[Don]

The survey mentioned is also significant in the number of individuals, record FOX TV viewership for the 500 , that endured the Sunday rain delay, the Monday afternoon rain delay and then to watch in prime time Monday night starting @ 7:00, knowing in advance later that night at 40 laps from the finish there would be a major track event, and continuing the viewing until the late night finish, after a significant delay.

Give credit for the on-going safety improvements in the track, driver cage, greenhouse height, HANS, full face helmet, custom race seat design, moving the driver away from the door, steel panel/energy absorbing material in the drivers door, etc., ask Jeff G, Danica and others for their opinion. Mentioned that after the in car video of Danica's technique of removing her hands/arms from the steering wheel prior to the wall impact, an open wheel race car standard, more drivers than previously are now using the same technique, as JJ did in his first lap wreck

While the brand specific stock look will reappear in 2013, the greenhouse will still be higher. Believe the tallest driver is 6' 4", i.e., maintaing a potential crush zone above the drivers helmet

With sponsorship dollars still difficult to obtain, maintaining a competitive balance will continue, same as in baseball etc. Some of the teams with minimal funding had to remove their FI systems from their Daytona cars and reinstall for the Phoenix cars. For the Teams not sufficiently funded, Start and Park remains an option, NASCAR is not questioning.

Don't recall the specifics, but at Daytona the degree of banking and angle when in the corners limits/restricts the forward view, as does the full face helmet. Not the same view as watching on TV, actually looking into the corner rather than ahead. Riding around Daytona on the flat track apron and looking up, a different perspective. Believe Dale SR was a strong opponent of the full face mask as limiting his peripheral vision while racing in close proximity at 200 mph,

SPEED is televising one of the major events this summer at Lime Rock Park in CT, wonder what the US and world wide TV viewership and rating will be ?