Pit Pass: Steve Ballard
Seven weeks after their last race and six weeks ahead of their next one, NASCAR drivers return to work Monday for testing at Daytona International Speedway.
The field has been split in half, with two-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports newcomer Dale Earnhardt Jr. headlining the first group scheduled to run Monday through Wednesday. Jeff Gordon leads the second group that will run the same three days the next week. All are preparing for the 50th Daytona 500 that opens the Sprint Cup season Feb. 17.
Testing is particularly important this year because it marks the full-time launch of the car formerly known as the Car of Tomorrow. The NASCAR creation identified by its rear wing, front splitter and boxier shape goes from 16 races last year to all 36 this year.
"What it does is create an environment where you feel like you're a rookie going to all these racetracks with a car that you don't know how it's going to drive," Penske Racing's Kurt Busch told the Sporting News. "It's exciting in one sense and difficult in another."
Three of the season's six scheduled tests are due to come before the first race. Teams will gather Jan. 28-29 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at California Speedway. Like Daytona, both are new to the new car.
The Daytona test will be missing Robby Gordon, who for the third consecutive year is tackling the 6,000-mile Dakar Rally. Jeff Gordon, who last year became the first American to win a stage in the world's most grueling off-road race and brought his Hummer home eighth overall, is in Lisbon, Portugal, preparing for Saturday's start of the two-week event. He'll be replaced for the test by Brendan Gaughan.
The Daytona test is doubly critical to Joe Gibbs Racing as it begins its move to Toyota. It's important enough that Tony Stewart, who skipped it the past two years with the team's permission, has agreed to do his own testing, likely during the second week.
Champions to be honored
The American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association will honor its All-America Team and announce its 2007 Driver of the Year at its 38th annual awards dinner Jan. 12 at the Hyatt Regency.
Among the drivers who have committed to attend are Indy 500 and IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti and reigning NHRA champs Tony Schumacher and Tony Pedregon. Indy legend Emerson Fittipaldi is the keynote speaker.
The event is open to the public.
Hornish gets veteran help
Sam Hornish Jr. will launch his full-time NASCAR career with a veteran crew chief helping the former Indy 500 and IndyCar Series champion make the transition.
Chris Carrier, 47, has joined Penske Racing after spending the past several years at Morgan-McClure Motorsports. He assumed his duties at the start of the new year.
Etc.
Champ Car veteran Oriol Servia has signed with PKV Racing for the 2008 season. The Spaniard drove the final two races of 2007 for PKV after making 11 starts for Forsythe Racing. . . . Steve Kinser, Bloomington, won a sprint car race on New Year's Day at Parramatta City Raceway in Australia. The 20-time World of Outlaws champion returns to the same track this weekend to compete in the $50,000 Sprint Car International. . . . Cameron Dodson, 19, Greenfield, will be honored as the U.S. Auto Club's Silver Crown Rookie of the Year at its annual Night of Champions awards dinner Jan. 19 at the Downtown Westin. . . . James Stewart begins defense of his AMA Supercross title Saturday night at Anaheim, Calif. The series is scheduled to visit the RCA Dome on March 1.
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