Daytona Testing Set for January 2003: NASCAR released today its 2003 testing schedule for the month of January at Daytona International Speedway for the Cup, BGN, CTS and Dash Series. The NASCAR Winston Cup and NASCAR Busch Series 2002 final car owner point standings will determine when teams will test at the 2.5 mile tri-oval. NASCAR Winston Cup car owners finishing in odd-numbered positions in the final standings will test on Jan. 7-9, with Jan. 10 reserved as a rain date. Those car owners finishing in the even-numbered positions will test on Jan. 14-16, with Jan. 17 the rain date. Car owners in the BGN finishing in an odd-numbered position will test Jan. 20-21 (rain date is Jan. 22) while owners who finish in an even-numbered spot will test Jan. 23-24 (rain date is Jan. 25). CTS teams will test Jan. 11-13. Testing for Dash Series teams will be Jan. 18-19.(NASCAR PR)
Oldfield Grandstand access is free and open to the public during testing with access through the lobby of DAYTONA USA.(DIS PR)(10-2-2002)
Winston Cup car owners finishing in even-numbered positions in the final standings will test on Jan. 14-16
with Jan. 17 the rain date, the scheduled teams:
2) #6-Mark Martin
4) #24-Jeff Gordon
6) #12-Ryan Newman
8) #40-Sterling Marlin
10) #88-Dale Jarrett
12) #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr
14) #9-Bill Elliott
16) #32-Ricky Craven
18) #30-Jeff Green
20) #31-Robby Gordon
22) #29-Kevin Harvick
24) #21-Ricky Rudd
26) #22-Ward Burton
28) #19-Jeremy Mayfield
30) #43-John Andretti (tested at the first session)
32) #23-Kenny Wallace
34) #25-Joe Nemechek
36) #54-Todd Bodine (was the #26)
38) #7-Jimmy Spencer
40) #11-Brett Bodine
42) #90-Donlavy Racing (not planning to test)
44) #09-Mike Wallace (tested at the 1st session)
46) #71-Marcis Racing
48) #66-Haas-Carter Motorsports
50) #33-Andy Petree Racing
52) #0-Jack Sprague (was the #60)
56) #27-Scott Wimmer
58) #92-Melling Racing (suspended operations)
60) #72-Kirk Shelmerdine
62) #57-Team CLR
64) #83-Kerry Earnhardt
70) #54-BH Motorsports (dissolved team)
72) #59-Bobby Gerhart
74) #54-Team Bristol
82) #84-Norm Benning
84) #50-Foyt Racing
(NOTE: not sure which new teams would test, and some of the teams listed may not test)
30) #43-John Andretti tested at the first session as #45-Kyle Petty had obligations to attend to, so he was allowed to switch with Andretti.
37) #14-Larry Foyt didn't test but will test in the 2nd session
NOTE - note sure why, but the #09 team tested at the first session even though they finished 2002 in an 'even' Owners Points position:
44) #09-Mike Wallace (tested at the 1st session)
Manufacturer Rules for the Daytona 500 in 2003: All Chevrolets, Pontiacs, Dodges and Fords will have the same 1.5-inch nose "kickout," or the extension of the front air dam below the bumper. All four makes, which have to mount their bodies on the same reference point, will also use the identical rear spoiler package -- 6.25 inches high by 57 inches wide at a 55-degree angle. Also downsized fuel cells, about 13.5 gallons (down from the standard 22-gallon cell used everywhere else) will be used at Daytona.(NASCAR.com)(1-7-2003)
Daytona Testing Session 2: Twenty -Six drivers are testing at Daytona Intl Speedway today, including #60-David Green, Chevrolet (5th Hendrick team - part time), #57-Jeff Fultz, Ford (Team CLR?), #16-Greg Biffle, Ford (was odd number in owners points, didn't test last week), #33-Christian Fittipaldi, Chevrolet (APR's 3nd team, getting track time I suppose)(1-14-2003)
Jan 14th, 2003 - Session 2 - Day One AM Speeds
Drivers/Teams usually test two cars, that is the reason for some teams having numbers ending in A, B, K, X, etc.
Daytona Testing/Session 2 - Day 1 - afternoon speeds: #33X-Christian Fittipaldi was the fastest of the day with a speed of 183.561. #12b-Ryan Newman was 2nd at 183.408, followed by #88A-Dale Jarrett at 183.083, #29-Kevin Harvick at 183.035 and #6A-Mark Martin at 183.027. Fastest Pontiac was #32B-Ricky Craven at 181.906 (15th of all cars in PM session).
Why was Fittipaldi testing again? NASCAR rules allow a driver to test with more than one team and even though the No. 33 didn't run many races last season, Petree has owner points for both the 55 and 33. Fittipaldi said testing both teams was a plan Petree brought up early last week. "I went out to eat with Andy the night before testing started and he said not to get frustrated if we didn't go quick," Fittipaldi said. The #55 team used one car last week and the #33 team brought two new cars this week.()(1-14-2003)
Drivers/Teams usually test two cars, that is the reason for some teams having numbers ending in A, B, K, X, etc.
