After driving on it in both his NASCAR Sprint Cup Chevy and McLaren's F1 car, Tony Stewart said he would like to see NASCAR incorporate the 0.95-mile boot section into its August Cup race at Watkins Glen International's road course.
“I enjoyed the long course,” Stewart said. “I'd never been around it till today. I told (NASCAR executive and pace car driver) Brett Bodine when we got out of the car after our setup runs that I would like the opportunity to see us having a shot at running the long course.
“I think it would create more passing opportunities, for sure," Stewart added. "It's just such a historic racetrack, and there are some really cool corners down there that we don't get a shot to run on a Cup weekend.”
WGI president Michael Printup told the Sporting News that he plans to lobby NASCAR president Mike Helton, vp competition Robin Pemberton and senior vice president of racing operations Steve O'Donnell about running the full course.
“By tomorrow morning, I'll have a message in to Mr. Helton and Mr. Pemberton and Mr. O'Donnell,” Printup said. “I've asked them over and over again, and I think this was just the real live testimonial that it can happen.
“Our races are becoming shorter now (in duration), because we've paved all the gravel traps, and we've taken out a lot of the mishaps and (loss) of track time. Now we just have to pave (Turn) 8, which is down in the heel of the boot, and I think we could have some great racing.”