NASCAR announced Tuesday the addition of a Sprint Cup Series test session May 5-6 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. On May 5 practice times are set from 9 a.m. -- noon ET; 1 p.m. -- 5 p.m. ET; and 6 p.m. -- 9 p.m. ET. On May 6 practice times are set from 9 a.m. -- noon ET and 1 p.m. -- 5p.m. ET. Teams may test a maximum of four of those five practice segments.

NASCAR visited with the teams this past weekend at Phoenix about the possibility of adding a test to further prepare for the remaining 17 events the series has at intermediate tracks the rest of the season, including next month's Sprint All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The extra test gives the series seven sanctioned test sessions this year, the same number the teams had in 2007.

"We received input from the teams last weekend at Phoenix and a vast majority of them were receptive to adding a test next month at Lowe's," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. "We always strive to work with the teams and do what is in the best interest of the competitors.

"We have 17 events ahead of us on intermediate tracks and the additional test allows the teams the opportunity to learn more about the new car, work on their setups and adjustments, and apply that information to these future races."

Lowe's Motor Speedway track president H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler offered up his track to the Cup teams so they could get better prepared for the two events taking place at his track in the month of May. He was relieved to receive Tuesday's news.

"I appreciate NASCAR being proactive and attempting to improve the racing on the intermediate tracks," Wheeler said. "It's become obvious that something needs to be done immediately to help these teams. Hopefully, the additional track time will provide them the opportunity to find some things that will help when they come back two weeks later. We want the fans to see the best racing of the season when they come to Charlotte.

"As I've stated before, NASCAR and these teams have done an excellent job on the safety of the new car," Wheeler continued. "But, they need some help getting the cars to perform to where they can produce more side-by-side racing, which is really what it's all about. Something needs to be done now and I applaud NASCAR for letting the teams test before they race here in May."

With the addition of the open test, the Goodyear tire test scheduled for April 22 has been canceled.

Fans will be able to view both days of testing, free of charge, from the renovated GM Grandstand on Lowe's Motor Speedway's frontstretch. Grandstand gates open at 9 a.m. each day.