Smaller Fuel Tanks at Talladega? UPDATE 3: NASCAR officials are considering requiring smaller gas tanks for the season’ final restrictor-plate race, at Talladega Superspeedway in October. The idea is that, by requiring tanks with a capacity of 13 gallons instead of 22, additional pit stops will create greater space between the cars and reduce the likelihood of multi-car pileups.(Gaston Gazette)(7-29-2002) UPDATE: As expected, earlier this week a NASCAR bulletin informed teams that the teams would have to equip their cars with 13-gallon fuel tanks for the October race at Talladega Superspeedway. The tanks normally hold 22 gallons, and officials apparently think more pit stops they will seem to be happening constantly will allow the field to string itself out and lessen the potential for crashes. One question: Why not save the teams some expense and force them to put only one can of fuel, not two, in during stops?(Gaston Gazette)(8-1-2002) UPDATE 2:NASCAR said reports that it would require teams to switch from a 22-gallon gas tank to 13 gallons for the EA Sports Thunder 500 at the Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway were “not true.” Some teams felt the sanctioning body wanted more pit stops during the race to break up the huge pacts of traffic and avoid the 20-car pileups that have become all-too-familiar at the speedway.(Augusta Chroncile)(8-3-2002) UPDATE 3: NASCAR has not mandated any changes in fuel tank capacity for Winston Cup cars in the October race at Talladega, spokeswoman Danielle Frye said Saturday. No bulletins regarding such a change have been issued to Winston Cup teams, Frye said. She called such a change is an idea that was being discussed by NASCAR officials. The change, reducing the size of fuel tanks, would apparently help to keep the field more spread out by increasing the number of pit stops. It is hoped that the change would reduce the multicar accidents common in the closely packed racing at Talladega under NASCAR’s restrictor-plate rules.(ThatRacin.com)(8-3-2002)
