|
WATKINS GLEN,
N.Y. - If only track safety were as uniform in regulation as
NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series car is in design.
One year
after a violent wreck in the Cup race raised safety concerns
with some parts of the road course at Watkins Glen
International, the series returns this weekend with a
variety of improvements to the track.
Five years
— and numerous accidents — since driver Jeff Burton
first raised safety issues with parts of Pocono (Pa.)
Raceway, that track has yet to alter the areas which have
seen a pair of frightening wrecks this season, most recently
Sunday involving Elliott Sadler.
Friday,
drivers were uniform in their praise for the changes to the
Glen.
"You've
got to give the track credit and the facility credit for
making the adjustments and not sitting on their hands on
it," Tony Stewart said of the track's response to last
year's violent wreck at the Glen, which involved Jeff
Gordon, Sam Hornish Jr., Joey Logano and Burton.
"They
not only addressed that area, but they addressed a couple
(of) other areas on the race track, too. It's nice when you
go back to a facility and you know they've made it safer
than it was the last time you were here."
With two
practice s Friday, Cup drivers had plenty of time to get
accustomed to the layout changes before Sunday's Heluva
Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen. Qualifying will be at
11:10 a.m. EDT on Saturday.
Among the
changes: removal of gravel traps and grass, modification of
the catch fence, installation of SAFER barriers, and the
relocation of guard rails.
Pocono,
however, is a different story.
After a bad
wreck during June, Pocono officials stated their intention
to make safety improvements, including additional SAFER
barriers and removal of grass. However, they said there was
not enough time between their Cup race weekends to make the
changes.
Unfortunately,
Elliot Sadler wrecked in the same area between Turns 1 and 2
last Sunday, an accident that tore the engine and driveshaft
from his car. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured.
"I
told several people four or five years ago that race track
had to be fixed," Burton said. "I had a
conversation with the race track (officials), and every time
they had the conversation it was, 'This is the first time
anybody has ever brought it to us.'
"My
calls to improving the back straightaway at Pocono fell on
deaf ears, it's just that simple. I brought it to their
attention on numerous occasions, and nothing happened."
Greg Biffle,
who also has been outspoken in promoting changes to Pocono,
credited Watkins Glen officials for their quick response .
"It is
so nice to see a race track respond so quickly to what
appeared to be a pretty bad accident last race. They have
done a fantastic job with this race track," he said.
|
