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 Friday, December 13, 2002
Drivers should hit 200 at Nashville
By Jack Arute
Special to ABC Sports Online
Saturday night's Firestone Indy 200 at the 1.3-mile Nashville Superspeedway presents a number of issues for the Indy Racing League. Issues that give the race a unique character and are sure to test both mechanics and drivers.
"After testing at Nashville Superspeedway last week, I can say that this will definitely be one of the most physical tracks that we'll race on this season," explained Marlboro Team Penske's Gil de Ferran. "We are pulling over five Gs at both ends of the track for a sustained amount of time, so it really is tough on the body."
|  | | Defending champion Buddy Lazier is looking to add to his guitar collection this Saturday night in Nashville. |
Nashville's speed flirts with the 200 mph superspeedway barrier. Greg Ray took last year's MBNA Pole with a speed of 199.922 mph, so it's safe to assume that a new record in the 200 mph range awaits this year's qualifying session. Fourteen degrees of banking gives Nashville its high-speed personality.
"The track has good grip, and there are a couple of grooves, so there should be some exciting racing," added de Ferran. "The layout and characteristics will require a mixture of horsepower and good handling."
Its concrete surface makes it an exercise in finding comfort without sacrificing speed.
"With it being the only concrete track we race on, Nashville is a challenge," said Delphi Chevy driver Scott Sharp. "We are pulling about five Gs on sticker tires so it makes having absolute concentration and focus absolute priority."
The concrete is not as smooth as traditional asphalt. It knocks a car and its driver around. The texture also puts the tires to a real test.
"It can be a hard to get a hold of," said Team Menard's Mark Dismore. "I'm sure Firestone will have a great tire for us."
The biggest difference about the track is that it is concrete and the only one like that for this year, said Rayovac/Blair Racing Chevy driver Alex Barron.
"With the amount of downforce that the cars run and the restrictions of the wing, it will be tight at the top of the field."
Sharp says that the "x-factor" at Nashville is testing.
"Testing is critical in developing the correct setup. Our testing got shortened by the rain, but we did get some valuable information in the laps we completed."
A number of teams tested at Nashville, but for others, the first practice session will serve as their test time.
"I'll just do what I do before every track we have raced on this season," chuckled 310 Racing's George Mack. "On Tuesday or Wednesday, I'll load the Nashville track onto my computer and drive a couple of hundred miles."
The return to the Music City is a welcome one for defending champion Buddy Lazier. The Colorado Coors Light pilot sees Nashville's quirky characteristics as a plus.
"It's a race that we very much want to win," explained the 2000 IRL champion. "My team and I have had pretty good luck running on concrete, with a first at Nashville in 2001 and two seconds at Dover, in 1998 and 1999. I've got a beautiful Gibson guitar and would like to obtain another spectacular trophy Saturday night."
The 8:30 p.m. ET start time is a welcome change for the IRL's most recent winner, Airton Dare.
"I like going back to running a night race because then I don't have to get up early in the morning," Dare chuckled.
Jack Arute writes a column every Monday for ABC Sports Online.
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 Helio Castroneves is excited about his first start at Nashville Superspeedway.
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