Saturday, April 16, 2011
Talladega Superspeedway
Dodge Motorsports PR
Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
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Keys for Success: Aaron’s 499
TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 16, 2011) – Each race weekend, selected Dodge Motorsports engineers, Penske Racing crew chiefs, engineers, drivers or engine specialists give their insight on the ‘Keys for Success’ for the upcoming race. This week, the green flag drops at Talladega Superspeedway and the Aaron’s 499.
Track: Talladega Superspeedway (Race 8 of 36 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series)
Race: Aaron’s 499
Track Length: 2.66-mile (188 laps/500 miles)
Trivia Question: (Answer below) Talladega Superspeedway’s 2.66-mile configuration is the largest track on NASCAR’s current 36-race schedule. How many “Roman strides” would it take to complete one lap around Talladega Superspeedway?
BRAD KESELOWSKI (Driver, No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger R/T)
Be there or be square: “I’ve never seen anybody win these races without being there at the end. You have to have a car that’s in one piece at the end of the race. It’s so easy to get impatient and make a move in traffic because you get anxious. That get’s you in trouble really fast here. You have to give yourself a chance to win the race at the end.”
Two-car tango: “How your car handles in the two-car draft will be key. Stability of the race car in the draft will be key. Kurt and I worked well together in Daytona making the ‘switch”. That will be important tomorrow as well.”
Survival Island: “You have to escape the carnage that happens at restrictor plate races. Things happen so fast here and it’s really hard to predict when and where something will happen. Surviving the ‘big one’ is key.”
Answer to trivia question: 2,660 strides. The word “mile” comes from the Latin word “milla” or “mile” meaning a thousand paces. A mile was equal to 1,000 Roman strides.
Source: Webster’s Dictionary and Running Times
