Notes: Roush calls for total ban of Cup Series testing

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- In the spirit of the ban on testing NASCAR announced Friday, team owner Jack Roush suggested going a step further, if other owners would consent to a gentlemen's agreement not to test at all.

NASCAR's ban applies to tracks that host events in any of the following series: Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Camping World Truck and Camping World East and West. That leaves open the possibility of testing at tracks that are outside that spectrum, such as Rockingham Speedway or Pikes Peak.

No testing in '09

NASCAR suspended all testing at sanctioned tracks for 2009, a measure trying to help teams save on their expenses.

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"I don't have any intention to try to get around their test rules," Roush said. "If we could organize a situation where all the established teams would hold hands and resolve not to test outside of the NASCAR mandated or approved testing -- not go to the skid pads, not go to Canada, not to go to Pikes Peak or any of the places they're checking on -- I'd be happier with that than to skirt around.

"If everybody else does it, we may have to do it, too, but that's certainly not in the spirit of trying to save the teams money and trying to operate in these severe economic circumstances."

Asked whether he would be party to such an agreement, Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs quipped, "Well, first you have to assume that we're all gentlemen.

"I think, for us, that is good wisdom, and when it comes to technical things, how the sport works, Jack is probably second to none. ... That's probably good wisdom on that.

"I do think the difficulty for us next year is -- look, we've got a guy [Joey Logano] who's never been to these tracks. I agree with the testing, but how do you make it so a young guy at least gets his feet wet and tries some things? Do you do a little bit extra, give him a half hour at the racetrack? What can he do?"

Smith

Smith wins rookie of the year title
You can forgive Regan Smith if he talked in sentences without subjects after winning Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in the Cup Series. Smith finished 34th Sunday, after rookie rival Sam Hornish Jr. failed to make the field in Friday's qualifying.

"Really excited about getting rookie of the year," Smith said. "It's a big deal. First driver from DEI to be able to get it. Not knowing what I'm doing next year, if I'm going to be part of the Ganassi-DEI thing [merger] or not.

"At least I've got that [the trophy] to take to them. Let [owner] Teresa [Earnhardt] put it in the trophy room. She gave me a great opportunity this year."

Green car may be lucky
Stock car racing superstition used to hold that a green car was unlucky, but that certainly doesn't apply to the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid pace car that led the field to the green flag in Sunday's Cup race.

Several Ford drivers, including Jamie McMurray, got a chance to drive the green (as in environmentally friendly) pace car at Homestead-Miami Speedway. McMurray was impressed at how seamlessly the Fusion shifted between its electric engine and gasoline motor, which kicks in when the car exceeds 47 mph.

"You really can't tell a difference," McMurray said. "It's odd, because you start it, but you don't hear it start -- and then it goes. You really can't tell if it is running on the electric motor or whether it is in the gas engine mode. There is no transition. You think you would feel something there, but you can't feel anything. It really doesn't feel any different than a regular car."