Motorsports FanHouse http://motorsports.fanhouse.com Motorsports FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif Motorsports FanHouse http://motorsports.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Sprint Cup N's & Q's: Brickyard 400http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/27/sprint-cup-ns-and-qs-brickyard-400/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/27/sprint-cup-ns-and-qs-brickyard-400/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/27/sprint-cup-ns-and-qs-brickyard-400/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

NASCAR Brickyard Allstate 400 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sprint Cup Mark Martin Jimmie JohnsonRewinding from a successful tire test Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway could only mean one thing: it's time again for Sprint Cup Notes & Quotes.

If this were any other track, I'd have a huge problem with how the racing turned out Sunday. It's obvious that track position and clean air were the trump cards in a deck otherwise full of jokers -- but don't forget that Indianapolis has nearly always been like that.

Some may term it boring, and it definitely lacked excitement for much of the day thanks to the good work of so many drivers to not make mistakes and hit each other or the wall, but come on, that's what your going to get at this flat track.

And before you say this track only puts on a good show for IndyCars, think back to the Indianapolis 500 in May. Not a single pass for the lead came during green flag conditions and dominant cars like Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti couldn't make up a lick of ground after pit troubles during the last stop.

As much as fans don't get to see it, Indianapolis is a track that truly takes a complete team effort throughout the weekend to win because otherwise you just simply won't be in position at the end to make a run at the checkers.

The pit road luck that Chip Ganassi has had at Indianapolis in 2009 has literally cost the owner two wins at the 2.5-mile track.

As I mentioned, in May, Dixon and Franchitti were dominating the 500 until the last pit stop saw a myriad of problems for both cars and dropped them in the field. Together, they led 123 laps of the 200-lap event before falling to sixth and seventh, respectively, in the final finishing order.

Sunday, of course, Montoya paced the field for some 116 laps before a speeding penalty knocked him out of contention.

Mark Martin may have not caught and passed Jimmie Johnson for the win in Sunday's race, but the No. 5 in the mirror of the No. 48 left the defending champion a little uneasy about not screwing up and giving the race away to the 50-year-old Martin.

"An old guy has never made me so [expletive deleted] nervous in my life," said Johnson shortly after crossing the finish line over the team radio.

Speaking of Johnson, his fan support is perplexing -- even to Chris, a friend of mine who saw his first NASCAR race Sunday after being a closet television fan for years.

"How does Jimmie not have more fans?" he asked me of the three-time Brickyard champ. "All he does is be nice to everyone, bleed class and beat the [daylights] out of everyone."

I literally had no answer. How does the most dominating driver NASCAR might ever see in such a prolonged span not have a bigger fan base?

IMS announced Monday that Allstate Insurance Co. would no longer be the flagship brand of the NASCAR event at the track after it opted not to continue sponsorship of the 400-mile race.

According to the press release, it's obviously got something to do with the faltering economy, but the most interesting note about the split after five years is that the track isn't going to actively search for another race sponsor.

In what appears to be an early indicator of the dropped sponsorship, Allstate didn't purchase broadcast rights to the race from ABC/ESPN meaning the presenting network termed the race the "Brickyard 400 presented by Golden Corral".

I, for one, am plenty happy to hear that news because I felt that adding a sponsorship title did two things to NASCAR's visit to Indianapolis: 1) It cheapened the value of the race to competitors and fans because the corporate name aligned it with nearly every other race on the Sprint Cup schedule not named the Daytona 500 and 2) It added money to the coffers of IMS that has likely paid for some nice track and facility improvements.

So was Allstate's run all bad? Certainly not.

But it's nice knowing that we can simply call it the Brickyard 400 once again -- as it should have stayed all along -- because let's be real, Indy needs to be on par with the Daytona 500 and not with an insert-corporate-name-here 500.

It's not a big difference, but it sure feels like it.

Sprint Cup N's & Q's: Brickyard 400 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Allstate 400BrickyardGeoffrey MillerMon, 27 Jul 2009 23:23:00 EST Did the Brickyard Win People Back?http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/27/did-the-brickyard-win-people-back/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/27/did-the-brickyard-win-people-back/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/27/did-the-brickyard-win-people-back/#commentsFiled under: , ,


INDIANAPOLIS -- For all the talk of problematic tires and empty seats, the rubber held up and an estimated crowd of 180,000 showed up Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for NASCAR's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.

