NASCAR driver Kurt Busch left talks to astronaut Andrew Feustel about driving.

NASCAR driver Kurt Busch (left) talks to astronaut Andrew Feustel about driving. Feustel is participating in NASCAR's Preseason Thunder Fan Fest at Daytona International Speedway. Feustel's appearance celebrates NASA's 50th anniversary and the speedway's 50th running of the Daytona 500 in February. Besides meeting with fans and media, Feustel will ride around the track, taking "hot laps," in an official track vehicle. The NASA/NASCAR association spans decades. Technology developed for the space program has helped NASCAR drivers increase their performance and stay safe over the years. They wear cooling suits similar to what astronauts wear during a spacewalk. Foam that NASA developed for aircraft seats protects racecar drivers' necks in crashes. In addition to participating in the fan festival, NASA will fly three Daytona 500 flags aboard an upcoming space shuttle flight. Speedway officials plan to wave one of the flags to begin the 2008 installment of the Daytona 500, while another will be presented to the winning driver. NASA will keep the third. Feustel will fly on the space shuttle mission STS-125 to the Hubble Space Telescope. The mission will extend and improve the observatory's capabilities through 2013. Launch is targeted for August 2008. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton