Fast Take Story by Dwight Drum
Web work by Larsen & Drum Images by Drum
Daytona: No time, no place for potholes
Right after the Daytona 500 pothole delay Daytona International Speedway issued this statement:
As we do for every event, we inspected this track this morning and there were no concerns. We are always prepared for these types of issues. We had the proper materials and worked diligently to repair it.
The delay in the repairs was caused by the unusually cold ambient temperature. After this event, we will evaluate these effects from the weather and will make the necessary adjustments.
Comment from DIS President Robin Braig about the pothole scenario:
“Our first batch of repair material didn't hold,” Braig said. “That was a mistake on our part. We used the wrong type of material. It didn't hold it at all. . So we pulled that one out and tried a second batch of material. If you guys were out there, that was the only spot that wasn't getting sun. The difference in the temperature was 58 degrees on the outside and 44 degrees in the shade there. Any other turn, the temperature of the track was much warmer. Hence, you saw what we were doing. We were backing our jet dryers up to dry the track, using torches.
“By the time we got out there for the second delay, the hole was twice the size. We used Bondo. Guess what, car racing, we found Bondo, and sometimes that works, and it did. We mixed up many batches of Bondo. The second one held.”
3M Press release, Bondo saved the day:
When the combination of cold weather and heavy rain caused a pothole to develop the track's surface midway through the Daytona 500, race officials threw the red flag and went to work on the repair. But lots of moisture and cold temperatures made it challenging, and the repair only lasted for about 30 laps before giving way.
Race officials went looking for solutions, and determined that Bondo™ auto body filler was the best option for filling the hole with material that would dry fast and stand up to the final laps of the race. Within 45 minutes, the Sprint Cup cars returned to the track for a thrilling dash to the finish.
When the subject of repaving was voiced, Braig got more specific about the track and future plans:
“Y'all have already mentioned that 2012 or 2013 or 2014, was when we were thinking of repaving,” Braig said. “It may not need repaving. We've been told by the drivers, crew chiefs, NASCAR, Goodyear, that the uniqueness of this track is special. We don't want to repave -- paint the whole house when all we have to do is a little touch-up."
The solution: DIS to install reinforced concrete in Turn 2 (DIS media)
Following a comprehensive review of Turn 2, by a team of engineers and asphalt specialists with North American Testing Corporation (NATC), it was decided to repair the damaged portion of the track as an immediate first step. NATC is conducting a thorough evaluation of the entire track and upon completion will implement all necessary solutions (including repaving if necessary) to ensure the long-term integrity of the track.
“This is the correct course of action to repair the track,” Braig said. “Our team of engineers and asphalt specialists with North American Testing Corporation has previous experience with concrete being used on an asphalt track and it is a proven solution.”
The damaged area of the track is along the 31-degrees of banking in Turn 2, making the utilization of concrete the best solution. The repairs will take about two days to complete followed by several days of cure time.
The engineering team concluded that a combination of unusually cold and wet weather exacerbated by race cars bottoming out in that section of the track contributed to the breakdown of the pavement.
Conclusion:
It’s only about four months to the July race at DIS and it’s said that is not enough time to repave. After the July race it would be about six months before Speedweeks 2011. Perhaps in that time period there is ample opportunity to repave, but DIS doesn’t want to give up the unique aged lumpy track surface that creates great side-by-side racing.
Potholes must go, but it seems likely the uneven track will stay as is for some time to come. And so will great racing.
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