Ekstrom to test for Red Bull

[Mark in Oshawa]

http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/headlines/cup/05/25/mekstrom.83.VIR.testing.Red.Bull/index.html

The story is Mattias Ekstrom, who is a DTM driver for Red Bull is helping shake down the Toyota's at VIR for Red Bull with Vicker's on the shelf. The real question is...why? At least, if you are not interested in him running the race at Sonoma or later in the summer at the Glen? Casey Mears and Scott Speed both know enough about road racing to I am sure give some decent input and setups to the car. So......it makes you say mmmmmm a DTM star coming to NASCAR to try out one of the COT's on a road course? Interesting. Anyone who has seen a DTM car will know that it is lighter, with bigger tires and LESS power, and exotic brakes PLUS has a lot of f1 like telemetry available..

HE shows up at Sonoma with one of the Red Bull Toyota's, it will be a VERY interesting exercise how well a fish adapts to being out of water....

[harvick#1]

I have been always hoping Ekstrom was able to get a test for the Audi R15+

RBR seems to be up to something here, wouldn't surprise to see Mattias in the car over Casey

[Mark in Oshawa]

I have been always hoping Ekstrom was able to get a test for the Audi R15+

RBR seems to be up to something here, wouldn't surprise to see Mattias in the car over Casey

We will know how well this private test goes if they give the drive to him. Casey isn't a Red Bull kind of guy..or at least, hasn't been. Have him win the 600, and he could be real fast...

[veeten]

looks like Mattias will be getting his chance, as he will be on track with the Red Bull team for Sonoma.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/84221

[Lee Roy]

Cool

[I am evil Homer]

Good driver - quick and obv impressed the team with his pace in an unfamiliar car. Be interesting to see how he adapts, although DTM can get pretty physical.

[Robert Ryan]

It looks like Jan Magnussen in a Cup car at Infineon and Owen Kelly(V8Supercar journeyman) in a Nationwide car at Watkins Glen. No mention of who will replace Biffle in that race, although I have heard rumours Todd Kelly(V8Supercars) no relation to Owen is being considered

[ShiftingGears]

I'm very interested to see what he can do.

[wedge]

Crazy

About 10 years ago there were drivers lining up to drive Cup cars.

Apart from RBR can't the teams call up the Grand-Am road ringers?

[harvick#1]

cause guys like Boris Said and Scott Pruett always destroyed their equipment. for how great they are, all they ever did was wreck people and wreck their cars.

Boris Said is IMO the most overrated road course drive, he may have a few wins, but once he out of a shot at winning, he becomes so damn dirty and starts acting like a driver looking to wreck someone and he normally does

[Lee Roy]

Crazy

About 10 years ago there were drivers lining up to drive Cup cars.

Apart from RBR can't the teams call up the Grand-Am road ringers?

Why should they. When was the last time a road course "ringer" won against the Cup regulars?

[e2mtt]

cause guys like Boris Said and Scott Pruett always destroyed their equipment. for how great they are, all they ever did was wreck people and wreck their cars.

Boris Said is IMO the most overrated road course drive, he may have a few wins, but once he out of a shot at winning, he becomes so damn dirty and starts acting like a driver looking to wreck someone and he normally does

Ron Fellows always runs clean & smooth. Very classy. On the other hand, Boris Said in a Cup car on a road course makes Tony Steward, Juan Montoya, & Robby Gordon look gentle. He could hustle it around the track, but every time he caught someone, he'd just ram them, with varied results. Wins were not part of those results.

[e2mtt]

Casey Mears is OUT at Red Bull after 4 races. Reed Sorenson is supposedly starting after Infineon, but they could be trying out some other drivers too.