GM Testing Concludes at Daytona

GM Teams Conclude Test At Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Ken Schrader might look at testing as a necessary evil, but the Chevrolet driver made the most of his last two days at Daytona International Speedway.

Schrader was second-fastest among GM teams testing at Daytona Thursday, after leading the test session with the fastest lap Wednesday. Schrader's lap of 189.950 mph Thursday was second only to Dave Marcis.

Marcis, testing the Lowe's Chevrolet for driver Mike Skinner and owner Richard Childress, was the fastest among the six teams with a lap of 190.488 mph.

Along with Schrader and Marcis, driver Mike Dillon tested for Richard Childress Racing, while Larry Pearson tested the Pontiac of Buckshot Jones. Stanton Barrett and Glen Morgan also tested Thursday.

Actor and road-racer Paul Newman also got behind the wheel of Childress' Chevrolet and turned laps around 185 mph.

"Testing is a necessary evil," Schrader said. "We are now seeing that less testing is needed, but we do get good information when we test.

"It's an evil because we spend so much time and money doing it, but on the other hand we find things that help us. It's been a productive two days."

A four-time winner on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit, Schrader's last victory came in 1991. However, last year his Andy Petree-owned team showed a wealth of potential during the restrictor-plate races at Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway.

He finished fourth in the Daytona 500 after crashing his primary car during the Gatorade 125-mile qualifying races. He also finished ninth in the Pepsi 400 in Daytona, and captured the pole for the Winston 500 at Talladega.

"I don't feel I'm overdue for a Daytona 500 win," said Schrader, who started from the pole for three consecutive 500s from 1988-90. "When you say that you're overdue, you give the impression that something is owed to you. You work hard and do the best that you can. You always want to win.

"Daytona was a good and bad experience for us last year," Schrader said. "We wrecked a really good race car, but we were very prepared. We came ready, left sore, but got about $350,000 richer for the experience.

Schrader and the rest of the NASCAR Winston Cup competitors will kick off the season with Bud Pole Qualifying for the Daytona 500 Saturday, Feb. 6, followed eight days later by the season-opening Daytona 500.

Speeds from Wednesday's GM test at Daytona International Speedway

Car No. Make Driver Speed

33A     Chev.       Ken Schrader        189.893 
31A     Chev.       Dave Marcis         189.211
3T      Chev.       Mike Dillon         188.052
3D      Chev.       Mike Dillon         187.813
33      Chev.       Ken Schrader        187.590
00      Pont.       Larry Pearson       187.231
84      Chev.       Stanton Barrett     186.548
31B     Chev.       Dave Marcis         184.456
45      Chev.       Glen Morgan         184.068

Speeds from Thursday's GM testing at Daytona International Speedway:

Car No. Make Driver Speed

31A     Chev.       Dave Marcis         190.488
33A     Chev.       Ken Schrader        189.950
3T      Chev.       Mike Dillon         189.585
00      Pont.       Larry Pearson       189.546
33      Chev.       Ken Schrader        188.119
3D      Chev.       Mike Dillon         187.473
84      Chev.       Stanton Barrett     187.457
31A     Chev.       Paul Newman         184.653
31B     Chev.       Dave Marcis         184.490

Tickets still remain for the Rolex 24 At Daytona, and other Speedweeks >99 events. For ticket information call (904) 253-7223 or visit http://www.DAYTONAUSA.com.

Source: ISC