Daytona 500 2012 Weather Forecast: Will the Race be Postponed Again?
On Sunday, rain continuously poured on the rack of the Daytona International Speedway. In a rare, unprecedented move, NASCAR officials were forced to postpone the Sprint Cup Series' biggest event of the year, but will the race be postponed again?
Weather.com predicts heavy rain for most 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. During that three hour timespan, there is approximately an 85 percent chance of heavy rain.
However, it appears that the rain will taper off around 1 p.m. NASCAR officials are hopeful that they will be able to start the race on time. The temperature is predicted to be around 72 degrees the entire day.
For the first time in its 54 year history, the 'Great American Race' was postponed. Officials spent over four hours waiting for the track dry, reported the Detroit Free Press. Eventually, officials conceded and chose to postpone the race.
This is one of the toughest things for us drivers, pole-sitter Carl Edwards said, according to the Detroit Free Press. It's now who can really stay focused. That's not just the drivers, that's the pit crews, the crew chiefs, everyone, the officials. But I think we'll be just fine.
Eight previous Daytona 500s suffered through rain delays, including the 2009 event.
I think that's a pretty good record for NASCAR, Edwards said. They've been living right to have 53 of these and never have one postponed. That's pretty spectacular. ... I think NASCAR, they're doing the right thing, you know, not dragging this out.
Drivers' and their crew were forced into their motorhomes as fans scurried to take shelter. Racers hoped that the fans will be loyal enough to watch event on Monday.
I guess I'm going to have to win the first Monday Daytona 500, driver Greg Biffle said, according to the Detroit Free Press. As you can tell, I'm still in my uniform because I was optimistic that this weather was going to get out of here and we were going to get this thing going. But I'll have to save my energy for tomorrow. I know a lot of race fans are disappointed and a lot of people at home on TV, but we just hope they turn in tomorrow.
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.