Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: IRL drivers not worried about Miami tire wear

Friday, Nov. 28, 2003 | 9:50 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Tire wear -- and failure -- was an issue for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series during its first race on the reconfigured Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Just ask Bill Elliott, who was deprived a victory when he had a tire blow out on the final lap of the race. Or ask Michael Waltrip or Brian Vickers, both of whom crashed hard after tire-related problems.

When the Indy Racing League Series returns to Homestead-Miami in February for the 2004 season opener -- the first race for the open-wheel cars on the track since the banking was increased -- at least one IRL driver doesn't anticipate that series having similar tire problems.

Dan Wheldon, the 2003 IRL Rookie of the Year, was among a handful of drivers who tested the track's new variable-degree banking and fresh asphalt last week and said that tire manufacturer Firestone seemed to have a handle on the tire situation.

"We didn't really have any (tire) problems," Wheldon said. "I think Firestone (did) a good job. Obviously, it was a new kind of layout for those guys, too. They tried some different tires (and) I think they've got data now they can go back and look at before the race.

"I think they have a very good idea what they're going to use. You watch the history of Firestone being involved with the IRL, they've had nothing but good experiences."

Wheldon, who will return for a second year with Andretti Green Racing in 2004, said the IRL cars' speeds will be considerably faster than this year's race -- perhaps by as much as 15 mph. Tony Kanaan captured the pole this year with a lap of 203.560 mph.

The new banking system at Homestead -- 18 degrees on the bottom of the track, 19 degrees in the middle and 20 degrees at the top -- will force IRL drivers to change their approach to next year's race, Wheldon said.

"It's certainly a big change," Wheldon said. "The corners, they've got between 18 (and 20 degrees of banking), so it changes the strategy for the race. It was comfortably flat out when we were there (for the test). I wouldn't say it's quite as easy as a superspeedway in terms of how easy it is to be flat out.

"I certainly think when we race there that the car definitely has to be very, very good in traffic. I think that window is going to be slightly smaller than, say, a Chicago, than a Michigan, than a Fontana."

In the wake of Kenny Brack's serious accident in the season finale at Texas Motor Speedway and Tony Renna's fatal crash during a test session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last month, there has been increasing talk of the need to slow down the IRL cars. Wheldon sidestepped the issue but expressed confidence in Brian Barnhart, who is in charge of racing operations for the IRL.

"I'm sure the IRL will make sure that they have the cars as safe as possible and I think they do an excellent job," Wheldon said. "I'll kind of leave it in their hands. I love the racing in the IRL and I think if you ask every one of the drivers, they'd say the same thing; they're very confident.

"Everybody's confident in Brian Barnhart; we'll kind of leave it to him. When he asks us a question, we'll certainly give our opinions and feel on what we think."

Carmichael will undergo surgery once the swelling in his knee subsides.

The 2003-04 Supercross season opens next weekend in Seville, Spain.

Gordon, who started 21st among the 22 Trophy Trucks, said he passed about 15 trucks when his truck suffered a flat tire a little more than 100 miles into the 805-mile course. After repairing the flat, Gordon suffered another wheel-related problem that forced him to lose two hours while making repairs.

Finally, with a little more than 100 miles remaining in the race, a valve malfunction in both rear shocks forced Gordon to park the truck.

"I know we had a truck that could win and I'm proud of the fact that our (Richard Childress Racing) Chevrolet engine ran well and that we were competitive when we were on the course," Gordon said. "Both of the problems that we had during the race were easily avoidable, and we'll learn from our mistakes and come back next year and give it another run.

"I know we built a truck that was probably the most technologically advanced in the desert and even though we only had 70 miles on it before they dropped the green flag, it performed great. We'll run it a few more times before next year's race and we'll make it as close to perfect as possible"

Riggs and Randolph teamed to win two Busch Series races this season and finished sixth in points in the No. 10 Nestle Nesquik Ford.

The final "Midnight Mayhem" event also will feature the "Las Vegas' Fastest Female Shootout," with trophies and cash prizes being awarded to women in Import, Domestic, Forced-Induction and All-Motor classes as well as for fastest reaction time and best of show categories.

Gates will open at 7 p.m. and racing will run from 8 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $10 for racers and $5 for spectators.