By Compiled from Times wires
Published August 10, 2003
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. - And now for something completely different: NASCAR is preparing to go road racing in the rain.
Faced with a 60 percent possibility of showers today at Watkins Glen International, Winston Cup officials have informed drivers and teams, and official tire supplier Goodyear, to be prepared to mount treaded "rain tires" at any point during the Sirius at the Glen.
A race run in the rain would be a historic first for the oval-based, 53-year-old sanctioning body.
"We'd prefer not to (race in the rain), but we feel like we have an option if it's a specific scenario," NASCAR president Mike Helton said Saturday morning, as practice went on under threatening skies. "If it's raining too hard, it doesn't work. If it's not raining at all and the track's definitely dry, it doesn't work. And in the middle there may be a scenario that we can use the rain tires.
"No guarantees it can happen, though. Just because we have tires with treads on 'em doesn't mean we can be out there in the pouring-down rain."
Goodyear's rain tires have been part of the baggage at Watkins Glen since 2000. And some prominent drivers who cut a few laps around the 11-turn, 2.45-mile layout that year want no part of racing in the rain.
"I ran on 'em here," said pole-sitter Jeff Gordon, who set a record Friday in qualifying, "and it was a nightmare. I mean, it really was a disaster, and I would not be in favor of it."
Terry Labonte, who also logged a couple of exploratory laps on rain tires, could not envision running the 90-lap, 220.5-mile event in wet conditions.
"I don't think they'll run 'em, but there's no telling what they might do," he said. "I think that was a dumb idea four or five years ago, and they haven't ever figured out how to get out of it yet and not look stupid. It'd be the biggest mess you've ever seen if they ran 'em. It's not what our racing's about."
Rusty Wallace, a two-time winner at the Glen, said: "I think it's ridiculous they're even thinking about it."
The main concern is weight. Winston Cup cars weigh 3,400 pounds without the drivers, about twice as much as their Formula One and CART counterparts, who compete in the rain. So cars take much longer to slow down and are harder to control. Still, series director John Darby said all 43 teams have been told to make adjustments for racing in the rain. In addition to treaded tires, that includes the addition of a windshield wiper (and motor) and installation of a taillight mounted at the top of the rear window. The latter will allow a driver following a car to know when the brakes are being applied.
Not all drivers are opposed to the idea of racing in wet weather.
"I can handle it," said Ryan Newman, who starts 13th. "If that's what we've got to do, then we'll do it. I'm looking forward to it."
So, too, was Canadian road-racing specialist Ron Fellows, who raced in the rain at Watkins Glen nine year ago with much success.
"I won here in the rain in a Trans-Am race in 1994 - from the back, thank you very much," said Fellows, who starts 18th. "Let's hope it's an advantage. It will be interesting, for sure, if it rains."
Rick Heinrich, Goodyear's marketing manager for stock car racing, said NASCAR officials have assured him the tires would be used in what amounts to almost "perfect" rainy conditions.
"The latest word that I have is they would not like to start the race on rain tires," Heinrich said. "They're using the rain tires as an option for the right circumstances, in order to complete the race."
Darby said even a "moderate rain" would not stop him from calling for the wets.
"We're dealing with a pretty professional group here," Darby said. "I'm sure they can make the necessary adjustments. When we raced in Japan, they raced in the rain."
A NASCAR exhibition race was run on a road course at Suzuka, Japan, in 1999. That prompted NASCAR officials to consider making rain tires an option for road races at Watkins Glen and Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.
But when asked for his ideal forecast today, Heinrich paused and smiled.
"Pray for the sun," he said.
GRAVEL TRIP: Dale Earnhardt Jr. was one of several drivers to spin off during practice. After posting the second-quickest lap in the first few minutes, Earnhardt slid off between the final two turns and into a massive gravel pit.
"I was driving it pretty hard, Earnhardt said. "There's a lot of rocks, but it's ... better than sliding into a guard rail."
Earnhardt had some companions in the rough. Kyle Petty spun through the gravel and gently brushed a foam barrier, allowing him to drive away. Jimmy Spencer and Dale Jarrett were mired in the gravel and had to be helped out. Christian Fittipaldi also crashed, denting the front end of his car.
