When NASCAR announced last month the rules package for the fastest raceway on the stock car circuit would essentially remain the same, it instantly stirred memories of the 19-car crash at the season-opening Daytona 500 and a last-lap accident that left racing icon Dale Earnhardt dead.

Drivers don't like to admit fear. But they clearly are spooked by the prospect of 500 miles of racing during this Sunday's Talladega 500.

``It only takes one mistake to easily wipe out 25 cars,'' said two-time series champion Terry Labonte. ``And anybody can make a mistake. It's hard to run 500 miles like that and not have somebody make a little bobble.''

A little bobble usually turns into a big wreck. Cars end up in the junkyard, and drivers wind up on a hospital gurney - or worse.

Call it Terror-dega. Or Talla-dangerous. Or Talla-disastrous.

Rules that restrict engine power and create extra downforce at Talladega and Daytona International Speedway have made all 43 cars for this Sunday's race equal, perhaps too equal. And when the lead pack is four-cars-wide and 10-cars-deep, it creates a 190-mph traffic jam that's an accident waiting to happen.

NASCAR added a plate between the carburetor and engine to reduce speeds by 25 mph to keep the cars from becoming airborne at its two fastest tracks. A year ago, it added a higher rear spoiler, a lower front bumper and a special air-deflection strip across the roof to create downforce and drag to make the cars more competitive. Most now say the rules are too good, because it makes everyone too equal on race day.

The only modifications to the rules since Daytona were slight changes to the Dodges and Fords to make them more competitive against the Chevrolets and Pontiacs.

The most vocal opponent of the restrictor-plate package was Dale Earnhardt. He carried that fight all the way to his grave. Now the rest of the racing community is picking up the slack.

``It's not something I look forward to,'' said three-time champion Jeff Gordon. ``It's a very, very strenuous race. Last time we were there, my eyeballs hurt. You have to use your concentration so much. There's just no room for error at all with 43 cars out there and the way we're stacked up with the rules we have.''

Drivers not only don't like the rules, but they want a greater voice in what happens on the race track. Some feel the sanctioning body creates situations without knowledge of their ramifications.

``We drivers, as a community, need to start having a voice in what happens and what some of the rules are,'' Todd Bodine said. ``If we could form a committee, we'd have a single voice to speak for us and make us heard.''

``We need to come together a little bit,'' driver Jeff Burton said. ``Maybe we need to have a neighborhood meeting to figure out how to fix this problem. We need to be willing to spend time, energy and effort, even money if we have to, to make ourselves available to help with the problem.

``And NASCAR needs to be a little more open to listening to us in a formal setting.''

Two years ago, the only special rule for Talladega and Daytona was the restrictor plate. Cars were so unstable in turbulent air that passing was difficult. Drivers were too uncomfortable to ride side-by-side or nose-to-tail, so the main events became an exercise of follow the leader. There were nine lead changes at the 2000 Daytona 500, 27 during the Talladega 500 and just 10 changes at the Pepsi 400 at Daytona.

The aerodynamic package was added to the rulebook before the Winston 500 last October at Talladega, and the result was stunning. There were 49 lead changes, and Earnhardt was able to rally from 18th place to Victory Lane in the final five laps.

``In 2000 when we went to the Daytona 500, drivers were complaining, the media was complaining and the fans were complaining, so we changed the rules,'' Burton said. ``Now the only people complaining are the drivers, so I guess we took two out of three out of it.

``There's no question that last year's race at Talladega was a great race. I just don't know that we've always got to have the best race we've ever had. We've had great races at Talladega before. At what point do we draw the line?''

Television ratings clearly favor a competitive race. A new $2.8 billion television package with Fox, TNT and NBC makes some wonder if the rules are geared more for a good show than practicality.

``I'm extremely disappointed with the Talladega rules,'' said driver Mark Martin. ``Most of the drivers expected a change for this race (after what happened at Daytona). I would certainly like to see a little bit more of a boring race - a little bit less TV ratings and ticket sales and a little bit more boring of a race.''

Crew chief Kevin Hamlin was the last man to talk to Earnhardt.

Despite his team's success with restrictor plates - Earnhardt's 11 victories with the safety device were five more than any other driver - Hamlin wants a change.

``It's terrific racing, but it's also scary and dangerous,'' he said. ``I don't know what the answer is. None of us do. I guess we all need to go to Talladega and use our heads. Hopefully we can come out of there without any major accidents.''

Walking away from the race has become the literal game plan for Sunday's race.

``We're just looking forward to getting by the `Big Wreck' at Talladega,'' said driver Elliott Sadler. ``That's the main thing. We're not worried about qualifying. We're not worried about the way we're going to race. It's just that we need to get by the big wreck. We know it's going to happen.''

Gordon knows trouble can come from anywhere during the race. He was running fifth at the Daytona 500 when he was drawn into the 19-car crash along the backstretch that featured Tony Stewart's car barrel-rolling and landing on top of Ward Burton's car. Bobby Labonte was running 32nd, and he was involved in the same crash.

At Talladega there is no safe haven.

``Bobby Labonte proved that this year at Daytona,'' Gordon said. ``Guys that were racing up front got into each other and Bobby was in the rear of the field and got in it. The only safe place is on pit road, but that's not an option at Talladega.''