NASCAR WCUP: Mayfield Leads Ford Testing Wednesday at the Brickyard, Jarrett Fastest Overall
15 July 1999
INDIANAPOLIS - Jeremy Mayfield recorded the fastest lap in testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday as Ford NASCAR Winston Cup Series teams concluded a two-day test at the famous 2.5-mile oval. Mayfield's speed of 177.925 mph, set in the heat of the afternoon, was fourth fastest overall of the test.Drivers tested in preparation for the sixth Brickyard 400 on Aug. 7. In an interesting twist, the top three drivers in the current Winston Cup point standings were the three fastest in testing overall. Points leader Dale Jarrett set the fastest mark of 179.154 Tuesday in cooler air temperatures. Jeff Burton, second in Winston Cup points, was second fastest at 178.260, and Mark Martin, third in points, was third fastest at 178.218.
"Things went very well," said Jarrett, the 1996 Brickyard 400 champion. "We learned things we needed to know. We don't get many tests throughout the season. Spoiler and air-dam rules change, and this track's a year older."
Jarrett's speed was just shy of Ernie Irvan's track record of 179.394, set in qualifying for the 1998 Brickyard 400.
Indianapolis native Kenny Irwin Jr. was fourth fastest overall with a 177.736 lap Tuesday. When asked to rate the test on a 10-scale, Irwin said the results were mixed.
"Probably about a seven," he said. "The big thing is that we've got information that we can bring back. It may not necessarily be with this car. You feel like you could always be better. We think we know what we need to work on. Now it's just a matter of applying it successfully."
Irwin said the approach to racing in front of the hometown fans in this year's Brickyard is different than in 1998, his first time to compete at the Speedway..
"I'm just a lot more relaxed, and I've been more relaxed everywhere we've gone," he said. "But as for winning races, this is it. It doesn't matter if it was in a go-kart, at the Indy 500 or the Brickyard 400. Winning at Indianapolis would be special."
Irwin was the 1998 Winston Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Another Brickyard 400 champion in the top 10 was 1997 winner Ricky Rudd, who set a fast mark of 177.228, good for sixth. His best overall speed was the second fastest Wednesday.
"We ran a little better today," said Rudd. "We ran race setup all day today, and ran a race motor instead of a qualifying motor. We were second quick this morning before we started working on race setup, so we think we're ready."
General Motors teams, from both the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Pontiac Grand Prix brands, will test July 19-20 at the Speedway. Test sessions both days are scheduled from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. The public is welcome to view testing from the infield south short-chute grandstands. There is no admission fee.
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