Million dollar investment at Kentucky Speedway
source:
irl.racing-live.com
Kentucky Speedway is to invest a million US dollars
to install the second generation of the Steel And Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER)
Barrier System inside the concrete retaining wall that spans Turns 1 through 2
and Turns 3 through 4 of the 1.5-mile tri-oval track at the facility.
Installation will begin after the season-opening ARCA RE/MAX Series race on May
14 and will be complete before the June 18 NASCAR Busch Series event.
Installation will take place at night and will not interrupt frequent race team
testing at the speedway.
"Our investor board has delivered again," Kentucky Speedway Executive Vice
President and General Manager Mark F. Cassis said. "This investment further
demonstrates the board's commitment to the success of our independently-owned
facility. Our team has always been driven to provide competitors with the latest
safety technology and we've followed all aspects of the SAFER Barrier System -
installation methods, impact studies, repair procedure and overall effectiveness
- since its inception. Clearly, the system will ensure Kentucky Speedway remains
among the best motorsports facilities in America."
The SAFER Barrier System first was installed on the four outside retaining walls
of the 2.5-mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May 2002. The track
installed the second generation of the system in February. In all, 12 of the 14
oval venues which host Indy Racing League events have installed the SAFER
Barrier.