Tire testing at Indy a 'good advantage,' Earnhardt Jr. says
By SceneDaily Staff
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
John Harrelson / Getty Images
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Tuesday that participating in the Goodyear tire test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this week would be a “good advantage” when the Sprint Cup Series races there in July.
“I don't know how big of an advantage,” Earnhardt Jr. said on NASCAR’s teleconference. “I'm not sure that it's as big of an advantage as one might think, with the new car and what not. We're not necessarily discovering gold out here. We're just sort of running into the same old problems that we have with this car, the same scenarios.
“And, obviously, at the tire tests we aren't able to dial the car in and work specifically on the setup to improve the issues the car may have. It's more about trying to give Goodyear everything they can, everything they need data-wise. So basically we can't change the car.”
Adjusting the car would change the parameters under which the tires work, so Goodyear doesn’t allow it after a certain point.
“But it's just good to be here to get some laps,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “We have a lot of testing coming up over the next three or four weeks. I think I've had about seven tests scheduled for the next month, so that's new. That's definitely something that's new for me, and I'm excited about it. If it gets me to victory lane, it will be worth it.”
Some drivers consider testing tires for Goodyear mundane, but not Earnhardt Jr. – not this year. Goodyear came under fire from some drivers for not bringing the appropriate tire compound to the race at Atlanta.
“You want to do what they ask you to do so they'll bring you back for more tire tests,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “If I'm more interested in how my car's handling and how to fix it, I don't think Goodyear's going to appreciate that effort, that sort of effort. They want somebody working in the direction of what kind of tire is going to be the best tire. Because I want to tire test as much as possible under the circumstances that we have this season. I want to be the guy they call first.”
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