Daytona 500 under the lights ?

[RaceFanStan]

Probably, the Daytona 500 is scheduled to go green @ 3:15 PM EST.
The 2006 Daytona 500 took 3 hours 33 minutes to complete.
Sunset will be at 6:16 PM so it appears that the Daytona 500 will finish under the lights.
It will be interesting to see how the darkness affects track temperatures, the cars engines & handling.

Speedway official states, "We're looking forward to seeing the ... racing under the lights with the sparks ..."
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IMO there could lots of sparks from a big crash ...
because of the change the cooler track temperature has on the car's handling ...

[Jonesi]

I don't think there's much increased danger, if the teams know and plan adjustments into the car's setup. It's a bigger problem when a race that's expected to finish mid afternoon, gets delayed (rain or cautions) into darkness.

[onebadwheel]

Great way to start out the season with an 'under the lights' race, even if it is only the final laps.

[Speedworx]

Boooo!!!

NASCAR needs to think about the European audience!

[oldhippie]

what stan forgot to tell you is that FOX requested the time change

http://www.scenedaily.com/stories/20...e_daily88.html

[Jonesi]

Boooo!!!
NASCAR needs to think about the European audience!

Won't that be primetime for you, something like 7-11pm? Here on the Pacific coast I like the post noon start time. ;-)

[Smilieangel489]

I thought it ended in the dark last year too?

[djarumdudley]

it did. get those ratings Na$car! hopefully this years race won't be
rushed/run in deplorable condition like the 06 race so Fox can get the simpsons to start on time.

[call_me_andrew]

If NASCAR could, I'm sure they'd run every race at night so everything is nice and gimicy (I'll make that a word). I guess racing in daylight is a tad too prestigious for Brian.

[Erki]

Won't that be primetime for you, something like 7-11pm? Here on the Pacific coast I like the post noon start time. ;-)

If the race ends at 7pm East Coast time then that is 12am(midnight)GMT, but 2am in Estonia(where I live). I wouldn't complain though, races that end at 11pm are much more complicated to follow here.