NASCAR WCUP: Rudd fastest on first day of final Brickyard 400 test
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
July 25, 2001
INDIANAPOLIS - Ricky Rudd set the day's standard with a lap at 175.809 mph July 24, but others lurked nearby on the first day of the final NASCAR Winston Cup Series two-day test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in preparation for the eighth annual Brickyard 400 on Aug. 5.
Rudd's lap in a Ford was just .075 of a second faster than the Dodge of Bill Elliott, who checked in at 175.552 mph. 2001 Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip was third at 175.128 with a run late in the day.
In the morning session, Johnny Benson was the fastest at 174.706, followed by both of Elliott's Dodges and Rudd. Speeds went up in the afternoon even though temperatures soared to 87 degrees.
"This afternoon we worked on qualifying setup," Rudd said. "The track's a little greasier than it has been in years past. Of the chassis stuff that used to work here, some's not allowed, and some doesn't work any more. You can retain about 60 percent of the stuff, and 40 percent is all new."
Rudd was on the pole a year ago at 181.068 mph.
"You're not going to see anything like that," he said. "These tires give up a little speed in qualifying, but I think you'll see the field closer together, and I think you'll see a little better race.
"If you look at trends, we're not changing as many tires, and you tend to stay on scuffs. I think that's a trend you'll continue to see at Indy."
Defending Brickyard 400 champion Bobby Labonte ended up 25th at 169.434.
Tuesday marked the first laps at the Speedway for Shawna Robinson, who will bid to become the Brickyard 400's first female starter and only the fourth woman driver to race at the Speedway behind Janet Guthrie, Lyn St. James and Sarah Fisher, all Indianapolis 500 starters. Robinson turned her best lap in the morning at 166.322.
A total of 49 cars were on the track in the morning session and 48 in the afternoon, with 31 drivers on the 2.5-mile oval. The test concludes Wednesday.
Jimmy Spencer had the fastest lap of last week's test for half the expected entry list at 177.560, followed by Jeff Gordon at 176.481.
NASCAR WINSTON CUP TOP TESTING SPEEDS BY DRIVER,
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, JULY 24
(Fastest speed overall for each driver)
Pos. No. Name Speed
1. 28T Ricky Rudd 175.809
2. 9B Bill Elliott 175.552
3. 15 Michael Waltrip 175.128
4. 10A Johnny Benson 174.706
5. 12A Jeremy Mayfield 173.957
6. 88 Dale Jarrett 173.819
7. 93A Dave Blaney 173.558
8. 77A Robert Pressley 173.397
9. 4A Kevin Lepage 172.987
10. 96A Andy Houston 172.854
11. 57 David Keith 172.682
12. 44A Buckshot Jones 172.483
13. 19B Casey Atwood 172.364
14. 21A Elliott Sadler 172.209
15. 02 Ryan Newman 171.848
16. 7A Mike Wallace 171.766
17. 36 Ken Schrader 171.700
18. 90 Hut Stricklin 171.690
19. 95 Ed Berrier 171.553
20. 45 Kyle Petty 171.178
21. 29 Kevin Harvick 170.830
22. 92K Stacy Compton 170.823
23. 20 Tony Stewart 170.817
24. 55B Bobby Hamilton 170.500
25. 07 Ted Musgrave 170.177
26. 17 Matt Kenseth 170.036
27. 31 Robby Gordon 169.978
28. 18A Bobby Labonte 169.434
29. 37B Derrike Cope 168.795
30. 84 Shawna Robinson 166.322
31. 84 Morgan Shepherd 165.621
Text provided by Paul Kelly
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