Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 5, 1994 TAG: 9405050038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"We're just trying to make the racing better," said Kevin Triplett, a NASCAR spokesman. "One of our major concerns is to make all our car makes as competitive as possible. We hope this is a step in that direction."
Pontiac has failed to win a Winston Cup race in 1994. Its best finish was Michael Waltrip's third place (behind Chevy driver Dale Earnhardt and Ford driver Ernie Irvan) at Talladega on Sunday.
NASCAR is allowing the five Pontiac teams to lengthen the front of the car - from the windshield to the front air dam - by 1 3/4 inches to a total of 87 inches. And the sport's governing body is allowing the teams to extend the rear of the car - from the window to the rear bumper - by 3 inches to a total of 23 inches.
Labonte, driving a Pontiac with these changes, had the fastest lap Wednesday among the eight drivers participating in open testing at Charlotte, circling the 1.5-mile speedway at 175.5 mph. That's still well off the track record of 179.027 mph set by Alan Kulwicki in 1992.
"I really don't think the changes make the car faster when you're running alone, like we were today," Labonte said. "But it does make the cars more raceable with a number of cars on the speedway. I don't think our speed today has anything to do with the extra length."
NASCAR did not give the struggling Pontiac teams everything they sought. The Pontiacs asked NASCAR for 9 more inches of length on the cars - 6 inches on the rear deck and 3 inches in front.
The 5 inches NASCAR has granted is not enough, said Felix Sabates, who owns the Pontiacs driven by Kyle Petty and Bobby Hamilton.
"It's just like giving Rolaids to a patient with ulcers," Sabates said. "We were too honest. We only asked for what we really needed. And you never get all you ask for."
In any event, the extra length exposes more total car surface to the air, which in turn increases the downforce, making the car more stable in speedway turns. That allows the drivers to drive more aggressively in the turns, which should make the Pontiacs more competitive.
Before the change, the Pontiac was almost 9 inches shorter than the Ford Thunderbird and nearly 7 inches shorter than the Chevrolet Lumina, Sabates said.
\ CRASH STUNS QUERY: A midday crash during the test Wednesday at Charlotte left rookie Freddy Query shaken. After Query complained of neck pain during an initial examination at the infield care center, he was taken to Cabarrus Memorial Hospital, said track spokesman Eddie Gossage.
Query was released after X-rays proved to be negative. His car hit the wall in turn 2 and he was removed by a rescue team, Gossage said.
While Labonte had the fastest unofficial speed of the test, Rick Mast (174.87 mph) was second in a Ford Thunderbird. Next was Bill Elliott (174.36) in a Ford, Chuck Bown (173.63) in a Ford, Bobby Hillin (173.13) in a Hardy Brothers-owned car (widely rumored to involve Elliott) and Darrell Waltrip (170.94) in a Chevy. Billy Standridge also tested.
A Tuesday night session was rained out, so the open test, which counts as one of each team's seven annual tests, has been extended through today and tonight.
\ MR. X: Don't look for any NASCAR action against Jimmy Spencer for his aggressive driving during Sunday's Winston Select 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
"There was a lot of aggressive driving by several drivers out there Sunday - more than you normally see at Talladega - but none of it appeared to be aimed at deliberately wrecking someone," Triplett said.
The self-styled "Mr. Excitement" was all over the track and at one point bumped Terry Labonte in the tri-oval, triggering a 12-car crash. A number of drivers, including winner Dale Earnhardt, were critical of Spencer's driving. And their anger - no one would draft with Spencer - probably was one reason he finished fourth after leading with six laps to go.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.