Rusty Wallace is expecting trouble in Turn 4 early in Saturday night's race at Phoenix. Credit: Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Glaring differences of opinion on twilight start

Some drivers concerned about sight lines for Saturday's race

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Thursday's Nextel Cup final practice session at Phoenix International Raceway gave drivers a preview of what they might see, or not see, when the green flag flies for Saturday evening's Subway Fresh 500.

Nextel Cup drivers are used to going from daylight to darkness at places like Lowe's, Darlington and California, but the first Nextel Cup night race at Phoenix will pose new problems for at least the first hour of the 312-lap race, which starts at approximately 4:55 p.m. local time.

	Ryan Newman fights through the sun during Thursday night's practice at PIR. Credit: Autostock
	Lineup Subway Fresh 500 Pos. Driver Make 1. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 2. Kurt Busch Ford 3. Greg Biffle Ford 4. Bobby Labonte Chevrolet 5. Brian Vickers Chevrolet Complete lineup, click here

"I think probably the most treacherous spot as far as the sun going down I noticed ... was coming off Turn 4," Rusty Wallace said. "The sun was coming under the grandstands right in your eyes. You're right up against the wall, and that was really touch and go."

Wallace said he was somewhat surprised at the intensity of the glare at that spot on the track, especially between 6 and 6:30 p.m.

"When you've got sunlight right in your face going into Turn 1, that's one thing," Wallace said. "You know kinda what to expect.

"But when you're wide-open in the throttle coming off 4 and the sun is glaring in your eyes and you have to make that turn there, I think that's the tough turn."

Dale Jarrett agreed with Wallace's assessment.

"The race takes place at night on the East Coast, but it starts at 5 p.m. on the Pacific Coast and the sun will just be starting to set," Jarrett said. "I think it may get real interesting with 43 cars racing into that kind of light coming off of Turn 4 and heading into Turn 1 for an hour or so."

Greg Biffle gave a different perspective.

"We've all driven down the freeway when the sun is about to go beyond the horizon," he said. "There's nothing we can do. We can't look to another part of the road."

Dave Blaney said the conditions will be the same for everyone, at least until the sun drops down behind the stands.

"The sun going into Turn 1 gets pretty bad," Blaney said. "But everybody will have the same problem. We'll just deal with it."

Tony Stewart doesn't expect much trouble Saturday night at Phoenix. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

On the other hand, Jamie McMurray said the glare wasn't as bad as he expected, based on early evening conditions at other facilities.

"This racetrack is not as bad as Darlington or Fontana last year," McMurray said. "Those racetracks were horrible. (Thursday night) there was just one spot between 3 and 4 that seems to be an issue."

Jeremy Mayfield said teams will use tinted windshield tear-offs early in the race before switching the clear ones once the sun sets.

"We tested out here and it was bright, but we've all got these tear-offs now that start out dark and as night comes, you start pulling them off," Mayfield said. "That should help a lot. You'll see a lot of guys with their windshields taped up and stuff."

Tony Stewart echoed the sentiments of many drivers when he said he didn't expect much of an adjustment.

"I think everyone who has gotten to this level has had plenty of experience in racing under the lights," Stewart said. "No one in the series just started running Nextel Cup cars. We all started at some short track somewhere, running races at night. And for me, I'm one of those guys who hates getting up early.

"I'm a lot better at night than I am at 8 o'clock in the morning."