Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, December 23, 1994                   TAG: 9412230151
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

DRIVING TEST SHOWS IRVAN HASN'T LOST HIS TOUCH

But what Ford officials saw Ernie Irvan do there last Friday convinced them that he's lost little, if any, of his driving skills in the wake of his near-fatal practice crash at Michigan International Speedway in August.

``This wasn't like he went out at Daytona at 189 miles per hour,'' said Ford racing publicist Wayne Estes, ``but he showed he has excellent feel for handling a race car.''

Among the most impressed was Ford motorsports chief Dan Rivard, who told Estes that Irvan demonstrated ``he still has quite a gift and he still knows how to use it.''

Estes said Irvan, who could not be reached for comment Thursday, was ``very underwhelmed with the whole process'' during the Dec.16 test. Of course, running 120 mph on a twisty little road course outside Naples, Fla., is hardly comparable to running a Winston Cup car on a NASCAR track.

But Rivard told Estes that the only other driver he's ever seen drive the car like Irvan was former world champion Jackie Stewart.

The test used a Ford production-based car that has been modified to study chassis dynamics. The driver simply flips a switch to give the car serious understeering or oversteering.

Last year, Lake Speed and car owner Bud Moore tested with the vehicle and ``seemed to get a lot out of it,'' Estes said.

So it was made available to car owner Robert Yates, who had most of the team, along with Irvan and 1995 driver Dale Jarrett in Naples for the test.

Irvan, who will be 36 on Jan.13, has made no secret of his desire to return to racing following his near-fatal crash during practice at Michigan on Aug.20. He suffered a skull fracture and serious brain and lung injuries, but his most significant lingering problem is double vision in his left eye.

But the vision is improving, Estes said, and Irvan removed his eye patch for the road test.

``In the minds of the Ford engineers, Ernie showed he has excellent feel,'' Estes said. ``If he's lost anything, it didn't appear in the test.''

Irvan reportedly may try to make his return through the new NASCAR Supertruck series. But team members were so impressed in Florida, they're thinking about his return to Winston Cup racing in 1996.

The test was the first opportunity for Jarrett and Irvan to work together after driving the same car ``and on all fronts, it appears they work extremely well together,'' Estes said.

WALLACE'S BIG CHRISTMAS: Rusty Wallace announced his big Christmas present from sponsor Miller Brewing Company - a contract with his team through the year 2000 and a personal services contract for life.

``It's a great feeling to know that financially ... they're sponsoring my team through the year 2000 and me for the rest of my life,'' Wallace said during a teleconference.

Wallace also said that crew member Brad Parrott, son of former crew chief Buddy Parrott, requested and was given his release Thursday to work for his father, who has joined the Diamond Ridge racing team and driver Steve Grissom. Another of Buddy's sons, Todd Parrott, remains with the team.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING