THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 23, 1994 TAG: 9412230669
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
The test car was a production-based Ford that had only about 250 horsepower. And the track was a flat Florida road course that was only slightly more than a mile long.
But what Ford officials saw Ernie Irvan do there last Friday convinced them that he's lost few, 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 stock-car 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 that ``he still has quite a gift and he still knows how to use it.''
Irvan ran at speeds of no higher than 120 mph in the test outside Naples, Fla., which used a Ford production-based car modified to study chassis dynamics. The driver flips a switch to give the car strong understeer or oversteer.
But Rivard told Estes that the only other driver he's ever seen drive the car like Irvan was former Formula One world champion Jackie Stewart.
Irvan, who could not be reached for comment Thursday, was said to be ``very underwhelmed with the whole process'' during the Dec. 16 test, according to Estes.
Last year, Lake Speed and car owner Bud Moore tested 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 in Naples for the test with Irvan and Dale Jarrett, who'll drive Yates' No. 28 car in 1995.
Irvan, who will be 36 on Jan. 13, has made no secret of his burning desire to return to racing following his near-fatal crash during practice at Michigan on Aug. 20.
Irvan suffered a skull fracture and serious brain and lung injuries. His most significant problem from the head trauma is double vision in his left eye.
But the vision is improving, Estes said, and Irvan removed his eye patch for the 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 to NASCAR through the new Supertruck series. But Yates team members were so impressed in Florida, they're thinking about his return to Winston Cup in 1996.
Another dividend of the test was that it was the first opportunity for Jarrett and Irvan to work together after driving the same car.
``On all fronts, it appears they work extremely well together,'' Estes said.
WALLACE'S BIG CHRISTMAS: Rusty Wallace on Thursday announced his big Christmas present from sponsor Miller Brewing Co. - 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 Parrott's sons, Todd Parrott, remains with the team, Wallace said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Ernie Irvan took off his eye patch before his Dec. 16 drive of a
production-based Ford.
by CNB