Testing ban

[HoneyBadger]

Brad Keselowski called the testing ban in to question, when someone asked if NASCAR should loosen the testing ban so they can test at "safer tracks", Keselowski said he wishes they would.

Only problem with that is that they've been testing at Road Atlanta and VIR as far back as I can remember.

 

[HoneyBadger]

BTW BK, I heard Nashville's going to make a real nice test track soon.

 

[dpkimmel2001]

I think that he has a valid point. I don't know the answer to this, that's why I'm asking but are there any tracks left on the NASCAR schedule that don't have the SAFER barrier set up? At the same time how many of these tracks that they test @ do? That Road Atlanta wall doesn't exactly look like it's been updated any time recently. I know that closing the tracks on the NASCAR schedule to testing was to be a cost saving measure to the teams but what did that almost cost us yesterday? I'm not saying that the SAFER barrier is the end-all to injury in a race car but it sure has been a great addition IMO. Maybe they should open up the testing @ tracks currently on the schedule. Have scheduled dates similar to what they did @ Daytona years ago where it was open to everyone that wanted to participate. Limit those dates and tracks enough to cut down on the cost. Problem is, teams with the money will still go elsewhere to test anyhow. I don't know how that could be monitored.

 

[Mopardh9]

I think that he has a valid point. I don't know the answer to this, that's why I'm asking but are there any tracks left on the NASCAR schedule that don't have the SAFER barrier set up? At the same time how many of these tracks that they test @ do? That Road Atlanta wall doesn't exactly look like it's been updated any time recently. I know that closing the tracks on the NASCAR schedule to testing was to be a cost saving measure to the teams but what did that almost cost us yesterday? I'm not saying that the SAFER barrier is the end-all to injury in a race car but it sure has been a great addition IMO. Maybe they should open up the testing @ tracks currently on the schedule. Have scheduled dates similar to what they did @ Daytona years ago where it was open to everyone that wanted to participate. Limit those dates and tracks enough to cut down on the cost. Problem is, teams with the money will still go elsewhere to test anyhow. I don't know how that could be monitored.

It's kind of a no win situation, teams with the most money will always find a way to do the most testing. I know this would be expensive for tracks on a low budget, but it should be mandated that where there are concrete walls they should be replaced with the safer barrier walls. That is probably wishfull thinking on my part.

 

[robbybee]

Track owners gotta have revenue in order to afford SAFER barriers!

Teams can test all they want (or can afford) but they can't do it on GoodYear tires from what I understand, due to NASCAR restrictions. That makes testing data less transferable to actual races. But, seat time is seat time and, especially for younger drivers, it's important.