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closeTesting opinions | 'It's a mistake,' points leader says
By Jenna Fryer
The Associated Press
Friday, Nov. 14, 2008
Reaction to NASCAR's test ban was mixed Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway among drivers, who generally loathe the midweek test sessions but value the data that's gathered.
"I think it's a mistake," said Jimmie Johnson, who's poised to win his third consecutive Sprint Cup Series title. "I do understand and recognize that we need to cut expenses. ... Now we're going to need to focus on other ways to collect data or create simulation programs or machines to create on-track activity and then test at tracks that may not work and on tires we won't race on and try to find a baseline.
"It's going to slow things down and make it more expensive. We still have to get on the track. We still have to test. We cannot sit still."
It creates an interesting situation for NASCAR, which also wants the second-tier teams to catch up to the super teams of Hendrick, Joe Gibbs Racing, Roush Fenway Racing and Richard Childress Racing. Those four organizations can and will test aggressively at non-NASCAR tracks, while teams short of cash may not be able to afford that luxury.
"At the end of the day, speed equals dollars. It's the formula in racing, it's the way it works," Johnson said. "At the end of the day, the only way we're going to beat Roush, or Childress or Yates or Ganassi or any of the teams out there, is by finding more speed and technology and that takes money to do. No matter how you try to fold the rules, you can't change that.
"We've got to do what we've got to do to win."
But Carl Edwards, who drives for Roush's five-car team, applauded the decision because of the immediate cost relief it will give teams. Estimates vary on how much testing costs, but teams are believed to spend about $1 million a car for the three-day January test at Daytona.
"I think it gives a little bit of relief to the teams as far as expenses and the team owners," Edwards said. "As long as everyone operates on the same rules, you are going to have nearly the same competition whether you can test every day of the year or not test at all."
But Robbie Loomis, vice president of Petty Enterprises, said he's worried the testing cutbacks will hurt rookie drivers.
"Rookies like (Joey) Logano need to spend a little bit more time in Nationwide, and I think a rule like this will make people look at them a little different before they bring their driver up," Loomis said. "Jimmie Johnson was in Nationwide a couple years before he came to Cup. But when Jimmie Johnson came here, he was ready to go."