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Daytona Testing Sessions Could Prove Critical To Success

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By TONY FABRIZIO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 6, 2008

NASCAR drivers loathe preseason testing, and even some crew chiefs question the value of turning a lot of practice laps at Daytona in January.

But it would be hard for anyone to argue that this year's preseason testing, which starts Monday at the 2.5-mile speedway, isn't more worthwhile than usual.

With the Car of Tomorrow making its Daytona debut in the 50th-anniversary Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt Jr. moving to Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing switching to Toyota, testing will provide a time for acclimation and a gauge of progress.

Daytona testing for what's now called the Sprint Cup is split into two three-day sessions. Teams that ranked in the odd-numbered positions in the owners standings at midseason last year will test Monday through Wednesday, and teams from the even-numbered spots will test on the same days next week.

Among those scheduled to test this week are two-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, 2007 runner-up Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer and Zephyrhills' David Reutimann. Busch has moved to Joe Gibbs Racing and, along with new teammates Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin, will drive a Toyota for the first time.

Earnhardt, who will be driving a No. 88 car for the first time, and Stewart are not scheduled to test until next week. Stewart has sat out Daytona testing the last three years, allowing a substitute driver to run his car, but he'll participate in next week's session.

Also scheduled for the second week are defending 500 champion Kevin Harvick, Hamlin, Jeff Burton, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman and Juan Pablo Montoya.

If it seems that the 2007 season just ended, that's because it practically did. Johnson hoisted the championship trophy at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 18, and he was feted at the postseason awards ceremony only five weeks ago.

Time off for the people who build and prepare the cars was nil.

"A lot of people think when they wave the green flag at Homestead, we all leave and go to the beach," said Chad Knaus, Johnson's crew chief. "That's not what happens. We've been in here working five and six days a week and haven't really taken that much time off."

Testing is open to the public and admission to the Oldfield Grandstands (near the Daytona USA attraction) is free. "Fan fests" with driver forums, pit stop demonstrations, bands and car displays will take place in the infield "fan zone" on the Tuesdays of each session starting at 5 p.m. Admission is $15.

Sessions for the Craftsman Truck Series and Nationwide (formerly Busch) Series testing are Jan. 11-13 and Jan. 18-22.

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