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Astronaut Andrew Feustel, who is scheduled to fly on the August mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, will participate in the Preseason Thunder Fan Fest today. Feustel will ride around the track, taking hot laps in an official track vehicle. The Fan Fest begins at 9 a.m. today in the speedway's Sprint Cup Fan Zone. Technology developed for the space program also is used in NASCAR racing. Drivers wear cooling suits similar to what astronauts wear during a spacewalk, and foam NASA developed for aircraft seats protects race car drivers' necks in crashes. In addition to participating in the fan festival, NASA will fly three Daytona 500 flags aboard an upcoming space shuttle flight. Speedway officials plan to wave one of the flags to begin the 500 on Feb. 17, while another will be presented to the winning driver. NASA will keep the third. -- Florida Today

Dale Earnhardt Jr. watches his new teammates | floridatoday.com | Serving Brevard County and Florida’s Space Coast