Top > Sport > 2006 > April > 2006-04-10

NASCAR Cars Will Use Smaller Tanks for Safety

NASCAR is looking to increase safety for the Lowe`s Motor Speedway in May, and the Nextel Cup cars will be using smaller fuel tanks. This move will shorten the runs between pits and will contribute to the overall safety of the race. NASCAR representative Jim Hunter said the decision to use 14-gallon tanks at Lowe`s rather than the normal 22-gallon tanks "is more of a precaution" than anything else. It is similar to what NASCAR has done at Daytona and Talladega.

A smaller fuel tank means cars will have to pit more often for gas, preventing long runs that would put stress on the tires. Hunter said NASCAR teams were informed Friday about the changes that will be made at Lowe`s for consecutive weekends. The All-Star Challenge is May 20, and the Coca-Cola 600 is May 28. "A new pavement, combined with a new tire, that shorter run is a safe way to do it," Hunter said.

There were a whopping 37 cautions during the two premiere events at Lowe`s last year, including a NASCAR-record 22 during the Coca-Cola 600. That came after the track spent $250,000 in 2005 on a grinding process called "levigating" that was designed to smooth out the bumps around the 1.5-mile oval.