Support » SCENE-please remove inappropriate photos of the dead/horrific
Meg, I liked the flowers, too! Especially the gold/yellow one. I would much much rather look at those than the wrecks. I opened one of the wrecks and ignored...
Goodyear plans more tests at Indianapolis, Atlanta
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Goodyear officials plan to test tires at Indianapolis Motor Speedway once more after problems in the race there last season.
Mark Sluder
NASCAR Scene
CONCORD, N.C. – Goodyear is planning additional tests this year at the two tracks where its tires encountered the most criticism last year, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Tests are planned for April and June at Indy, the site of one of the most frustrating events in recent NASCAR and Goodyear history last year, when NASCAR had to throw the caution every 12 or 13 laps because the tires wouldn’t last.
Four teams will go to the test April 20-21 and then 12 to 15 teams will go in mid-June, Goodyear director of race tire sales Greg Stucker said Wednesday during a test at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Goodyear already has had two tests at IMS since the race last year, which was the first for NASCAR’s new model Sprint Cup car on the 2.5-mile oval.
“We feel like we’ve got a real good handle on the range of the compounds that are necessary to give us a tread wear on this car at that race track,” Stucker said. “When we go back here in April, we’re going to build off that compound work we did in the fall and look at some construction changes.
“Some of the changes we made for Las Vegas [this year], we’re going to integrate into the Indy design as well and try to look at that.”
Goodyear also plans to test again at Atlanta after not being satisfied with the performance there earlier this month.
At Atlanta, drivers complained a year ago that they could not get enough grip and that their cars were sliding too much. Goodyear has made progress in the last year, but drivers still have complained.
“We think we’ll go back and test,” Stucker said. “I don’t think we dramatically impacted performance one way or the other, to be honest with you. We were hoping to have more of an impact than what we did.
“Not to say that it’s better or worse, but we’d like to think we can go back and try to help it a little bit more. Our plans are to go back sometime in early summer and get ready for Labor Day. We haven’t raced there that time of year, so we need to be there closer to what race conditions are going to be like because it’s only going to be worse [for grip in the heat].”
As far as other tracks, Stucker said the tire for the upcoming race at Martinsville will feature softer right-side tires for more grip.
Goodyear is also set with its tire choice for upcoming events at Dover, Pocono, Michigan and Infineon. It has tests planned for New Hampshire and Chicagoland coming up. It also will conduct a test at Iowa Speedway with Camping World Truck Series teams as the Trucks and Nationwide series debut at the track later this year.
There are no tests yet planned for a bigger tire, which would be 17 inches in diameter instead of 15 inches. Stucker said Goodyear officials met with NASCAR on Tuesday about the bigger tire.
“We feel like we’ve still got some work to do,” Stucker said. “We’re seeing some performance advantages [as far as durability], which was one of the goals. There’s a few things we’re not comfortable with yet as far as the overall footprint shape, the way the tire interacts [with the road surface]. We think we have some things to improve before we put it on the race track.
“There is an outside chance we could get on the race track [to test] by the end of this year, but I would say it’s probably a little more long-term than that.”
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6248 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -184 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -192 |
| 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -239 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -279 |
| 6 | Kurt Busch | -312 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -340 |
| 8 | Ryan Newman | -402 |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | -414 |
| 10 | Carl Edwards | -437 |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | -448 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -556 |
Popular News
-
Hendrick Motorsports' Dale Earnhardt Jr. eager for return to Texas Motor Speedway
Comments (138) -
Richard Petty Motorsports' AJ Allmendinger charged with driving while impaired
Comments (73) -
JR Motorsports continues work on bringing Danica Patrick to NASCAR
Comments (69) -
NASCAR says bump-drafting rules not to blame for single-file Talladega racing
Comments (67) -
Dave Rogers to become Kyle Busch's new Cup crew chief at Joe Gibbs Racing
Comments (64)
Recent Headlines
-
Nationwide penalty likely for opening-day violation by Kyle Busch team
Comments (6) -
Kyle Busch pulls off Texas two-step by winning Nationwide race
Comments (9) -
Oklahoma teacher named Dickies American Worker of the Year
Post Comment -
Roush Fenway Racing's Donnie Wingo set to return to organization for 2010 NASCAR season
Post Comment -
Toyota executive addresses Formula One decision, Earnhardt Ganassi possibility
Comments (6)
Poll PositionView All
Which NASCAR Sprint Cup race winner from the past two seasons is most likely to earn his first victory of 2009 in the next three races?
