Q – Racing at Dover doesn’t seem to wear drivers out as much as it used to. What’s the reason for that?

“One of the reasons the drivers don’t get as worn out is because it is less distance to race than in the past. It went from 500 miles to 400 miles and that has helped a lot with the fatigue experienced by the drivers. Also, with the technology in racing, you now have seats that are molded to the driver’s body and it holds your shape better. In the past, we did not have head supports or cool helmets and now you have all of these aids to help you while you’re in the seat. But, without a doubt, the biggest difference is the race becoming shorter.”

Q – How do drivers approach Dover? What is their strategy of getting around the racetrack known as the Monster Mile?

“In practice and qualifying you’re going to drive hard down on the bottom of the racetrack. You’ll peel around the bottom and it’s crucial getting off the corners. You can get real loose off Turns 2 and 4. To accommodate the transitions, you have to set the car up to be loose in both of those exits. The groove will also start to move up on the racetrack and you’ll move higher and higher on race day but not in practice and qualifying.”

Q — How much does the concrete surface at Dover change during the race for the drivers?

“The surface changes quite a bit. It gets blacker and blacker the more the rubber is laid down. You can see how high the groove moves by how black the surface gets. In the race, about halfway through, around 200 miles, you’ll start to notice that the groove has moved up close to the wall in both corners. This makes it easier to race because the groove has opened up and there is more real estate to race on. The grip is good from the bottom to the top.”

[ESPN]

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