Andy Petree discusses Auto Club Speedway

Quotes from ESPN Analyst and Two-Time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Crew Chief Andy Petree on Auto Club Speedway. Andy Petree, NASCAR analyst for ESPN, was a 25-time NASCAR Sprint Cup race winner and two-time series champion during his career as a crew chief.

Q: Last year it was extremely hot at Auto Club Speedway- what do race teams have to do to make the drivers comfortable in the cars?

Andy Petree: The biggest thing they have to do is get some fresh air to the driver. They have air conditioning units that go to their helmets that enable them to breathe cool air. They have to make sure they have good alternators and that they don’t fail. With a race that is as hot as it was last year in California, if you lose your helmet air conditioning unit in that race, it could actually really hurt your performance on the track.

Q: What about the crews on pit road- how do they stand the heat for a four-hour race?

Petree: The main thing is to stay hydrated. They’re still going to be hot, there’s not much shade and there aren’t a lot of ways to get out of the sun. But they just have to stay hydrated and keep rags on them to keep cool and keep their body temperature as low as possible.

Q: What’s something unique about Auto Club Speedway that fans should watch for on the telecast?

Petree: The race starts in the late afternoon and goes into the night and it makes it very difficult for the drivers to see, especially getting into turn three. During that transition period there are times where the driver is actually driving blind into that corner. espn.com