SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship drivers got their first taste of oval racing Monday with a test on the Lowes Motor Speedway course they will run Round Four of the series Championship on May 24.
Utilizing the 1.5-mile oval with two chicanes, one on the front stretch and one on the back stretch, 17 cars took part in the test that ran into the night, under the facilitys lights.
We wanted an addition to CTC Qualifying night for the Coca-Cola 600, Lowes Motor Speedway President and General Manager H. A. Humpy Wheeler said. Ive seen these cars run before and they offer a different look. Youve got the Porsche 911s, Corvettes and Cadillacs. Youve got really special cars that I think the people in the stands are really going to enjoy.
I would love to run them on the oval [only], but my heart can only stand so much of that. Weve got a little front chicanechicanery I call it. Then on the back stretch, theres another little loop youve got to go through. Today, we were going 160 [mph] with the chicanes. Obviously we want to have a safe race and we want to have a close race. I think this little bit of chicanery will do that as well as appease the fans that like oval racing.
Reigning NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson made his SCCA SPEED GT debut driving the No. 48 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/Bose Cadillac CTS-V that he will pilot after he qualifies for the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24.
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