SUZUKA -RIJ- (April 3, 1996)(via telephone) According to PR officer of Suzuka Circuit, Dale Earnhardt's best time at Wednesday's Goodyear tire test at Suzuka Circuit East-Course was 53.437 seconds at 3:45PM point (Japanese time.) He has been driving Chevrolet which was set-up for Watkins Glen. Test was scheduled at 9:00AM, but Earnhardt started to drive at 10:00AM.
It is fine today, but cold weather came back in all over Japan. So it would be fine for engine, but gear ration is not fit for twisty and up-down track, yet.
Rusty Wallace will test his Ford tomorrow morning, then track will be open for NASCAR Stock Car experience-driving-time for media. Suzuka Circuit's Ford Mustang will be driven by Japanese drivers and journalists for media. No-racing-license journalists will experience the NASCAR Winston Cup car at passenger seat. Japanese Formula One car Dome F105's shakedown is scheduled on Friday at Suzuka, too.