Goodyear Tire Test at Atlanta Motor Speedway Underway

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Marcy Scott

                     770-946-3951

                    Matthew Simmons

                    770-946-3917

 

 

Goodyear Tire Test at Atlanta Motor Speedway Underway

 

HAMPTON, Ga. (June 15, 2010) - With circuits still being turned at
Atlanta Motor Speedway, the first hours of a two-day Goodyear Tire &
Rubber Company tire test resulted in praise by three NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series drivers as Goodyear prepares the ultimate tire for the Speedway's
Labor Day NASCAR night racing weekend.

 

Jamie McMurray, Paul Menard and seven-time Atlanta pole winner Ryan
Newman are assisting Goodyear with the test and each offered positive
comments on the tire and day one of the test. 

 

The drivers were unanimous in exclaiming the tire used in March's Kobalt
Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway was among the best-ever raced at the
track in recent years. However, tire temperatures remained a concern
during that race.

 

"So far, so good today," said Newman, who is tied for the pole record at
Atlanta with his mentor Buddy Baker. "We were as close as we have ever
been in Atlanta in the spring, but we did have a couple of right-front
temperature failures so we're trying to knock the temperature down."

 

While day one of a Goodyear test can be revealing, Newman explained that
much of the day was spent setting base conditions for further
examination during the test's second day.

 

"We were getting a good base line doing some 10-lap runs and getting
some feel changes with different constructions, compounds and different
tread thicknesses that they have," said Newman. "We're just getting a
feel for everything as Goodyear is collecting their data. We're trying
to figure out what tires run best and run the coolest."

 

Menard agreed with Newman regarding the positives of the March tire.

 

 "They have a control tire that we raced in March and that tire is
good," said Menard, who finished fifth in the 2010 Kobalt Tools 500.
"They have a couple of other compounds and constructions we are working
on, but its going to be hard to find anything better than we had, but
they are working on it. 

 

"They're trying to get some heat out of the tire and make it live a
little bit longer," added Menard, expanding on Newman's comments on
temperature issues. "Some guys did have tire problems, but the majority
didn't - I think we know why some of the guys had problems and that's
too much camber - and we're trying to help those guys, but for the
majority of the field we were pretty happy with what we had."

 

Testing will continue through 10 p.m. tonight. Goodyear tire testing
will continue tomorrow at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the event is closed
to the public.

 

The biggest Labor Day party in the USA is at Atlanta Motor Speedway on
Labor Day weekend, as the NASCAR Sprint Cup stars head to the high banks
for night racing on Sept. 4 and 5. For more information or to purchase
tickets, call (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX, or visit 
www.atlantamotorspeedway.com <http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/> .


 

-AMS-

 

 

 

Matthew Simmons

Marketing & Promotion Coordinator

Atlanta Motor Speedway | P.O Box 500 | Hampton, GA 30228 | P:
770.946.3917 | F: 770.707.7853 | www.AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com

 

  

 

High Speed Hits the High Banks at Night

Labor Day Weekend | September 4-5, 2010

 

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