NASCAR opens practice at Las Vegas
Posted: Thur February 26, 1998 at 10:06 p.m. EST
Contributing Editor
LAS VEGAS -- How appropriate that the fastest driver in
Thursday's NASCAR Winston Cup practice session at Las Vegas
Motor Speedway is named "Million Dollar Bill."
Bill Elliott ran the fastest lap during today's four-hour
practice session for Sunday's Las Vegas 400 when he drove his
Ford Taurus to a fast lap of 166.384 miles per hour. Chad
Little, also in a Ford, was second at 165.965 mph, followed by
Roush Racing teammate Johnny Benson, Jr. at 165.781 mph. Rick
Mast, who won the pole for last weekend's Goodwrench Service
Plus 400, was fourth, followed by Dick Trickle.
It appears the Fords have adapted to the 1.5-mile trioval better
than the Chevrolets as the teams prepare for Friday's pole
qualifications. But despite being fast on Thursday, Elliott
realizes practice isn't the most important part of the weekend.
"This is only the first round of practice," Elliott said. "I ran
at a cool time and things will probably change.
"Today, you could use your tires and you could do different
things. We went through some motor stuff trying to find our best
combination and that is what is good, especially coming to a new
facility. Coming in like this, we didn't waste a test coming out
here. Now you're running up against all the other cars and you
know where you stack up. You come in a day early and now we can
sit down and get ready to qualify tomorrow."
Elliott has raced on this track before by participating in two
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races and one Winston West race.
"I don't have to learn the race track," Elliott said. "I came
here and knew what it was going to take to get around the race
track as far as a general setup. We changed some stuff, but
still I didn't have to go out and learn the groove of the race
track or what the race track was going to do or where the
difficult spots were on the race track.
"I just came in, unloaded, and started running."
Fords claimed eight of the top nine spots in practice Thursday.
The fastest Chevrolet belonged to Sterling Marlin, who was
eighth-fastest. Although the Chevrolet drivers may be at a
disadvantage, they are working to close the gap on the faster
Fords.
"I walked around the track this morning, I've never raced here
and I'd had only seen the track from the air, so I wanted to
check it out," said Chevrolet driver Bobby Hamilton. "You can
tell by looking at the rubber on the race track where the
grooves are. Sometimes, when you're out there riding around in
practice, you're trying to look and everybody else who has been
here before is already up to speed.
"It shouldn't take more than 20 minutes of practice to figure it
out. Any place that has a lot of grip is pretty easy."
A NASCAR race in Las Vegas has proven to be a big hit, not only
for the fans, but also the competitors.
"We've been have a good time since we got in late last night,"
said Mike Skinner. "We went out and watched some old `70s rock
`n roll stuff. We checked out the casinos and that was pretty
cool, but I don't think the IRS is going to have to be worried
about me at all. I didn't hurt anybody. I'm contributing to
keeping the lights burning.
"I love blackjack. I have to take my shoes off so I can keep
count of what is going on. I'm no great gambler but I love to
play blackjack. We didn't get a chance to play a lot last
night, but we'll get a chance to play a little more tonight."
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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