Almost fifty NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series cars teamed up for an open test today at Watkins Glen International in preparation for the SIRIUS Satellite Radio at The Glen and Zippo 200 events August 11-14th. Some of the driverss testing: #39-Scott Pruett (Tues. Only), #42-Jamie McMurray, #41-Casey Mears (Tues. Only), #19-Jeremy Mayfield, #5-Kyle Busch, #20-Tony Stewart, #36-Boris Said, #87-Chris Cook, #77-Travis Kvapil, #32-Ron Fellows, #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton (Tues. Only), #99-Carl Edwards (Tues. Only), #17-Matt Kenseth.
#29-Kevin Harvick shared his thoughts regarding the upcoming SIRIUS Satellite Radio at The Glen. “I think if you make a mistake in turn one you’re not going to lose a lap. So that’s a good change. The curbs are knocked down and now you can run over them and the car won’t jump around. I think the changes are for the good. Getting into the inner loop you’re going to be able to pass someone whether the curb is there or not.”
Ron Fellows, runner-up in last year’s SIRIUS Satellite Radio at The Glen, tested his #32 PPI Motorsports NEXTEL Cup car. Fellow’s, an experienced road racer, commented on the challenges of driving a Nextel Cup car at The Glen, “These cars require much more finesse and I really enjoy that part of racing. That is the part that you need to continue to work on. They go fast in a straight line but the tough part is to slow them down and get them through the corners, while still having a fast lap time. The more laps at a track like this the better you’re going to get.”
Unfortunately for some, the test didn’t go according to plan. Joe Nemecheck spun his Busch Series [#7] car twice in the morning session, while Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer, and Reed Sorenson all made contact with the barriers. Tomorrow will be the final day for the NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series testing. Scott Pruett, Casey Mears, Michael Waltrip, and Jeff Burton will be in action, joining those testing today for one last opportunity to setup their cars in preparation for to the SIRIUS Satellite Radio at The Glen and Zippo 200 weekend, August 11-14. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling 866-461-RACE or by visiting TheGlen.com.(8-2-2005)
