Thursday, August 09, 2001
Speedway smooths out bumps
IRL gives OK; drivers had complained
By Tom Groeschen
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Kentucky Speedway chairman Jerry Carroll said his track's racing surface is safe and ready for Sunday's Indy Racing League event, with ESPN.com reporting the 1.5-mile oval has safety issues.
ESPN.com reported Wednesday that Kentucky has developed “a wicked, bumpy surface.” Carroll said the rough spots have been repaired.
“The IRL was here yesterday (Tuesday) and they seem to think the track is fine,” Carroll said. “It's a problem every track in the country has sometimes.”
IRL points leader Sam Hornish Jr. and former IRL champion Buzz Calkins both had spinout incidents in practice at Kentucky last Friday. Calkins told ESPN.com that track workers “couldn't have cared less about listening to me.”
Hornish told The Enquirer this week he was not concerned.
“They're doing a lot of work to the track, and they'll do things to get rid of the bumps,” Hornish said. “It's like that at all tracks. The first year, they're super smooth. Then after the ground settles a bit, it's hard to keep it level.”
IRL spokesman Ron Green said league officials have visited Kentucky sever al times in the past few days.
“There were some areas that the race teams felt should be addressed, and the track has done a great job reacting,” Green said. “This is actually quite common ... Every place has something. I know Charlotte is famous for its bump in Turn Four.”
Kentucky has been grinding down its bumps and has put down a smooth, adhesive sealer called Rino Patch. The IRL said it will make “wing adjustments” to its cars for a better aerodynam ic ride, going with a 12-degree wing instead of a six-degree wing.
Calkins told ESPN.com his feelings had changed since hearing of Kentucky's fixes.
“I left the track after only four laps last Friday being hesitant and a little wary,” Calkins told the Web site. “But I think adding rear wing and that sealant should be sufficient and solve 80 percent of the problem.”
IRL driver Sarah Fisher, who was in Cincinnati signing autographs at a down town function Wednesday, said she noticed the bumps when she tested at Kentucky two weeks ago.
“It's nothing that's a big issue,” Fisher said. “As Indy car drivers, we're pretty picky and we want it to be perfect every time.”
Fisher noted Indy cars sit lower to the ground than NASCAR cars.
“We feel every little nook and cranny,” she said. “Our ride height is like 40-thousandths of an inch when we're at speed. The slightest little bump, to us, is a big deal.”
Carroll said the track has sold about 40,000 seats for Sunday's race (1:30 p.m., ABC).
“You have to always get both sides of the story,” Carroll said. “We would never operate a track we didn't feel was safe. We're ready to go.”
Friday, the weekend begins with ARCA trucks, USAC Midgets and Baby Grand stock races. Saturday includes IRL pole day and a NASCAR Gatorade All-Pro race.
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Speedway smooths out bumps
