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HardScrabble
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Some time back talk was of Indy type cars and the speeds they safely run vs the WC type cars. Roberto is trying to adapt to the difference in handling.
HAMPTON, Ga. - Roberto Guerrero won the pole position for the 1992 Indianapolis 500 with four laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at an average speed of 232.482 mph.
One lap, however, around the Atlanta Motor Speedway Tuesday at 184.738 mph in a stock car was more harrowing.
The veteran of 18 open-wheeled racing seasons is trying to make a racing comeback in cars with roofs and bumpers. A test this week at Atlanta was supposed to make him more familiar - and more comfortable - with the nuances of a stock car, but all it's accomplished is to stir hidden fears.
"I don't know what I'm feeling for in these cars," he said. "It never feels very good to me, but I'm expecting a lot of different things. I'm trying to fix problems that aren't fixable in these cars."
Guerrero said his biggest problem is finding a comfort zone. What he's found is the best-handling stock car feels worse than a bad-handling Indy car.
"I think when these cars are really good, they're not very good compared to what I'm used to," he said. "The biggest difference will be in the races. The racing will be very interesting."
David Green, a former Busch Series champion, is helping HRT. The only team that's owned and sponsored by Hispanics wanted Guerrero to drive in the Busch Series race at the Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte, N.C., last May, but it decided he still wasn't ready.
Now the plan is to give him a month to get ready for the race at Atlanta.
"My biggest deal is just helping them get the car running," Green said. "Roberto's a real good racer; he's just not used to the equipment. The hardest thing for him has been understanding that these cars aren't as forgiving. You can't drive them as hard into the corners.
"I've tried to help bridge the gap. The concept is still the same: drive fast, turn left. There's still one steering wheel and four tires."
While 184.738 mph seems fast, even at the 1.54-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway, it's far from being competitive. In fact, it's 7 mph slower that Ryan Newman's pole-winning speed of a year ago and, based on last year's qualifying, it's not fast enough to make the starting lineup.
But there's plenty of time for Guerrero to make up the difference - both in speed and comfort level.
HAMPTON, Ga. - Roberto Guerrero won the pole position for the 1992 Indianapolis 500 with four laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at an average speed of 232.482 mph.
One lap, however, around the Atlanta Motor Speedway Tuesday at 184.738 mph in a stock car was more harrowing.
The veteran of 18 open-wheeled racing seasons is trying to make a racing comeback in cars with roofs and bumpers. A test this week at Atlanta was supposed to make him more familiar - and more comfortable - with the nuances of a stock car, but all it's accomplished is to stir hidden fears.
"I don't know what I'm feeling for in these cars," he said. "It never feels very good to me, but I'm expecting a lot of different things. I'm trying to fix problems that aren't fixable in these cars."
Guerrero said his biggest problem is finding a comfort zone. What he's found is the best-handling stock car feels worse than a bad-handling Indy car.
"I think when these cars are really good, they're not very good compared to what I'm used to," he said. "The biggest difference will be in the races. The racing will be very interesting."
David Green, a former Busch Series champion, is helping HRT. The only team that's owned and sponsored by Hispanics wanted Guerrero to drive in the Busch Series race at the Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte, N.C., last May, but it decided he still wasn't ready.
Now the plan is to give him a month to get ready for the race at Atlanta.
"My biggest deal is just helping them get the car running," Green said. "Roberto's a real good racer; he's just not used to the equipment. The hardest thing for him has been understanding that these cars aren't as forgiving. You can't drive them as hard into the corners.
"I've tried to help bridge the gap. The concept is still the same: drive fast, turn left. There's still one steering wheel and four tires."
While 184.738 mph seems fast, even at the 1.54-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway, it's far from being competitive. In fact, it's 7 mph slower that Ryan Newman's pole-winning speed of a year ago and, based on last year's qualifying, it's not fast enough to make the starting lineup.
But there's plenty of time for Guerrero to make up the difference - both in speed and comfort level.
