NASCAR Winter Testing: Drivers Weigh In after Morning Session

The NASCAR Sprint Cup season got underway in earnest Thursday morning with the first testing session of NASCAR Preseason Thunder.

Testing restrictions in place for the last few years have been lifted for 2011 so that teams can get a chance to get acclimated to the new surface at Daytona International Speedway.

The track repaving was announced following the 2010 Daytona 500, a race marred by a pothole that developed after heavy rain soaked the area in the days prior to the race.

The repaving began following the July race, and a select group of teams came to the Speedway in December for a Goodyear tire test to perfect the tire compound for 2011 Speedweeks.

NASCAR allowed only single car runs in the morning session, with drafting to be the featured element Thursday afternoon.

Tony Stewart says the session may have hinted at a changing metric for teams headed into Speedweeks.

“I mean, this kind of re-racks the whole system, and I think it makes it to where anybody can win the Daytona 500 now because handling has always been a huge issue here, and 43 cars didn't always handle here.

“I think handling is going to be a lot easier to accomplish here with the new surface.”

The other looming issue for competitors at the test was the proposed changes to the NASCAR points system. The new system would award points based on a 43 to 1 scale, with the winner taking home 43 points and each position following would be incrementally reduced by one.

Carl Edwards says some positive might come from the revamped system.

“If it makes it simpler to understand for the competitors and the fans, who gets how many points, I think that's great. I think it's a good move."

Five time champion Jimmie Johnson echoed the sentiment.

“In theory if it is 43 points for the winner on down to 1 for the last-place car, in concept, in theory, it's still very similar to what we have now. So I think the premise, the concept is still very similar. Take a while to get used to it.”

Clint Bowyer topped the morning speed chart at in his Richard Childress Racing Chevy at 184.219 mph. The rest of the top ten were Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Positions six through ten were Brad Keselowski, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano, Jeff Burton and Paul Menard.

Qualifying for the 53^rd running of the Daytona 500 is set for February 13^th. The race is set for the following Sunday, February 20^th.