Black Boxes at Dover UPDATE: NASCAR is conducting its first test of accident-data recorders in cars racing this weekend at Dover Downs, Winston Cup Series director Gary Nelson said Friday. #92-Jimmie Johnson and #57-Jason Keller are running them in their BGN cars and #18-Bobby Labonte and #24-Jeff Gordon will drive with them in their Winston Cup cars. Nelson said NASCAR wants to know if the self-contained boxes, which will be powered by regular flashlight-style batteries, can withstand the heat generated inside Cup cars and whether they will be durable enough to hold up to a weekend’s schedule of practice, qualifying and a 400-mile race on Sunday. Nelson said NASCAR wants to have the recorders in all Winston Cup, Grand National and Truck series race vehicles by next February at Daytona(That’s Racin’) AND The boxes, which are powered by batteries, have been mounted near the drivers on the inside left frame. Winston Cup Director Gary Nelson said NASCAR is testing the recorders’ durability and their resistance to heat.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(9-22-2001) UPDATE: it’s been reported that seven(7) Cup cars had black boxes, some of difference versions, didn’t say which cars(9-25-2001) (9-24-2001)
