Busch understands hardship his Penske crew faces
By Bob Pockrass
Saturday, January 05, 2008
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Penske Racing's Kurt Busch knows his crew might not be happy a few days during the first five races of 2008.
Garage stalls are issued based on 2007 points, and because Busch's No. 2 team has swapped owners points with the No. 77 of teammate Sam Hornish Jr., Busch's team might not make the cut to get a garage stall during the first five races.
The points switch guarantees Hornish will make the first five races of 2008 because the No. 2 team was in the top 35 in points in 2007. While Busch will start the season listed 51st in owners points, he will still be guaranteed a spot in the first five races as the most recent past Cup champion.
"My poor guys, the crew guys, really will have to go through a lot with parking last, going through tech last and we won't get garage stalls at a couple of the races," Busch said Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. "We'll be pitting in the parking lot more or less. "That will be an adjustment, especially when it's 30 degrees out at Atlanta. I feel bad for the guys. I'll be in charge of the hot cocoa machine that day, I'm sure."
Hornish, a three-time Indy Racing League champion, failed to qualify for six Cup races before making the final two last year. He will run full time in 2008.
"It's part of the game," said team president Tim Cindric. "You can argue different ways. [Team owner] Roger [Penske] is a proud guy, too, but he's also a business guy. It made all the sense.
"The key to the situation was to make sure that it was a positive internally. Kurt and [crew chief Pat] Tryson, they knew that was the game and that was the best move for us as an organization."
The decision was left up to Busch and Tryson.
"I'm honored to be able to help out a teammate in need and to be able to add to Penske Racing," Busch said. "Having three teams will definitely help our program grow and to continue move towards the front to be one of those front-runners every week instead of a few races here and there.
"Steps have to be made, and one of those is to get Sam in the races."
Busch was at DIS Saturday, two days before his Sprint Cup test session, so he could test a road-racing car for the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
He will team with Penske Indy Racing League driver Helio Castroneves and American Le Mans Series driver Ryan Briscoe for the 24-hour event.
"It's funny to listen to Ryan and Helio say that this car is heavy and it doesn't turn well, and I'd really like to invite them to drive a stock car and see how heavy it is," Busch said.
He gets back in his heavy car Monday, the first full test at Daytona using the model known as the car of tomorrow.
"The sports-car opportunity is something of fun, excitement and is a challenge - those are three words that you really won't use during stock-car testing," Busch said. "It is monotonous to drive the car just two laps, pull in, make changes and then go sit a half-hour in line and go out there again."
But Busch is still looking forward to seeing how the car drafts and gathering some data.
"The car is new and there are going to be new opportunities to look at the data and find new areas of research to try out," said Busch, who was seventh at Talladega. "Drafting practice is important. You'll have the [data processors] to record the data, so you want to use those sessions as well."
- Mentioned Drivers:
- Kurt Busch
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