Brickyard 400 Ford Test Concludes

MAYFIELD LEADS FORD TESTING TODAY; JARRETT FASTEST OVERALL

INDIANAPOLIS, July 14, 1999 - Jeremy Mayfield recorded the fastest lap in testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday as Ford NASCAR Winston Cup Series teams concluded a two-day test at the famous 2.5-mile oval. Mayfield's speed of 177.925 mph, set in the heat of the afternoon, was fourth fastest overall of the test. Drivers tested in preparation for the sixth Brickyard 400 on Aug. 7. In an interesting twist, the top three drivers in the current Winston Cup point standings were the three fastest in testing overall. Points leader Dale Jarrett set the fastest mark of 179.154 Tuesday in cooler air temperatures. Jeff Burton, second in Winston Cup points, was second fastest at 178.260, and Mark Martin, third in points, was third fastest at 178.218. "Things went very well," said Jarrett, the 1996 Brickyard 400 champion. "We learned things we needed to know. We don't get many tests throughout the season. Spoiler and air-dam rules change, and this track's a year older." Jarrett's speed was just shy of Ernie Irvan's track record of 179.394, set in qualifying for the 1998 Brickyard 400. Indianapolis native Kenny Irwin Jr. was fourth fastest overall with a 177.736 lap Tuesday. When asked to rate the test on a 10-scale, Irwin said the results were mixed. "Probably about a seven," he said. "The big thing is that we've got information that we can bring back. It may not necessarily be with this car. You feel like you could always be better. We think we know what we need to work on. Now it's just a matter of applying it successfully." Irwin said the approach to racing in front of the hometown fans in this year's Brickyard is different than in 1998, his first time to compete at the Speedway. "I'm just a lot more relaxed, and I've been more relaxed everywhere we've gone," he said. "But as for winning races, this is it. It doesn't matter if it was in a go-kart, at the Indy 500 or the Brickyard 400. Winning at Indianapolis would be special." Irwin was the 1998 Winston Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Another Brickyard 400 champion in the top 10 was 1997 winner Ricky Rudd, who set a fast mark of 177.228, good for sixth. His best overall speed was the second fastest Wednesday. "We ran a little better today," said Rudd. "We ran race setup all day today, and ran a race motor instead of a qualifying motor. We were second quick this morning before we started working on race setup, so we think we're ready." General Motors teams, from both the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Pontiac Grand Prix brands, will test July 19-20 at the Speedway. Test sessions both days are scheduled from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. The public is welcome to view testing from the infield south short-chute grandstands. There is no admission fee.

BRICKYARD 400 NOTEBOOK

Sign here, please: NASCAR Winston Cup standout John Andretti will sign autographs at Brickyard Authentics in the Circle Centre mall in Indianapolis from 6:30-7:30 p.m. (CDT) July 19. *** Event schedule: The sixth annual Brickyard 400 starts at 12:15 p.m. (CDT) Aug. 7. Pole qualifying starts at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 5. Qualifying for starting positions 26-36 begins at 1 p.m. Aug. 6.

The first practice session will take place from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (CDT) Aug. 5. Practice continues from 4-4:45 p.m. Aug. 5 and 9:30-noon Aug. 6. Final practice takes place from 2:15-3:15 p.m. Aug. 6. *** Broadcast schedule: The Brickyard 400 will be broadcast live on ABC and the Indy Racing Radio Network at 1 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 7. ESPN's prerace show starts at noon Aug. 7, while the Indy Racing Radio Network prerace show starts at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 7.

ESPN will televise pole qualifying live from 2:30-4 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 5. ESPN2 will offer live pole qualifying coverage from 4-5 p.m. Aug. 5 and live second-day qualifying from 1-2 p.m. Aug. 6.

The Indy Racing Radio Network will broadcast live pole qualifying coverage from 2-4 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 5. Qualification wrap-up shows will be broadcast from 6-6:30 p.m. Aug. 5-6. The "Brickyard Live" talk show will be broadcast from 9-10 p.m. Aug. 4-5.

ESPN and ESPN2 also will provide thorough coverage of Brickyard 400 practice and race previews Aug. 6. Highlights of "Happy Hour" practice will be shown on ESPN2 from 6-7 p.m., while the "Before They Go Green" preview will be shown on ESPN from 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Overall Ford testing speeds (July 13-14): Car # Driver Lap Time Lap Speed Date

88        Dale Jarrett                50.236                179.154                7/13
99        Jeff Burton                50.488                178.260                7/13
6        Mark Martin                50.500                178.218                7/13
12        Jeremy Mayfield                50.583                177.925                7/14
28        Kenny Irwin Jr.                50.637                177.736                7/13
10        Ricky Rudd                50.782                177.228                7/14
9        Jerry Nadeau                50.836                177.040                7/14
21        Elliott Sadler                50.844                177.012                7/14
11        Brett Bodine                50.970                176.574                7/13
2        Rusty Wallace                50.971                176.571                7/13
98        Rick Mast                51.079                176.198                7/14
26        Johnny Benson Jr.        51.184                175.836                7/14
77        Robert Pressley                51.193                175.805                7/13
16        Kevin Lepage                51.202                175.774                7/14
97        Chad Little                51.331                175.333                7/13
94        Bill Elliott                51.355                175.251                7/14
75        Ted Musgrave                51.428                175.002                7/13
66        Darrell Waltrip                51.483                174.815                7/14
32        Mike Wallace                51.519                174.693                7/14
14        Boris Said                51.528                174.662                7/13
23        Jimmy Spencer                51.538                174.628                7/14
58        Hut Stricklin                51.577                174.496                7/14
90        Stanton Barrett                51.732                173.974                7/14
80        Gary Bradberry                52.074                172.831                7/14
75        Ted Musgrave                52.196                172.427                7/14
61        Bob Strait                52.519                171.367                7/14
48        Andy Hillenburg                52.847                170.303                7/14
62        Jeff Davis                53.238                169.052                7/14

Source: IMS/IRL