Day 2 - 7.9.05: The second day of my trip to Chicagoland Speedway started off much earlier than the first. The train (actually, our rented SUV) left promptly at 6:30am, which allowed time to stop at the donut shop for the true breakfast of champions ? coffee and donuts. It was a scene straight out of a Seinfeld episode. The lady working behind the counter shouted, ?NEXT,? then shouted our orders back at us, ?COFFEE WITH CREAM AND SUGAR, CHOCOLATE WITH SPRINKLES!? It was way too much for me to handle at 6:30 in the morning, especially when I?m already two hours off due to the time difference.
Everyone was quite lively for so early in the morning and we made it out to the track in record time. We had a couple more media folks join us, so we had to make a quick stop at the NASCAR® credentials trailer to get them squared-away with their own VIP passes. After making our way to the infield, we headed for the pits. To my surprise, the NASCAR 06 team had arranged for us to do a couple of laps in the Dodge Magnum Pace Car (with a professional doing the driving, of course).
The media guys jumped in for the first spin around the track. From afar, it didn?t look like they were going all that fast, but they were easily doing more than 120 MPH, in a suped-up station wagon, mind you. They made three laps around the track, then returned to the pits. When they got out of the car it was like watching kids walk out of a candy store -- definitely a first experience for all of us.
Next it was my turn to take a seat in the pace car. Three of us jumped in the back and one person took the front seat. Our driver, Dave Finley, kindly asked us to buckle-up and gave us a very cool and interesting lesson in racing rules and etiquette, such as doing no more than 55 MPH while in the pit and waving to the driver behind you when you are slowing down to pit -- pretty important considering the race cars aren?t outfitted with turn signals. In addition to the rules and etiquette, Dave talked to us about the mechanics and engineering of the track, all while doing about 125 MPH! The way in which the track was constantly banking caused us all to be pulled by the g-forces to the outside. (I couldn?t walk normally for the rest of the morning!)
If you ever have the chance to take a trip around a NASCAR race track at high speeds, you will have a newfound respect for what the drivers do week-in and week-out. Thanks again to Dave and the NASCAR 06 team for setting this up ? it was a great experience that I will never forget.
From the pits we headed over to the garage and driver RV compounds for the next couple of hours to give the journalists a chance to interview some of the NASCAR® Busch® and NEXTEL® Cup drivers. We also got an in-depth tour of the pit and garage, led by one of our friends over at NASCAR. The timing was perfect, we finished up the tour and it was time for the race.
It was the NASCAR Busch Series race, considered to be one of the biggest NASCAR Busch Series races all year with 53 drivers trying to qualify for 43 spots. It was especially exciting because so many NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers were also competing in the NASCAR Busch Series race. Martin Truex, Jr., who sat down with us the day before to check out NASCAR 06: Total Team Control, qualified for the number-16 spot and finished the race in 7th place. Despite his finish, Martin still leads the NASCAR Busch Series standings. The race was a great preview of what to expect in Sunday?s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race.
Kevin Harvick took 1st place and Greg Biffle came in a close 2nd. Since the race was over, it was time to make the trek back to our hotel and find some dinner. Traffic was a mess ? it had to be one of the longest ?short trips? I have ever been on. When we finally got back to the hotel we cleaned up and found some delicious Italian food, and then crashed early to be ready for another day at the track. Sunday was to be an even longer day than the first two, but much more exciting too!
Chicago Day 1 Diary >>
