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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Daytona International Speedway workers repaired a small portion of the race track late Thursday night after a routine track inspection by engineers revealed a potential problem spot reminiscent of track surface issues that interrupted this year's Daytona 500.Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig downplayed the repair Friday morning, calling it "precautionary.'' The spot, located in Turn 2, was patched with a "strengthened epoxy" about 1-foot by 4 1/2-feet long.
It is located about three feet from another patch that was put on the track to repair the potholes that red-flagged the February race for one hour, 42 minutes. The file photo at right shows the mid-race repair work.
"We had the luxury of time, personnel and we had the materials,'' Braig said. "It was more like normal track maintenance.
"It has our full attention and we've got everything from cameras focused on it to our safety crew looking at it. When there are cautions on track or any delay in the schedule we'll be out there checking and double-checking.''
Braig said the new patch was necessary because cars were bottoming out there in the corner. The track has a full schedule this weekend with the Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series racing along with both NASCAR's Sprint Cup and Nationwide series.
The Grand-Am Series held practice early Friday morning -- the first on-track activity after the repair -- and there were no problems reported.
"I was concerned with how it would do in the wet conditions this morning,'' said Daytona Prototype class outside pole-sitter Jon Fogarty. "But I ran over in qualifying and didn't even notice it so I think that's a sign they did a good job.''
Because of the pot holes and track surface issues during the Daytona 500, the speedway announced in April that the 2.5-mile superspeedway would be completely repaved for the first time in 32 years immediately following Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 here.
"We patch this track probably three times a month because of its age and having all sorts of events on it,'' Braig said. "We just don't normally have all the people looking at us when we do it.
"It's going to get tested, but we're confident in the precautions we're taking.''
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