According to Winston Cup Director, John Darby many of the pieces that NASCAR uses to control the cars at DIS will be just as they were when the tour last ran a restrictor plate race, which was October at Talladega Superspeedway. The cars will run a 7/8-inch plate as well as the smaller fuel cell, according to Darby. The restrictor plate, used to slow the cars from what might well be a 230 mph lap, if the cars ran open motors, should hold the DIS laps to about 185 mph. Atlanta, Texas, Michigan and California tracks will all boast pole speeds quite a bit quicker than the pole speed for the 2003 Daytona 500. The fuel cells once again will be in the 12-gallon neighborhood, versus the 22 gallons allowed at open motor tracks. The smaller cells, which led to pit stops during the close of Octobers EA Sports 500, will be used, again. This will give NASCAR more information for possible future changes in the size of the fuel cans for the next plate race. Speaking about the fuel cells Darby told TFR, Daytonas a little different track length. We had an idea [with the smaller fuel cells] and only ran it one race. Wed like to watch it more than that [before we do anything with the cells]. ( Ford Racing )(1-12-2003)
