BY TEAM FORD RACING CORRESPONDENT

Hampton, Ga. — The race car inspection process at Atlanta Motor Speedway proceeded with nary a hitch, today, with the field of 45 cars getting the good to go signal at 10:40 a.m. The fastidious and through inspections came off with so little commotion that there was an honest 40 minutes between the time the last car was inspected and when the first practice for Winston Cup was scheduled to start. However, NASCAR inspectors were afforded the 40-minute cushion when morning showers slid the schedule back due to track drying efforts.

NASCAR Winston Cup director John Darby credits two factors for the quick inspection turn around process, which just the week before had some wondering how NASCAR could get all the cars done in a timely fashion.

“Number one it didn’t rain,” said Darby of this week’s inspections. “In Las Vegas [rain] was probably the biggest thing that held them up. Race teams pay attention to what’s going on around them and when its pouring down rain and it’s 10 o’clock in the morning it’s real easy for them to figure out ‘well, it’s going to be two-and-a-half hours before they get the track dry so we don’t have to go as quick as what we normally do.’

“Vegas wasn’t a surprise, Vegas was created by weather,” Darby continued. “It might be a little bit ironic we get to Atlanta and the weather wasn’t messing with us. It was business as usual. We were confidant that when the day came that we’d be able to start the weekend without having to change a schedule before we did anything else, that the result would be very similar to this.”

Addressing the other major contributing factor to the quick inspections was the teams’ work.

“My hat’s off to the race teams. I have a ton of respect for the teams in this garage and the fabricators and the crew chiefs and everybody else that have taken the new program and taken it seriously and took the extra setup time in the shops to make sure they’re correct when they get here.”

Darby then chuckled as he thought back to 2002, and when he was rolling the one engine rule into place for Winston Cup. “This time last year it was the engine builders walking around the garage jittery, walking on eggshells,” Darby said recalling the groans of anguish. “And by June it was business as usual. No one ever talked about the one engine rule or anything lese. I don’t expect anything different this year when we get to June. It’ll be a normal procedure that you just come to the race track and do.”

Darby’s men did find one violation. The No. 10 Valvoline Pontiac fuel cell check valve assembly didn’t meet specification. The part was replaced and the team didn’t miss practice.

DON’T CRY FOR AMS
There has been a considerable amount of rain in Henry County, where the Atlanta Motor Speedway is located. In the past several years the water tables have risen to near record levels, as a result. This has led to several problems with weepers, water coming up through the pavement, at Atlanta Motor speedway, including a Turn 1 display on several occasions.

Morning practice was red flagged once due to the problem and qualifying was also slowed due to the water problem. Track officials expect the weather, with the forecast calling for sun and warmth, to help with this aberration in the AMS track surface.

NO BLOW
According to NASCAR officials, the calls for a wind tunnel test will not yield action following Sunday’s race. The move is unwelcome news to some, but expected as NASCAR Winston Cup director John Darby has consistently told www.teamfordracing.com, since Daytona, that the goal is to not have to visit the tunnel in 2003.

Even if there’s a change of heart, the tunnel is book solid on Monday by General Motors.