Race teams testing at Texas Motor Speedway are usually in search of additional speed. Parity and equality took precedence over speed Thursday as the Crown Royal International Race of Champions machines took to Texas Motor Speedway for the first time in preparation for the April 2 inaugural event. Crown Royal IROC test drivers Dave Marcis, Jim and Jay Sauter wheeled a trio of the series machines around ÃÂÃÂThe Great American SpeedwayÃÂÃÂ seeking setups that will be used in the April 2 race. The identically prepared stock cars will be driven by 12 of the worldÃÂÃÂs leading drivers in the seriesÃÂÃÂ Texas debut. ÃÂÃÂSo far in the first day of testing, IÃÂÃÂm happy with the cars,ÃÂÃÂ said Marcis, a former NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series regular and long-time IROC tester. ÃÂÃÂI have been to Texas before, I like this race track, always did quite well here. Jim and Jay Sauter are both here working on the cars, our goal today is to change shocks, change springs and keep working on the chassis to where we are comfortable.ÃÂÃÂ Individual tickets to the Crown Royal IROC Series 100 will go on sale Monday, March 1 at the speedway ticket office, by calling (817) 215-8500, online at www.texasmotorspeedway.com and at Ticketmaster locations. A special advance purchase ticket price of $35 is being offered for the inaugural event. Also included in the eveningÃÂÃÂs racing will be a 100-mile race for the ROMCO Super Late Model Series. Season ticket holders will receive free tickets to the April 2 doubleheader. Season tickets for 2004 are still available and include frontstretch seating for six major races at Texas Motor Speedway including the April 4 Samsung/RadioShack 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event.(TMS PR), more info on IROC on my 2004 IROC page.(2-27-2004)
