“Can I Have a Mulligan” 500 Results
The golfers in the audience will get the title reference, the rest will have to be content in knowing Humpy Wheeler struck a blow for those that like the Chase, and close title finishes. And more proof that levigating truly is a “hard habit to break.” Following on the heels of Fridays 14 [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/caution.jpg]cautions[/avatar] (an event record) and 2 reds during the Busch event. Saturday’s Cup event added to the carnage with 15 cautions (also an event record) and 1 red flag.
Through it all Jimmie Johnson prevailed charging from the back of the field to win at Lowes for the four straight time and 5th out of the last six events. Johnson’s starting spot gave him a front row seat for what was to come. Robby Gordon “threw a shoe” at the start/finish line right in front of Jimmie Johnson on lap four for the first caution of the night. His night ended under the green white [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/check-flag.bmp]checker[/avatar] finish created by a Rusty Wallace spin on the backstretch that gave Johnson a piece of the Series points lead with Tony Stewart.
Of those in the Chase five of the ten had tire troubles and probably wish they had a chance to call a mulligan for the evenings efforts.
Kevin Harvick called the evening “the biggest joke in racing I’ve ever seen.” His blown right front tire prompted NASCAR to call it’s second competition yellow and mandated all teams utilize Goodyears recommended minimum tire pressure on the right side. That call by NASCAR seemed to be in align with most of the drivers who almost universally layed the blame on the track surface and speeds and not Goodyear.
I’m going to stray from the “company line” a bit. The spring Charlotte event saw a track record 22 cautions, mostly due to tire failures that sent cars into the SAFECO barriers. And as noted in the “habit” link above Cup testing a few weeks ago had the same results. The most disingenious statement of the weekend belongs to Goodyear spokesman Chad Fletcher. He attempted to do a little damage control after Friday’s Busch event by saying,
No doubt the worst race of the year. When the TV announcers are able to call the tire failures within five laps you know the race isn’t about the best team or driver, it’s about the track and the tires.
Humpy has promised a new pavement for next year. It’s either that or close the place. What a waste of time and talent. Stewart had the best car in the house and to no avail. Oh well, that’s NASCAR racing at it’s best and worst! With a contrived “Chase” format why not contrived races to further tighten up the points spread from first to tenth?
I had thought of the same thing, with the first two blowups separated by 28 laps, then the third by 25 laps. There is little doubt the faster speeds due to the smoother surface played a part.
But I can’t help thinking a large part should be layed at the feet of the crew chiefs. The first Pocono event had a lot of problems, the second didn’t because NASCAR mandated a max camber angle.
After NASCAR mandated teams use the GY recommended tire pressure yesterday only two of the four failures were because of wear, the other two were punctures from debris.