Duals - To practice or not to practice?

dpkimmel2001

dpkimmel2001

Team Owner
Joined
Apr 1, 2009
Messages
36,190
Points
1,033
Location
Western PA
Probably a dumb question but man, these guys have not been able to run more than a few laps as a pack without many having to go to a secondary piece or spending time in the garage. I don't recall how many of these rides are already locked into the show. The top two obviously and I think 6-8 more. How much time do you spend out there today in practice? Two sessions today. I think the second will more likely resemble rain delayed coverage with most of the cars in the garage.
 
Steve Letarte said they're gonna do single car runs in the first practice to work on speed and then draft in the second practice. Don't know what the agenda is for the other teams but I don't see too many hiding in the garage today. They need to learn more about this car and who they can work with.
 
I would think a lot of them will be playing it safe today, for the simple fact that most teams probably only have two quality cars for the weekend and can't afford to chance wrecking today and tomorrow. Some of these teams have already tore up cars in practice and in the Unlimited and I don't see a lot of them having 4 or 5 superspeedway cars ready to go.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Probably a dumb question but man, these guys have not been able to run more than a few laps as a pack without many having to go to a secondary piece or spending time in the garage. I don't recall how many of these rides are already locked into the show. The top two obviously and I think 6-8 more. How much time do you spend out there today in practice? Two sessions today. I think the second will more likely resemble rain delayed coverage with most of the cars in the garage.
Click to expand...

I guarantee the Fords work together to try and find some speed. They are going to look bad if they can't figure out what is going on with their cars. It just may be that front grill they have. They are the only ones not using a decal on the front, and it just might be hurting their speed.
 
I can't keep up with the changing rules. Aren't they locked into using the motor in the car they practiced and qualified with? Be a shame to blow a motor leading the 500 with 20 laps to go because you ran a excessive amount of practice laps.
 
Bobw said:
I can't keep up with the changing rules. Aren't they locked into using the motor in the car they practiced and qualified with? Be a shame to blow a motor leading the 500 with 20 laps to go because you ran a excessive amount of practice laps.
Click to expand...
They are allowed to change engines after the duel race.
 
Since only two cars will be going home, my guess is most drivers will see what they can do in the Duels to apply for Sunday. If they tear up a car, they're in and can go to a backup.
 
Dual practice starts in about 10 minutes. On SPEED.

I think that mrn.com is also covering this on their website if TV is unavailable to you.
 
For the teams that plan on running in the back pack they might as well park it and save a $$$car.
 
First practice session summed up.....

Brad K loses a fuel pump, Dale Jr. loses an engine, Matt Kenseth flat-spots tires, Newman, Edwards and Martin in a crash.

Oh, and Michael Waltrip was fastest in that first session.
 
As predicted.....

Only 25 of the 45 drivers practiced in the final 90-minute session at Daytona International Speedway and there was little drafting as drivers were nervous about wrecking their cars before Thursday’s qualifying races. Of the ones that did, few laps were taken.

There's going to be little pack experience going into tomorrows events. Good luck to them all. They're going to need it.
 
“Dual” is an adjective describing the two-ness of something—dual carburetors, for instance. A “duel” is a formal battle intended to settle a dispute.
Click to expand...

;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom