Watkins Glen testing UPDATE 2 speeds and Fellows looking for a ride for the Glen – Pruett in the #41 at the Glen, Spencer in the #42?: #48-Jimmie Johnson, #20-Tony Stewart, #15-Michael Waltrip, #12-Ryan Newman, #31-Robby Gordon(will not test due to injury 7-29-2002), #30-Jeff Green, #87-Ron Fellows and Joe Varde will get behind the wheel of the #74 BACE Motorsports Chevy are scheduled to attend a test session, in preparation for the August 11th Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen, at the 2.45-mile road course of Watkins Glen International on July 29-30. Fans that have purchased tickets for the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen weekend, August 8-11, will be admitted free of charge both days. Fans should present their Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen tickets at the gate to gain free admission or pick up a voucher at the ticket office if they have not received their event tickets. All other spectators can take in the action for only $10.00 each day at the gate. Gate 4 will be open from 8:00am – 4:30pm both days. Tickets for the 2002 season at Watkins Glen, including the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen, August 8-11, are still available.(Watkins Glen International PR)(7-16-2002) UPDATE: The NASCAR Winston Cup Series made their much-anticipated return to Watkins Glen International today in the first of two test days in preparation for the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen on August 11. Testing concludes tomorrow and is once again open to the public. The speeds: #20-Tony Stewart 120.033mph #?-Scott Pruett 120.000 #15-Michael Waltrip 119.626 #30-Jeff Green 119.561 #48-Jimmie Johnson 119.480 #17-Matt Kenseth 119.189 #62-Austin Cameron 117.600 #74-Joe Varde 117.584 #12-Ryan Newman 116.667 Two drivers originaly scheduled to test the historic road course were unable to participate for different reasons. #31-Robby Gordon was forced to cancel his test session due to the ankle injuries he sustained after a motocross incident in Pocono on Saturday. Ron Fellows was present at the test, but without a car. Fellows is still working on finding a ride for the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen [guess he won’t be in the #87 Nemco Chevy?]. Tickets for the 2002 season at Watkins Glen, including the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen, August 8-11, are still available. For tickets, camping, and additional information, please contact the Watkins Glen ticket office at 607-535-2481 or log on to the official Watkins Glen Web site at www.theglen.com.(Watkins Glen International PR)(7-29-2002) UPDATE 2 Pruett in the #41; Fellows looking for a ride: Three road course veterans, hoping their skills will give than an advantage against the series regulars in two weeks, were also on hand. Scott Pruett, with experience in Trans-Am and CART Champ cars, had the choice of two, gray-primered Chip Ganassi Racing cars at the test. Pruett, who has competed in Winston Cup, arrived at 10:00am/et after taking a red-eye flight from Vancouver, British Columbia, where he was a commentator for Speed Channel’s coverage of the CART Champ car race Sunday. At the Glen, he’ll pilot the #41 Dodge that Jimmy Spencer normally drives. Spencer will drive the #42 Dodge for Ganassi. “We’re here to get a few more points for the team,” said Pruett, who thinks he has a chance to finish in the top five. He was 11th last year. Joe Varde [#74] and Shane Lewis [no idea of # see info on my Drivers page], successful drivers here in road racing, handled a Winston Cup car for the first time on Monday. “We’ve got a lot of homework to do and, for me, it’s just getting used to a Winston Cup car,” said Lewis, who has a one-race deal with a new team. Noticeably absent was road course specialist Ron Fellows. The Canadian driver, who has had the most success of any nonregular NASCAR driver in recent years, was scheduled to test and compete in two weeks. Fellows was on hand, but his car wasn’t because of a lack of sponsorship. “It’s not going to happen,” said a disappointed Fellows. “Bully Hill was going to participate, as they have, but some of the associate deals haven’t come together. It’s more expensive now than it ever has been, so it’s tough. It’s a reality check.” Fellows nearly won the Glen’s Winston Cup race in 1999, finishing a close second to Jeff Gordon. “I was planning on being here, so I thought I’d come down and just have a look and see what’s going on and be ready if something comes together between now and next week,” said Fellows, who lives in Toronto.(Star Gazette and more at The Leader: Last call: Cup giants pull into The Glen and Wanted: Winston Cup ride)(7-30-2002) (7-29-2002)
