HAMPTON, Ga. - Bill Elliott is coming to Atlanta Motor Speedway after all - he's just not bringing his car.
His team, Evernham Motorsports, couldn't put together a sponsorship package to make Sunday's Golden Corral 500 part of Elliott's partial schedule, so the former Cup champion will miss a race at his home track for the first time since 1979.
Elliott plans to spend the weekend working as an analyst for the Performance Racing Network.
Last weekend at Las Vegas, Elliott, 48, ran his first official event of the season and finished 10th. He was 14th in the Bud Shootout in February at Daytona, a nonpoints race for 19 drivers, and he's spent much of his time helping his team develop a new style of car.
That might be all he'll be able to do. Elliott has a deal for the Samsung-Radio Shack 500 on April 4 at Texas Motor Speedway, but none of that fazes him.
"It's been great watching the races," Elliott said. "To tell you the truth, I know I made the right decision. It was the best decision I ever made."
TIGHTENING SAFETY: Drivers have expressed concern the newly installed "soft walls" at Darlington will eliminate the existing groove.
The Steel and Foam Energy Reduction system barriers jut out 30 inches into the track, which is known for leaving its "Darlington Stripes" - the dents left on the right side of the cars that bounce off the walls.
Jeff Gordon favors the SAFER barriers but said moving the walls before installing the barriers would have been a better option.
"But I'd rather have it than not have it, so we'll just deal with it," Gordon says. "We do brush the wall there, which I don't think is a real issue. I wouldn't mind it being a little bit softer when I rub up against it."
The narrower groove will make racing tighter and passing more difficult. Because the racing conditions are expected to change so dramatically, NASCAR is considering allowing teams to come in a day early to test.
CHAMP DEFECTION: Fernandez Racing is the latest team to defect from the Champ Car World Series to the Indy Racing League.
Owner-driver Adrian Fernandez said he would compete in the 2004 IndyCar series, beginning March 21 in Avondale, Ariz.
"Obviously, this is a big move for us, particularly at this late stage," said Fernandez, who missed the IndyCar opener two weeks ago in Homestead. "We have reviewed a lot of things the past few days and had to take a hard look at what we know at this point in time to determine what is best for our sponsors and the future of Fernandez Racing."
Fernandez had eight wins in Champ Car, the former CART series, since 1993.
NEW JOB: Jim McGee, one of the most successful managers and chief mechanics in Indy car history, has returned to Newman/Haas Racing as director of special operations.
McGee served as team manager in 1993 and 1994, when Mario Andretti and Nigel Mansell drove for the team. Mansell won the championship the first year.
McGee has spent 45 years in the racing industry, amassing 90 victories as a team manager or chief mechanic. His record includes four Indianapolis 500 wins and nine series championships.