Although a dominating performance by Juan Pablo Montoya made the race look like it might be a runaway, the former Indy 500 champ made a pit road mistake that allowed the dependable Hendrick Motorsports team to pounce with what turned into an exciting late-laps battle between 50-year-old pole-sitter Mark Martin and gracious but gritty Jimmie Johnson.

There will be those that criticize "the racing" even after watching the most underrated three-time champ masterfully hold off the series' winningest driver in Martin, a huge sentimental favorite.

But a good race doesn't always have to be filled with door-banging, crash-filled, side-by-side racing (although that's always a good thing). It's about a compelling storyline and a close finish.

The Brickyard had both of those.

Although I haven't missed an Indianapolis 500 since 1991, it's been almost 10 years since I last covered NASCAR's visit to the world's most famous track. The massive press room was noticeably empty -- no staffers from the Los Angeles Times, either Detroit paper, or even nearby Chicago or Cleveland.

My colleagues assured me that there was a noticeable drop in attendance from last year and there were the obvious signs -- lots of empty seats in the prime front-stretch grandstands and more tellingly, no traffic Sunday morning.

Everyone was prepared for this in the days leading up to the race. The troubled economy shared the blame with the uncertainty of tire performance, even as the competitors themselves assured, promised and swore the tires wouldn't be the same problem as they were last summer when teams had to pit every 10-15 laps for fresh tires.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway's outgoing President Joie Chitwood said the single greatest day of ticket sales didn't come until a few weeks ago when when four-time cup champion, and four-time Brickyard winner, Jeff Gordon declared during a June tire test that Goodyear had solved the tire problem and guaranteed fans the tires would not be an issue in the race.

This event is not the Indianapolis 500 -- nor has it ever aspired to be -- and the stock cars aren't exactly suited for the tight, flat track.

There have been whispers that maybe NASCAR shouldn't be at The Speedway anymore; that its welcome has worn off, its luster gone.

Now the debate becomes who needs who more. Does NASCAR still need to be at this historic facility? Or does Indianapolis Motor Speedway need to be a part of the country's most popular motor sports series? The answers are yes and yes.

NASCAR's 1994 arrival in Indianapolis came at a time when the stock car series was beginning a massive expansion into untapped markets, including Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Kansas City. It was the beginning of the popularity peak that took NASCAR into the national consciousness, to a billion-dollar television deal and beyond the perception it was merely a regional obsession.

The Speedway also needed NASCAR. Having just one race -- even if it was the Indianapolis 500 -- didn't make economic sense. And in the mid 1990s when the Indy 500 suffered through the open-wheel split, NASCAR's contribution to IMS became more significant.

"I think it's developed into a very nice balance,'' said Indianapolis Motor Speedway Vice President of Communications, Fred Nation. "The Allstate 400 has developed into one of the favorite races for drivers and teams, acknowledging the track possesses unusual challenges. But they like the tradition and prestige of winning here.

"The novelty has worn off in the sense that a generation of drivers now regard the race as another on the schedule, while the previous generation thought this was the Indianapolis 500 track and never thought they'd be able to run on it.''

As for Sunday's race, Nation thinks the event answered the doom and gloomers.

"I'm sure it maintained its place as the largest attended NASCAR race of the year,'' Nation said. "As badly as we felt after the race lat year, we feel equally better about the prospects for 2010 that this will be the turnaround. It exceeded out expectations.''

People may be talking as much about who didn't win Sunday as much as they are about who did.

At least they're talking about the race and not about tires.

Did the Brickyard Win People Back? originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>allstate 400Holly CainMon, 27 Jul 2009 16:53:00 EST Despite Changes, Johnson Still On Tophttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/26/despite-changes-johnson-still-on-top/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/26/despite-changes-johnson-still-on-top/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/26/despite-changes-johnson-still-on-top/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

INDIANAPOLIS -- Two different years, two different races, two different tire compounds and two different styles of racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway have yielded one thing for NASCAR: a No. 48 car driven by Jimmie Johnson in victory lane at the Brickyard.

"We made the best decisions we could [Saturday night], put the best setup in the car that we knew of, just deal with the circumstances and go out and race," said Johnson. "It's what the 48 is known for."

Indeed it is.
More Coverage: Montoya Melts | Johnson Repeats | Kyle Busch Struggles

Just a year ago the show put on by the Sprint Cup Series at the most heralded race track in the country was left to be coined everything from an abomination to a train wreck thanks to tires that lasted just over two handfuls of laps. The excessive tire wear left NASCAR throwing scheduled cautions every 10th lap or so to keep cars from trying their best at knocking down the outside retaining wall and, in turn, left drivers scrambling to find the winning strategy.

