Speed Week Back at Famous Salt Flats After 2-Year Hiatus

WEST WENDOVER, Utah (AP) — Speed Week races at Utah's famous Bonneville Salt Flats are underway for the first time in three years after wet weather and rough salt forced the cancellation of the last two annual events.

Bill Lattin, president of the Southern California Timing Association, which is sponsoring the event, said the weather was beautiful with clear skies and temperatures near 90 degrees when the preliminary heats began on Saturday.

More than 400 racing teams are expected to compete through Friday on the flat, treeless expanse along U.S. Interstate 80 about 10 miles east of the Nevada line. Racers have used the white, glasslike surface for decades to set land speed records, sometimes topping 400 mph.