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Speed Breaks ARCA Dress Code in Maiden Test
Written by: RACER Staff   http://www.racer.com
09/25/2007 - 07:00 PM
Talladega, Ala.
 
Speed trailed Franchitti by just 0.074. (LAT Photo) » More Photos

Former Formula 1 driver Scott Speed got behind the wheel of a stock car for the first time on Tuesday's ARCA test at Talladega Superspeedway, a preparation for the Californian's racing debut at the same track on October 5

And if Red Bull's official press release is anything to go by, Speed has lost none of his trademark mettle upon returning back stateside…

"The banking here is pretty incredible and intimidating," he said of his maiden outing. "Having never sat in a stock car and to just go out there and run the first lap flat against the wall – I'd be lying if I said that was easy. That took a bit of bravery. The banking here is just super.

"The car is so much heavier than a Formula 1 car and you feel so much more movement. This car is about three times the weight of a Formula 1 car, so it moves a lot on the springs and tires. It's just a big moving mass and you feel really tiny inside of it. A Formula 1 car is so small and stiff, if you even think about wanting to go right - you're going right.

"It's interesting to see how the team works together. This whole scene reminds me more of my karting days how the guys would work on the car and you're standing right there watching them. Also, the other teams were so willing to come over and share information and that just doesn't happen in Formula 1.

"It was a pretty easy test for me because I
was just driving flat out the whole time. I feel like the crew worked so hard and I just got in the car and drove. Being fast at Talladega has more to do with the car than the driver. The team worked all day making small changes to the car just trying to find more speed."



Get the inside story on racing trends each month in RACER. Jeff Olson looks into the phenomenon of open-wheel drivers feeling the pull of stock cars in our October issue, on sale now.


On top of all the on-track challenges, Speed was also surprised by what Vincent Vega (John Travolta's character in "Pulp Fiction") would call the "little differences."

"In open-wheel racing, you always have someone on the team who buckles you into your seat. I got into my seat today waiting for someone to buckle me in and then after awhile realized I was supposed to buckle myself in. I'm not used to bringing my own helmet to the car either!

"[But] the most surprising thing is that I just don't dress like these people yet. I got harassed by some of the ARCA officials for my shorts – which I wasn't supposed to be wearing in the garage – and for my hat because it's what Europe would call high fashion, but I guess it's not considered that here..."