[tkj24]

Jones, Labonte join Waltrip stable this weekend

SCENEDAILY - 1:14PM ET THURSDAY AUGUST 9, 2007 - BY SCENEDAILY STAFF REPORT

Michael Waltrip Racing's entries will have a slightly different look this weekend at Watkins Glen International.
P.J. Jones will his second appearance with the team, filling in for rookie David Reutimann in the No. 00 Toyota. Jones also raced the car at Infineon Raceway earlier this season, finishing 43rd.

Terry Labonte also returns to the team for the third time, driving the No. 55 for owner/driver Michael Waltrip. Labonte also drove for the team on the California road course at Infineon and again at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Waltrip says that it would be tough to watch someone else drive his car if not for the fact that he was helping the entire organization by stepping back and overseeing things.
"If I didn't think it was helping the team to get better by me sitting out for a couple races, then I would be bored stiff," he said. "I know the result of me not driving is an investment in the future of my team. Running Terry at Infineon, Indy and Watkins Glen are things that I feel will help us become a better race team.
"We believe that the No. 55 team and the No. 00 team have progressed to the point where they won't miss another race. Now we have to work on the same thing with the No. 44 [of teammate Dale Jarrett] because they are not quite at that point yet where I can make that same statement. Those are the goals for the teams for the rest of the year, and we'll continue working on the progress of the No. 44 team."

[I Flip For Carl]

As a David Reuttimann fan I hate that they aren't letting him drive the #00 this weekend . How's a driver gonna get experience if they don't give him seat time behind the wheel ?

Sorry I'm just NOT a fan of road course ringers . NOT really a fan of road course's ,but hey ,its a Nascar race

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by I Flip For Carl

As a David Reuttimann fan I hate that they aren't letting him drive the #00 this weekend . How's a driver gonna get experience if they don't give him seat time behind the wheel ?

Sorry I'm just NOT a fan of road course ringers . NOT really a fan of road course's ,but hey ,its a Nascar race

David's record isn't very good in Cup, but then his equipment has been lacking also. However, PJ does have 1 T5 and 2 T10, both at the Glen..but his avg finish of 29.9 in 24 races spread over 9 years is nothing to shout about either and he's starting 41st...

On the other hand, Terry's road course record is pretty good .. but he's startng 38th, I hope Mikey isn't expecting much considering how slow Terry was last year when he did the "fuel mileage" thing into the top 5. I don't think that'll happen again.

the farthest back anyone has ever started and won is 18th when Steve Park did it in 2000. So if either of Mikey's subs get a top 20 it'll be really something to celebrate....

[wingkey1]

From an owners standpoint, there are logical arguments in support of this move. The drivers sitting out are pretty much out of it for the year. Neither can supply the level of road course equipment quality input that the substitutes can with regards to "where is my road course equipment program". It could be easily seen as an equipment evaluation and improvement move that may serve to help/improve the "regular" drivers.

Have made driver swap experiments when we ran 2 and above car and driver efforts. Results can be really interesting. Far points of the results range may include:

1. The regular driver, upon returning to his/her ride feels - Whoa this baby is really hooked up and I'm flyin!

2. The regular driver, upon returning to his/her ride is unable to get comfortable with and deal with the increased performance, even to the point of fear and (the ABSOLUTE WORST) indecision/lack of confidence.

3. The regular driver, upon returning to his/her ride find the set up inconsistent with his/her driving style. We always saw this as an owner decision weakness/failure.

Gotta give the owner/driver (single person) credit for putting the "right" interest first.

[Racer Duck]

different point of view is about all they got going with Terry in the seat.

at The Glen:
Labonte, T: 20 starts, 3 T5, 6 T10, avg st pos 13.8, avg fin pos 20.0
Waltrip, M: 21 starts, 1 T5, 4 T10, avg st pos 19.6, avg fin pos 19.9

[wingkey1]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

different point of view is about all they got going with Terry in the seat.

at The Glen:
Labonte, T: 20 starts, 3 T5, 6 T10, avg st pos 13.8, avg fin pos 20.0
Waltrip, M: 21 starts, 1 T5, 4 T10, avg st pos 19.6, avg fin pos 19.9

Were this one (me) a 100% subscribers to "numbers make the Racer"(and we are decidedly NOT), the trade off/point of view represented in the above is not too shabby.

Labonte: 45% of starts result in top 10 vs. 23.8% for Mikey Boy

Labonte: While both were in the top 50% of the field, TB's average start position was near 6 positions better

Average finishing position seems to say if Labonte wasn't running at the front he was truely trashed.

Terry's likely "done", but Mikey might be "burnt".

Now having typed all that, numbers are, well they're - numbers. Gimme the race(r).

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by wingkey1

Were this one (me) a 100% subscribers to "numbers make the Racer"(and we are decidedly NOT), the trade off/point of view represented in the above is not too shabby.

Labonte: 45% of starts result in top 10 vs. 23.8% for Mikey Boy

Labonte: While both were in the top 50% of the field, TB's average start position was near 6 positions better

Average finishing position seems to say if Labonte wasn't running at the front he was truely trashed.

Terry's likely "done", but Mikey might be "burnt".

Now having typed all that, numbers are, well they're - numbers. Gimme the race(r).

I didn't have the time to sift thru all the data, but I noticed laps completed seemed to play a big factor in Mikey's finish position: if he finished all or was 1 lap down, he placed in the top 10 90 % of the time, but then there was usually a big gap back to half or less laps completed and the appropriate 35th or worse finish. Terry's numbers were harder to retrieve, so I gave up and posted what I had at the time.

I think you're right, though. Terry's "done" and Mikey's "burnt" .. dunno which is worse.