A second round of NASCAR Winston Cup Series private testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway gets underway Monday, July 14 [and 15th]. Drivers scheduled to test are: #0-Jack Sprague, #01-Mike Wallace, #02-Hermie Sadler. #07-Ted Musgrave, #2-Rusty Wallace, #4-David Reutimann, #5-Terry Labonte, #7-Jimmy Spencer, #9-Bill Elliott, #10-Johnny Benson, #11-Brett Bodine, #21-Ricky Rudd, #30-Steve Park, #31-Robby Gordon , #37-Derrike Cope, #38-Elliott Sadler [15th/16th], #42-Jamie McMurray, #43-Christian Fittipaldi, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #49-Ken Schrader, #54-Todd Bodine, #57-Mike Skinner, #79-Billy Bigley Jr. #81-John Andretti and #88 Dale Jarrett [15th/16th]. NASCAR.com is reporting that the #88 team decided not to test and headed back to North Carolina.(7-11/14-2003) UPDATE – Fittipaldi wrecks: #43-Christian Fittipaldi’s car crashed today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during testing for next month’s Brickyard 400. Fittipaldi hit the outside wall of turn 2 on the 2-1/2 mile oval, track officials said. He was taken to the track hospital for an examination, after which he was released and cleared to drive. The crash did extensive damage to the right side of Fittipaldi’s car. #54-Todd Bodine, fastest Monday, also crashed, but was not injured.( Indianapolis Star )(7-16-2003) UPDATE 2: #25-Joe Nemechek turned the fastest lap on an extra day of NASCAR Winston Cup Series testing July 16 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, circling the legendary 2.5-mile oval at 181.029mph. #2-Rusty Wallace was second fastest at 180.989, while Nemecheks Hendrick Motorsports teammate, #48-Jimmie Johnson was third at 180.157. Johnson remained fastest overall among the 38 drivers that have taken part in private test sessions at IMS on either July 8-9 or 14-16, after recording a lap of 182.028 on July 15. #20-Tony Stewarts track record, set during qualifying for the 2002 Brickyard 400, is 182.960. Persistent thundershowers and storms washed out all but 37 minutes of practice July 15th, so NASCAR granted teams another day of practice. Weather conditions today were sunny with light winds and a high temperature in the mid-80s more to the liking of teams and similar to what drivers will encounter when they return for the 10th Brickyard 400 on Aug. 1-3. The only accidents to take place during 2003 NASCAR testing at IMS occurred approximately 30 minutes apart in the morning. At 9:40am/et, Petty Enterprises driver Christian Fittipaldi was approaching the apex of Turn 2 when the #43 Cheerios Dodge veered right and made hard contact with the SAFER Barrier. Fittipaldi was unhurt, and despite the incident, he was pleased with the teams progress. We dont know exactly what happened, he said. Either something broke on the car or a tire blew as I was coming through the turn. Then suddenly, the car just went straight, just washed out from underneath me, and I hit the outside wall. I hadnt even (considered) that I hit the SAFER Barrier. It was still pretty hard. As long as it works, if you guys say, its safer, Ill take it. It was still pretty hard. Since we arrived the first day we only got better and better, today were running race runs with 15 lap tires on it, and it wasnt bad. Were just getting more and more competitive. We learned a good amount of stuff from the first day to today. Thirty minutes later, #54-Todd Bodine hit the SAFER Barrier in Turn 1. Blew a right front (tire), Bodine said. No warning, no nothing. Dont know if we ran over something, or what. Bodine said he believes the Speedways SAFER Barrier, the Speedways energy-absorbing barrier system that was installed in May 2002, saved him from injury. Hallelujah Tony George, thank you, Bodine said of Speedway President and CEO George. That hit should have hurt, and I dont even have a headache. Nothing. I feel like I just climbed out from practice. Thank you, Tony George, thats all I can say. #38-Elliott Sadler and the Robert Yates Racing team will test Thursday. Drivers scheduled to test next week include #99-Jeff Burton (July 21-22) and #12-Ryan Newman (July 22-23). Reserved-seat Race Day tickets for the Brickyard 400 remain available.( Brickyard 400 site ) The top five overall after five days of testing are: #48-Jimmie Johnson, 182.028 #81-John Andretti, 181.246 #0-Jack Sprague, 181.235 [no longer with the team, no word on who may drive – David Green?] #25-Joe Nemechek, 181.191 #2-Rusty Wallace, 180.989 See Wednesday’s speeds at Brickyard400.com – Wednesday Speeds See All speed [so far] at Brickyard400.com – July Speeds .(7-17-2003)
