Preseason testing opens at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- More than 20 Winston Cup Series race teams are expected to open the first of two pre-season test sessions Tuesday at Daytona International Speedway, as NASCAR Preseason Thunder begins.

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The three-day test, with a fourth day set aside in case of bad weather, runs daily on the 2.5-mile high-banked trioval from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

The first session is basically set up to include Winston Cup teams that finished in the odd positions in the owner standings in 2002.

Teams planning to attend include those of Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Rusty Wallace, Jeff Burton, winner Michael Waltrip and Stewart's teammate Bobby Labonte.

Teams that finished in the even positions in the owner standings are scheduled to test next week, Jan. 14-16, including those of Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Sterling Marlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bill Elliott and Ward Burton.

	Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace: A switch to Dodge for 2003 Credit: Autostock

The sessions are always considered critical in terms of preparation for the Feb. 16 Daytona 500.

But in light of new Winston Cup regulations for fuel cells, body templates and body locations -- in conjunction with a decrease in available test dates at Winston Cup tracks, from seven to five for teams fielding veteran drivers -- these sessions are seen as even more important this season.

"It is extremely important, especially with the standardized body location now in place," 1990 Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope said. "There have been obvious front and rear changes, and overall changes as well.

"That changes a lot for everyone. Testing at Daytona has now become a matter of going out and finding the balance in the car. Other teams who have been able to find that balance in the wind tunnel are going to have to start all over again (because) the rule changes change the attitude of the car."

"The tests at Daytona are always critical because a lot of times they set the tone for the entire year," Kyle Petty said. "You realize weaknesses in your package early on -- no matter if it is personnel, aero, your drivers or engines.

"So in that respect, I don't think this year is any more critical than any other. But I do like the way they now have all the manufacturers coming to test with each other because that gives us a better baseline on where everyone's at -- typical Daytona."

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"With the standardized (body) location, there are minimal amounts with what you can do," Cope said. "Balance is going to be really important and an area everyone will be working on. I think, too, guys will be looking underneath the car as much as they car, seeing what they can do there."

Cope's Quest Motor Racing team is one of several outfits that will be dealing with a manufacturer switch in addition to the general rules adjustments.

Quest switched from Fords to Chevrolets and Ricky Craven's PPI Motorsports switched from Fords to Pontiacs. Stewart and Labonte's Joe Gibbs Racing teams switched from Pontiac to Chevrolet.

Morgan-McClure Motorsports went the opposite direction, moving from Chevrolets to Pontiacs. Penske Racing dropped a long-term relationship with Ford to change to Dodges.

The Chevrolet and Pontiac are completely new models for 2003, while the Ford has a new nose and tail and Dodges must make the same adjustments as everyone else to the common nose kickout, spoiler package and body location.

"I think testing for any of our races is important, but with some of the rule changes for 2003 and us having a new Pontiac it's going to be even more important," Benson said. "I'm kind of excited to get back in a race car. The break was relaxing and the holidays are always fun but this is about the time you start thinking about racing."

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Testing is also a chance to break in new personnel -- everyone from drivers to team engineers. At the first test, Ganassi Racing will have two drivers working with their new crew chiefs for the first time in the new year, namely Jamie McMurray with Donnie Wingo and Casey Mears with Jimmy Elledge.

On the driver front, MB2 Motorsports will break in Jerry Nadeau, whose 2002 season ended on the injured list after a karting accident and BAM Racing will start its new season with Ken Schrader. Foyt's son Larry Foyt may do his first Daytona Winston Cup test as he anticipates a possible rookie of the year bid.

Roy McCauley, formerly lead engineer for Craven's PPI Fords, is on the Penske Racing roster to work with Wallace, crew chief Bill Wilburn and chassis specialist Jeff Thousand.

Elliott Sadler (Raymond Fox III), who starts his first season with Robert Yates Racing; Labonte (Michael McSwain); and Dave Blaney (Robert Barker) are also working with new crew chiefs.

At least at this test, teams will also be taking a hard look at the race track. During an ARCA test in December, a fuel spill in Turn 2 caused some concern about the track's surface, with some minor "pebbling" occurring when bits of the track pulled up in that test and during last weekend's Grand American Road Racing Association test for the Rolex 24 sports car race.

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The weather forecast for this week is for mostly clear skies with temperatures ranging from the high 30s at night into the mid-60s in the daytime.

"I think the ARCA cars were a better test than these (sports cars) were," Petty said. "These cars are so light -- you can run through gravel with them and it really doesn't make a big difference.

"When you look at the big issue this week's test will have a large bearing on it. As long as the weather stays this way it's gonna be good but if it starts getting hot they might have to do something.

"It's down low enough it will only be an issue for qualifying and maybe you'll drop down under somebody to pass 'em when they're running two-wide -- so you don't want it to come apart by any stretch, but it looks like they did a good job."

Track staff has continued to treat the surface with limestone to soak the fuel residue out of it and after the sports car test the dark fuel stain and traces of limestone were apparent.

"It's pretty smooth," Petty said. " I ran through there a couple times with these cars and they did a good job with it."

All NASCAR test sessions in Preseason Thunder are open to the public at no charge from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, with access through the DAYTONA USA lobby.