News Article

GANASSI RACING RETURNS TO GIR FOR TWO-DAY TEST

October 9, 2007
Brandon W. Mudd

MADISON, Ill. - For the third time this season, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates tested at Gateway International Raceway, this time for a two-day test focusing on the upcoming "Car of Tomorrow" race at Phoenix International Raceway. Kevin Hamlin, who earned his best-ever NASCAR Busch Series finish at GIR with a seventh-place effort in July, piloted the Ganassi Dodge Charger during the sessions.

Kevin Hamlin takes a break from his test session at Gateway International Raceway on Tuesday.

"We really enjoy this race track," Hamlin said. "I really like running here. It's always fun to come back, it's a fun town, and it's a good place to test various things on the car.

"We come to get data for (Ganassi's Nextel Cup Series teams) and hopefully, what we learn will translate well and help them on the race track. The stuff we've found this year already has. Our Car of Tomorrow program is getting better and all three (Cup Series) guys are running really well, so that means we're doing our job here."

Despite high temps and rain on Monday and cool, breezy conditions on Tuesday, Hamlin said there wasn't much difference on the track.

"Track-wise, it's actually about the same," he said. "We got about the same track times we did yesterday. Which is good because that means our data is going to be more consistent. It's a little more comfortable in the car today than it was yesterday. When it gets humid here and rains, it's pretty miserable, but you couldn't ask for a better day today."

There was speculation that Hamlin would drive a full NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule for Ganassi next year, but he said that probably isn't the case.

"I don't think so," the Washington native said. "I have a role of testing and limited races here and there. Obviously, as a driver I want to go full-time, but I'm pretty lucky to be able to do this for a living. I have a lot of fun coming here with these test guys.

"Next year, we're going to be doing a lot of testing and hopefully, I'll get a handful of races and we'll see what happens."