SGMP Testing

by Marvin T. Smith

Richie Stevens and Warren Johnson were out testing this week at SGMP. Richie ran the best time so far in winter testing with a fine 6.605 on Wednesday. That time is just a tick off KJ's track record of 6.604 set in December of 2005. Richie was driving the Rick Jones car that Allen Johnson ran toward the end of last season. Richie will start the season in this car while his new RJ car is being finished. Today, the air was not quite as good, but Richie put down a nice 6.612 atr 208.10 about 2:20 in the afternoon. The team swapped in a new motor and they made one trial on it late in the afternoon at 6.644 208.23. They plan to run again tomorrow. Warren Johnson's team was out testing with Adam Drzayich (hope I got that right -- the insurance release was hard to read) behind the wheel as Warren looked on. I saw them make five attempts this afternoon, but only got down the track once at 6.73 207mph. I'm guessing that they were sorting out some suspension settings, but I don't really know. I believe that they also plan on more testing tomorrow.

Tim Tindle brought his Mustang out to South Georgia Motorsports Park today for some test runs. He made three passes while I was there, but never made it to the eighth. He was having tire shake or some other major traction problem. For all of you wondering who will be the crew chief, I can tell you that Chuck Ford was there Thursday.