty good times, too, clocking in laps of under 22 seconds, which is within shouting distance of the qualifying speed for a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Martinsville. "This is a great track. I think the biggest thing for Andy Petree (former Sprint Cup Series championship crew chief and fellow ESPN analyst) and I was the last race here," said Daugherty, explaining why he picked Martinsville to test. "I thought it (TUMS Fast Relief 500) was the best race we had all year, including the Homestead race, which was great & watching Carl and Tony battle. But that race we had here was just the best we had all season long. And when we left here, Andy was like, 'we got to bring our stuff back here and runs some laps.' This place is just cool." Petree, who has actually run a couple of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at Martinsville, was back behind the wheel in his own truck Wednesday, helping show Daugherty the ropes. Not that he needed a lot of help. He's been involved in racing since he was a teenager and driven in several different divisions over the years. "I've been racing a little here and there, at Hickory, at Myrtle Beach (speedways). Probably over the last eight or nine years, I've raced more and more," said Daugherty, a former All-American at the University of North Carolina. "I've raced for quite a while, but I've always just dabbled. I've never been able to do a lot because of basketball and the TV work I do." Daugherty plans on running much of the National Auto Sport Association Southeastern Regional schedule in a truck next season. That's the reason he built the truck he had at Martinsville, one with an interior designed for his size. "We took the oil cooler out from behind the seat and moved it up to the right front corner of the truck and moved the seat and cab back about 14 inches," said Daugherty, who will have to do a little offseason work on the truck after scrubbing the wall late in Wednesday's test. "It's the first time I've ever had this much room in anything I've raced."
Racing returns to Martinsville Speedway with the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on March 31 and the Goody's Fast Relief 500 on April 1. Tickets are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com (http://www.martinsvillespeedway.com/).(Martinsville Speedway)(12-3-2011)