Riding around Richmond

Just got back (before it started raining) from a pace car ride around Richmond with NASCAR's pace car driver Brett Bodine.

We did 10 or so laps. One of the interesting things we talked about was how physically demanding this track can be. When you take a look at it, notice how only the backstretch is flat. That doesn't seem like a big deal but when you're at speed and the G-Forces are pushing you around the seat, it is. Especially for Jeff Gordon, who has had some back problems and this past week went got another MRI on his back. He had said previously that Richmond was a hard track on his back. After riding along on the track, you can see it. My back is fine but another passenger has back troubles and said they could feel their back hurting until they got to the backstretch.

Another interesting thing to watch is how drivers can help their handling on the track. If they're struggling to turn, a driver might run right on the yellow line at hte bottom of the track. Where the yellow line is, there's a slight dip in the track. Brett Bodine says hitting that can help a car turn better in the corner, so when drivers are on the bottom of the track, they may be using this little trick.

Also, when you're on pit road because it's not straight, it's hard to see part of the pits. Pole-sitter Brian Vickers as the No. 1 stall at the end of pit road but his team won't see him until he's about 4-5 stalls away because the pit road turns with the track. Some teams don't like to pit down there because it's tough to find your spot.

Turns 1-2 and turns 3-4 and are different. If you can only be good in one place, you want to be good in 3-4, so you gain more speed off 4 because with the bend, the fronstretch is longer than the backstretch.

Just a few things to think about when you watch tonight's race (provided the rain stays away).

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