NASCAR: immediate change unlikely

Stewart claimed after this evening Budweiser Shootout that someone is going to get killed at next weekend's prestigious race because of dangerous bump-drafting going on in the field.

Stewart called for softer front bumpers to discourage drivers from hitting the car in front, rather than the reinforced steel front bumpers presently used.

Jim Hunter, NASCAR's vice-president for corporate communications, said that although it would be too much of a knee-jerk reaction for the governing body to change the cars by next week, the problem will be looked into for the next restrictor plate race at Talladega.

"The drivers have to control bump-drafting but it has become a problem," Hunter said. "We know there is a problem and any solution that we have looked at before today, I don't know if it would make the cars less safe rather than more safe.

"Tony can be emotional at times, but when Tony speaks we are certainly going to listen to him. But he was very rational in his thoughts tonight but we will certainly do everything we can.

"We will continue to have discussions with Tony and others to try and find a better solution that will penalise for bump drafting especially at a place like Daytona or Talladega. We'll continue to have discussions with him.

"We have to make sure that whatever we do to the cars is scientific. We will ratchet up the research but I don't think that will happen before the Daytona 500."