Promotions
-
Play "WIX Filters' Pick 3" stock car fantasy and win prizes. Season 2 is now in session!
-
Tweet your thoughts about each race and join the conversation with other fans.
-
Drive an authentic NASCAR Sprint Cup car at the NASCAR Racing Experience.
-
Cast your vote for the NASCAR Illustrated 2009 Person of the Year, presented by Old Spice.
-
Make weekly pics for the Chase and be entered to win weekly SPEED Merchandise.
Comments
8 responses to "Goodyear plans more tests at Indianapolis, Atlanta". Post a Comment.
Werner Boehmert said:
Mar 18, 2009 at 3:36 PMi still don't understand testing in the cooler months and then having the race in one of the hottest months...haven't we been told how temps affect the tires...
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportErin Holbert said:
Mar 18, 2009 at 3:43 PMWerner that is a great post! I was there and it was horrible how the tires impacted the race and the outcome. I was sitting behind Matt Kenseth's and Kevin Harvick's pit and got to see the tire off of Matt's car and all the fixing they did on his car. It was terrible for Matt as he had a great car. I also believe if not for all the competition cautions Jimmie would not have won the race but either Denny Hamlin or Carl Edwards. They best come test right after the Indy 500 to really get a better handle on the tires.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Reportchris Stephens said:
Mar 18, 2009 at 3:49 PMI hope they can figure it out by race day or they may have a riot this time, come on Goodyear figure this COT out and make it work otherwise dump Indy.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportDoc Lehman said:
Mar 18, 2009 at 4:15 PMErin;
Report as AbuseI hope you had FREE tickets to the 'So-Called' Race. Otherwise, you paid too much. Egads, the yellow flew every 10 laps. I turned off the TV in disgust. No worries now though. WWF will be providing the 'Entertainment'. Oh the good ol days, when they 'Raced'. I'm glad I have some short-tracks to go to in my area---no 'Yellow Line', Run any tire that holds air and will get you through the feature race. No reporters to record your 'Thoughts' about that guy that just put you in the wall---no fines for saying s**t ---just REAL racing.
Report Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportK P said:
Mar 18, 2009 at 4:21 PMI don't get it. What's the benefit of going from a 15 inch diameter tire to a 17 inch tire???? Seems to me the issues aren't the sidewalls of the tire (which would be shorter with a larger diameter tire). But rather the width of the tire (which would give them more surface area to deal with - giving them more traction). I wonder if the writer got it wrong when he said "tire diameter". Maybe they meant "tire width". ?????
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportMike Hutton said:
Mar 18, 2009 at 5:31 PMWerner: Did you notice the June test date at Indy? That date will have temperatures that will be closer to what race day will bring.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportWerner Boehmert said:
Mar 18, 2009 at 8:00 PMMike...i agree the june test is closer to race conditions, but that April test?...Erin might have something in testing after the race...
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportPhil Siders said:
Mar 19, 2009 at 3:38 AMJust beating a dead horse. How much science can go into rubber, grip, and longevity? If they cannot get it right, let's try some other tire company's tires out there and see how they fare trying for the same results. It's apparent that the system for getting it right with Goodyear just isn't working. They keep using up everybody's race cars and are solving absolutely nothing. They need to punt. Let the other team have the ball and see how the pros do it. They'd have better luck paving the track with rubber and making the tires out of asphalt.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Report