NASCAR to use some 2-day races in 2005

UPDATE A new post-qualifying procedure designed to save money and significantly alter racing weekends will begin next season in NASCAR. Car owner Jack Roush said he and his crew chiefs were briefed on the measures Saturday at Darlington Raceway. NASCAR is expected to announce the plans this week [Friday on Speed 9:00am/ET]. Under the plan, qualifying would be moved from Friday to Saturday, then the cars would be impounded. They would then line up Sundays with no tire, gear or shock absorber changes. NASCAR chairman Brian France said the plans are still under consideration. If implemented, France said "time is the cost they'll be helping teams save.'' The traditional pair of 45-minute Saturday practice sessions, called "Happy Hour,'' will be eliminated. Nextel Cup teams will run two hours of practice laps on Fridays. After impoundment, any work on cars would have to be approved by NASCAR and only for special circumstances. One benefit is that overworked Nextel Cup teams would get some rest on Saturday afternoons. Another would come in the wallets of race teams, saving money on practice tires and special parts. ESPN.com/AP 11/15/04 On Speed Channel's NASCAR Live Sunday, Bob Dillner reported that during the crew chief meeting, NASCAR floated out an idea that there could be 22 two-day race weekends in 2005 for the Nextel Cup Series. The cars would go thru tech inspection on Friday, but no track activities. The drivers would practice and qualify on Saturday, and after qualifying the cars would be impounded and there would be no Happy Hour practice.