Several NASCAR drivers hit speeds well over 200 mph during tire testing in Indianapolis this week.
Among the drivers to hit 200 mph was NASCAR veteran Jeff Gordon, who seemed stunned when he asked how fast his run was according to the Associated Press.
"They said 214 and I said, 'My gosh, it really is fast,'" Gordon said according to the Associated Press.
In comparison, Denny Hamlin won last year's Brickyard 400 pole with a lap time of 182.3 mph. Gordon was able to confirm that all vehicles were faster than last year's time.
No one expects the speeds to go that fast during the hot summer months when speeds tend to decrease, but most drivers seem encouraged by the early performance of the new Gen-6 cars.
"Like so many other tracks, this car adapts well, it sticks really well to the track," said Gordon, who has won all four of his Cup titles with Hendrick Motorsports. "I'm pretty happy today because I think it went well."
Click here to see a prank Gordon pulled on a car salesman earlier this year.
Tire wear had been an issue for years before the 2008 race turned into a debacle thanks to tire issues on multiple cars. Since then, Goodyear has released tire compounds that have worked "better" at Indy.
Gordon and a handful of other drivers were asked to test new, more environmentally friendly safe tires. The tests went better than expected, but tires didn't perform nearly as well in the afternoon when temperatures got hotter.
"You want balance so the car enters the turn comfortably and that's what we had," Gordon said. "But it was definitely wearing a little more than we wanted it to."
The same drivers will return to the track today, May 1, for another closed practice. Most of the drivers agreed to do both races to gain "valuable information" before other drivers take their new cars onto the track.
Speedway officials will have access to a loan for up to $5 million for 20 years to complete capital improvement projects but have yet to say what they plan on doing. The possibility of night racing at Indy is an idea Bayne and Gordon support.
"I'm game for night races because that's what I grew up doing," NASCAR driver Trevor Bayne said according to the Associated Press. "It would probably be better with the heat in July, so it would be a win all around for me."
Related Articles:
Golf Team Van Crashes, 3 Dead After Colliding With Another Vehicle On Rural Road (VIDEO)
Bagram Plane Crash Video: Final Moments of U.S. Cargo Aircraft Captured On Dash Camera (WATCH HERE)
Aston Martin Rapide S To Become First Hydrogen Car To Compete in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring (VIDEO)
Man Arrested For Letting His Son Drive Ferrari on His 9th Birthday, Video Goes Viral (WATCH HERE)
Newborn Left on Beach: Woman Finds Baby Abandoned in Hawaii (VIDEO)
See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?
