pandr
01-23-2011, 01:42 PM
Was Daytona testing only an exception to NASCAR's ban?
By Jenna Fryer - The Associated Press
Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. There's a buzz at Daytona International Speedway, and it's more than the cars humming around the track.
A three-day testing session that concluded Saturday brought fans to the storied speedway a full month before season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 20. They were treated to autograph sessions, question-and-answer forums, and, of course, practice laps, from every driver in attendance.
For new track president Joie Chitwood, it was the perfect kickoff for what he hopes is a frantic month of ticket sales leading into NASCAR's biggest race of the season.
"We want testing all the time because it's the best promotional opportunity any track could have," Chitwood said Saturday. "Believe me, I'll be asking for it every year."
Chitwood shouldn't hold his breath.
NASCAR banned testing after the 2008 season at any sanctioned track as a cost-cutting measure for the race teams. Because the powerhouse organizations were outspending the little teams by millions of dollars on testing programs, NASCAR imagined a quick way to even out that financial disparity would be to put the brakes on testing.
The unintended consequence, though, was the lack of action the last two offseasons.
The four traditional professional sports leagues all have training camps and preseason competition to build some excitement leading into the start of their seasons.
NASCAR missed that the last two years with no Daytona testing. And this week's session was held only because the track was repaved for the first time in 30-something years after a pothole marred last year's Daytona 500.
NASCAR had to let tire supplier Goodyear test – that session drew 17 drivers in December – then opened the speedway this week for all teams to get a chance to turn laps on the new surface before they report for next month's racce.
NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton shook his head no when asked if testing could be reinstated, and said this week's session was just to prepare for racing on the new track surface.
Regardless of the reason, having cars on the track after its two-month offseason may have reignited interest for some fans at a time NASCAR is fighting to stop a slide in attendance and TV ratings.
There was healthy debate over NASCAR's consideration of a new points system, as both competitors and fans wait for chairman Brian France's announcement Wednesday on changes to the scoring and championship formats.
And since drivers have been on the new track surface, they've gotten a better sense of what the racing will be like next month.
"It's going to be an exciting Daytona 500 for sure," said three-time Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon.
"The drafting (is) a lot more like what you have in Talladega, but yet with the uniqueness that Daytona still brings to it. I think it's going to be very exciting, a lot of grip, a lot of three-wide racing."
Agendas differed over the three days, with teams working on specific items.
Few showed interest in the drafting sessions, and the occasional two-car hookup punctuated all of Friday and Saturday's first session. Kevin Harvick didn't think drafting practice was worth the risk of wrecking a race car.
"There's just hours upon hours put into these race cars," he said. "So when you tear one up, you're looking at putting yourself behind a month on one car to properly (rebuild) it."
c/p Thats Racin
By Jenna Fryer - The Associated Press
Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. There's a buzz at Daytona International Speedway, and it's more than the cars humming around the track.
A three-day testing session that concluded Saturday brought fans to the storied speedway a full month before season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 20. They were treated to autograph sessions, question-and-answer forums, and, of course, practice laps, from every driver in attendance.
For new track president Joie Chitwood, it was the perfect kickoff for what he hopes is a frantic month of ticket sales leading into NASCAR's biggest race of the season.
"We want testing all the time because it's the best promotional opportunity any track could have," Chitwood said Saturday. "Believe me, I'll be asking for it every year."
Chitwood shouldn't hold his breath.
NASCAR banned testing after the 2008 season at any sanctioned track as a cost-cutting measure for the race teams. Because the powerhouse organizations were outspending the little teams by millions of dollars on testing programs, NASCAR imagined a quick way to even out that financial disparity would be to put the brakes on testing.
The unintended consequence, though, was the lack of action the last two offseasons.
The four traditional professional sports leagues all have training camps and preseason competition to build some excitement leading into the start of their seasons.
NASCAR missed that the last two years with no Daytona testing. And this week's session was held only because the track was repaved for the first time in 30-something years after a pothole marred last year's Daytona 500.
NASCAR had to let tire supplier Goodyear test – that session drew 17 drivers in December – then opened the speedway this week for all teams to get a chance to turn laps on the new surface before they report for next month's racce.
NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton shook his head no when asked if testing could be reinstated, and said this week's session was just to prepare for racing on the new track surface.
Regardless of the reason, having cars on the track after its two-month offseason may have reignited interest for some fans at a time NASCAR is fighting to stop a slide in attendance and TV ratings.
There was healthy debate over NASCAR's consideration of a new points system, as both competitors and fans wait for chairman Brian France's announcement Wednesday on changes to the scoring and championship formats.
And since drivers have been on the new track surface, they've gotten a better sense of what the racing will be like next month.
"It's going to be an exciting Daytona 500 for sure," said three-time Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon.
"The drafting (is) a lot more like what you have in Talladega, but yet with the uniqueness that Daytona still brings to it. I think it's going to be very exciting, a lot of grip, a lot of three-wide racing."
Agendas differed over the three days, with teams working on specific items.
Few showed interest in the drafting sessions, and the occasional two-car hookup punctuated all of Friday and Saturday's first session. Kevin Harvick didn't think drafting practice was worth the risk of wrecking a race car.
"There's just hours upon hours put into these race cars," he said. "So when you tear one up, you're looking at putting yourself behind a month on one car to properly (rebuild) it."
c/p Thats Racin