France services start in Florida

Fans, friends gather to pay respects

Kathie Salemme and her family are die-hard NASCAR fans, planning their vacations around the racing schedule.

Wednesday, the family traveled to Daytona Beach, Fla., to pay respects to NASCAR trailblazer Bill France Jr., a man Salemme never met but considered an integral part of her family's success.

"What Bill France built brings our family together," Salemme, 47, of Columbia, S.C., said at the Daytona International Speedway. "His passing is tragic. He left a legacy, and I don't know who is going to fill his shoes."

Several hundred fans, NASCAR notables and others convened at Seabreeze United Church for a visitation Wednesday evening. France died Monday at his Daytona Beach home. He was 74.

"He was a no-nonsense type of individual with a great sense of humor," ESPN NASCAR analyst and former North Carolina and NBA player Brad Daugherty said outside the visitation.

Daugherty said he had many memories of France, including spending time with him on France's pontoon boat on the Halifax River.

"He was a wonderful man," Daugherty said. "I'm going to miss him terribly."

Others who attended included Leonard Wood of Wood Brothers Racing; Hurley Haywood, a five-time Rolex 24 winner; Tim Brewer, a NASCAR commentator with ESPN and former Junior Johnson crew chief; and Dennis Huth, president of the American Speed Association.

"Bill Sr. and Bill Jr. are names you wanted to be associated with," NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said. "There are so many memories with Bill inside and outside the garage."

France, who spent 31 years at NASCAR's helm, is credited with transforming the family business from its Southern roots to a multibillion-dollar enterprise. He took over in 1972 from his father, who founded NASCAR in 1947. But in 2000, he relinquished his role as NASCAR president to Mike Helton, then handed off chairman duties to son Brian in 2003.

A public funeral is planned today at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center, and a graveside service for relatives only will follow.

DEI FORMS DEDICATED TEST TEAM: Dale Earnhardt Inc. said Wednesday it is forming a dedicated team for testing, which Tony Eury Sr. will lead.

Eury had been the crew chief for rookie Paul Menard but is giving up that position to focus on the test team. Dave Charpentier, an engineer on Menard's crew, will take over for Eury beginning with this weekend's Nextel Cup race at Pocono Raceway.

The top teams in NASCAR have dedicated test teams, which travel to non-Nextel Cup tracks during the week to collect data. DEI's test team will use Menard, Kerry Earnhardt and developmental drivers for the test team, which is hoping to hit the track June 19 and 20 at Kentucky Speedway.

PATRICK WON'T BE APOLOGIZING: Dan Wheldon isn't seeking an apology from Danica Patrick for Sunday's postrace confrontation. Good thing, because the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series champion isn't likely to get one.

"I don't think there's anything really to talk about," Patrick said Wednesday before an IRL autograph session in Fort Worth, Texas. "I get along with Dan off the track, and I think when it comes to what's on the track, that's separate. So I guess there's nothing really to say."

The IRL said it will take no punitive action against either.