Bigger Goodyears to get a look in Richmond test
Saturday, Oct. 03, 2009
AP
A member of Carl Edwards crew carries a tire in the garage area before the start practice for the NASCAR Allstate 400 at the Brickyard auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 24, 2009. In last year's race, 52 of the 160 laps were run under caution because tires weren't durable enough to last more than 12 laps. Goodyear conducted seven tests to find a tire for this year's race. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Getty Images for NASCAR
HAMPTON, GA - SEPTEMBER 06: Goodyear Tire's Greg Stucker observes the race from pit road during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 6, 2009 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Getty Images for NASCAR
BROOKLYN, MI - AUGUST 14: A view of the wear numbers on a Goodyear racing tire, during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Michigan 400 at Michigan Internetional Speedway on August 14, 2009 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Getty Images for NASCAR
INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 25: A crew member for the #19 Best Buy Dodge driven by Elliott Sadler, checks the tire pressure on a Goodyear Eagle tire during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 25, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Joe Robbins-US PRESSWIRE
July 27, 2008; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Goodyear tires rest along pit road prior to the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. NASCAR officials have implemented a mandatory pit stop for the entire field after 10 laps of the race due to concerns over tire wear. Mandatory Credit: Joe Robbins-US PRESSWIRE
KANSAS CITY, Kansas – Goodyear will head to Richmond International Raceway next week to work on its 2010 short-track tires, but the NASCAR supplier will also use the two-day test session to put a larger model on the track for the first time.
Matt Kenseth and Travis Kvapil will test Tuesday and Wednesday for Goodyear, which is in the very early stages of testing a tire that is 1½ inches taller and wider than the current model. Roush Fenway Racing will have to bring different cars with 17-inch wheels — compared to the cars with 15-inch wheels currently used — to accommodate the larger tire.
"The Richmond test is very preliminary and is our first opportunity to get the larger size tire on the track," said Greg Stucker, Goodyear's director of race tire sales. "We've been very happy with the lab work on the larger tire and the modeling results that we've seen, so the next logical step is to get this tire on the ground."
NASCAR has no timetable for potentially using the larger tire.
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