ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 22, 1997 TAG: 9701220051
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
If there is a time NASCAR Winston Cup drivers don't have fun behind the wheel of their stock cars, it is during testing at Daytona International Speedway.
``Especially with these setups we're running to try to gain on qualifying,'' Dale Earnhardt said Tuesday. ``We're bottoming out a lot and it's very awkward to drive and very precarious. I can't wait to get on race springs and race shocks and go racing.''
Instead, the teams unload and run a few laps for a baseline lap time. Then they begin testing any number of things, especially different shock absorbers and springs, in a determined effort to go a few tenths of a second quicker.
Earnhardt, for instance, said he's gone through 60 shock absorbers in the two three-day tests. He goes out, tests a set of shocks, returns to the garage, has a new set put on, goes back out, and so on.
``I'm bored to death out there,'' said Jeff Gordon. ``All I am is just a computer chip plugged in the driver's seat who happens to be pushing the pedals.''
Earnhardt and Gordon said they were happy to learn that General Motors racing officials had scheduled a special drafting session today from 1-4 p.m. But other drivers, especially those searching for speed, considered the session an intrusion.
``I've got other things to do besides drafting,'' said Kyle Petty, who was 23rd fastest. ``I'm going to run like I usually do.''
Said David Green: ``If I went out there now, I think they would either run over me, or if I was behind them, I couldn't catch up. That's how bad our car is. We're not trying to find a couple of tenths [of a second per lap], we're trying to find a full second.''
The primary reason for the drafting session was to allow GM racing officials to study the flow of air into the cowls, a group of slits in the hood located in front of the base of the windshield.
NASCAR has mandated a ``cold air box'' for every car in 1997. The box is actually a duct or passageway that connects the cowl openings directly to the carburetor. Previously, there was no direct passageway for the air flowing through the cowl openings to the carburetor.
``In the draft, the air pressure at the base of the windshield will be reduced compared to when a car is running alone, so the engine might potentially get less air. We wanted to look at that,'' said GM engineer Terry Laise.
After the drafting session, the teams went back to searching for individual speed. But they didn't find it, at least compared to Monday.
Sterling Marlin took the top spot with a late-afternoon lap of 187.793 mph, unseating Robby Gordon, who topped 188 mph on Monday. Gordon was second fastest at 187.746 mph, followed by Ken Schrader at 187.328 mph, Steve Grissom at 187.227 mph and Jeff Gordon at 187.180 mph. Earnhardt, who was sixth fastest Monday, tumbled to 20th at 184.373 mph.
John Andretti still has the fastest lap of the month. He reached 189.458 mph on Jan.15 in his Ford Thunderbird.
Among those watching the tests were a group of 26 Elon College (N.C.) students on a field trip for their ``Business of NASCAR'' class taught by Professor Janie Brown.
``We really try to help them understand what goes on besides the cars going around on the track,'' Brown said.
Today's third day of the GM test is the final session of January. The track reopens for Winston Cup practice on Friday, Feb. 7.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines KEYWORDS: AUTO RACINGby CNB