Motorsports

IRL to try Daytona on for size

By TIMES WIRES
Published August 12, 2006

Up to four Indy Racing League drivers will test in late September on Daytona International Speedway's road course to determine the feasibility of holding part of the league's spring training there in March.

If the track is deemed suitable for its cars and tires, IRL teams would likely test 2-3 days at Daytona in the spring, then head to Homestead-Miami Speedway (another International Speedway Corp. facility) for oval tests, according to league spokesman John Griffin. Homestead has hosted both the road-course and oval-testing segments in recent years.

The idea was proposed by IRL vice president of development John Lewis in the spring because the league is interested in alternate warm-weather sites.

"(DIS officials) were very receptive," Griffin said. "They asked us if we were disappointed at Homestead, and we told them we are committed to Homestead for testing."

The IRL stresses it is not seeking to race at Daytona. League officials walked the 3.56-mile course two weeks ago and could alter the route to include less of the 31-degree-banked, 2.5-mile oval track than for normal road-course events. Turns 3 and 4 and part of the frontstretch, before the course tucks back into the infield near the end of pit road, are likely to remain.

Griffin said the possible DIS tests do not indicate problems with Homestead or its date, but league officials have said it might not always host the opener.

Kurt Busch earns pole

Kurt Busch and Kasey Kahne did what they had to do. Greg Biffle didn't, and faces a difficult road.

Busch won his second straight road- course pole Friday, wheeling his No. 2 Dodge through the 11-turn Watkins Glen International course at 122.966 mph to knock Kahne (121.845 mph) to second for Sunday's AMD at the Glen. Moments before, Biffle crashed on his qualifying try, relegating him to the back of the 43-car field. Biffle will go to a backup car for the race and start 41st.

DA MATTA BETTER: Champ Car driver Cristiano da Matta no longer is under sedation and is progressing after a serious head injury sustained when his car hit a deer during testing. But he's still not responding to commands. "When they ask him to open his eyes, he's not doing anything like that," Champ Car medical director Chris Pinderski said.

NHRA: Tony Schumacher led the first day of Top Fuel qualifying at the Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., with a quarter-mile run of 4.499 seconds at 330.72 mph. John Force topped Funny Car at 4.773, 323.74 mph, Greg Anderson (6.744, 204.11) led Pro Stock and Chip Ellis (7.086, 186.41) topped Pro Stock Motorcycle. Qualifying continues today.

GRAND-AM: Scott Pruett and Luis Diaz teamed to win the Crown Royal 200 at Watkins Glen in a Lexus Riley. The duo edged Wayne Taylor, Max Angelelli and Ryan Briscoe by 0.553 seconds.

[Last modified August 12, 2006, 02:50:46]