Jarrett questions practice delays
On the first day of inspection at a given track, NASCAR starts with the point leader and works its way down the list. That means that cars toward the bottom of the point standings are inspected last. This year, with more than 50 cars coming to every race, some cars aren't finished with inspection by the time the first practice begins.
Jarrett joined the new Michael Waltrip Racing No. 44 Toyota team this year and is one of the final cars inspected. He has missed practice time, as have other cars.
Jarrett said that is simply unfair.
"It's something I haven't looked at over the years because I haven't been in that position," Jarrett said on a teleconference. "I can now have a little sympathy with those guys that have been back there in the past. They don't get a lot of practice time. It's hard enough for them to try to make the races as it is.
"I honestly think it's a situation that practice should not start until everybody's through inspection. If that means practice starts late and we have to run late – I know we have a lot dictated by TV and radio now, but if you're going to run a fair process, everybody should be able to have to the same amount of time to practice."
If inspection runs long and practice time is cut, so be it, Jarrett said.
"At least everybody had the same amount of time," he said.
"Do we have to start earlier? I know it's long days already for the NASCAR officials and for the crews. But I know from the crew side of it, they would be more than willing to go in 30 minutes earlier if we needed to do that to ensure that everybody was going to get the same amount of practice time." Scenedaily.com