Vickers Blisters California Speedway

FONTANA, Calif. (March 4, 2003) – After posting their second consecutive top-15 finish on Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the GMAC Racing team traveled even further west this week for a two-day test session at California Speedway in preparation for the Auto Club 300 on April 26. The two-mile race track is one of 10 venues on the NASCAR Busch Series circuit where Brian Vickers has never taken a lap. Because teams are only permitted five test sessions per year, GMAC Racing elected to visit California knowing they would be able to use the information at similar tracks throughout the season. Under cloudy and cool conditions, Vickers was able to run more than 100 laps at the Fontana, Calif., D-shaped oval, including one qualifying attempt late in the day. On that run, the No. 5 GMAC Financial Services Chevy was unofficially clocked at 39.60 seconds, which is .579 seconds faster than the current Busch Series track record. Pending inclement weather, the team will conclude its test session today before returning to Charlotte, N.C., the team’s home base. GMAC Racing will take this weekend off before returning to action at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on Saturday, March 15. Live coverage of the DarlingtonRaceway.com 200 will begin at 1 p.m. EST on the FX television network and MRN Radio.