And just as has been the case with incredible normalcy over the past 3 1/2 seasons, Johnson and Co. figured out how to take the checkers in the most abnormal race the series saw in 2008.

It should have been no surprise, then, that when the tire problems finally were corrected for this 2009 edition, Johnson was again rising to the top.

That doesn't mean it came easy all weekend for the Hendrick Motorsports team.

"[Saturday] was tough," said Johnson of qualifying and practice at the 2 1/2-mile track. "It challenged my thoughts as a driver and if I was doing the right things because we could post a quick lap, but then there's a ton of falloff [in practice speed]."

The changes made that evening in the IMS garage, as he mentioned earlier, turned out to make the critical difference in Sunday's race.

"I knew within about two turns that we were going to be very competitive [Sunday]," said Johnson.

And just like he's done for the past three seasons in winning the Sprint Cup title, Johnson turned up the wick when it mattered most at IMS.

Juan Pablo Montoya's speeding penalty on lap 124 opened the door wide for both Johnson and his Hendrick teammate Mark Martin, but as the odds have shown in the past, Martin (or any driver for that matter) really didn't have a shot at beating his friendly on-track nemesis.

But that's just how it's been in the past few seasons for Johnson. When the odds are stacked against him, or when the wins just seem like they can't possibly continue to add up at the rate they do, the No. 48 pulls in front again.

"I certainly hope that it makes people think and wonder and worry, especially the guys in the garage," said Johnson of his seemingly endless success when it really matters. "We'll see what happens and hopefully guys in the fenced off areas, in the garage area, are worried about it."

Latest NASCAR Images

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates by kissing the bricks with his team after Johnson wins the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Crew chief Chad Knaus, team owner Rick Hendrick and driver Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Chad Knaus;Rick Hendrick;Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: (L-R) Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, poses with wife Chandra Johnson after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson;Chandra Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates with his team after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates with his team after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

Despite Changes, Johnson Still On Top originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Geoffrey MillerSun, 26 Jul 2009 23:32:00 EST Montoya's Indy Domination Melts Awayhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/26/montoyas-domination-fades-to-frustration/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/26/montoyas-domination-fades-to-frustration/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/26/montoyas-domination-fades-to-frustration/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Juan Pablo Montoya is penalizedINDIANAPOLIS -- It wasn't the one that got away. It was the one that was taken away.

That's how Juan Pablo Montoya felt after having one of the most dominating performances of the NASCAR season derailed by a speeding penalty on pit road late in Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.

"I swear on my children and my wife, I wasn't speeding,'' Montoya radioed to his crew after being called back on pit road to serve a "drive through" penalty after having raced out to a nearly five-second advantage on the field and led 116 of the first 125 laps.

"Thanks NASCAR for screwing my day," he continued on the team radio.

"Frustrated? The word isn't frustrated. I've been robbed before and I've been screwed before and they outdid themselves this time.''

Montoya pleaded with his crew chief Brian Pattie to double-check with NASCAR officials, fully convinced that he didn't speed, even wondering if NASCAR might end up apologizing for an error.

A penalty is only assessed if a driver exceeds the 55 mph pit road speed by more than 5 mph on the electronic timing device. NASCAR officials said after the race that Montoya was caught fractions over 60 mph at two of the eight sensors on pit road.

With 35 laps remaining in the race after Montoya's penalty, Pattie calmed down the stunned 2000 Indianapolis 500 winner by telling him "it's really time for you to put on a show now, don't worry about it.''

Montoya ended up finishing 11th, and despite missing out on the historic win -- which would have made him the only driver in history to win the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR's 400-miler -- he dropped only one point position in the Sprint Cup Series standings to 10th place.

Latest NASCAR Images

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates with his team after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates with his team after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates with his team after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: (2nd L-R) Chandra Johnson, Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates with crew chief Chad Knaus and team owner Rick Hendrick after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Chandra Johnson;Jimmie Johnson;Chad Knaus;Rick Hendrick

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: (L-R) Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates with wife Chandra Johnson after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson;Chandra Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: (L-R) Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates with team owner Rick Hendrick after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson;Rick Hendrick

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: (L-R) Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates with team owner Rick Hendrick after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson;Rick Hendrick

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: (L-R) Chandra Johnson, Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates with crew chief Chad Knaus and team owner Rick Hendrick after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Chandra Johnson;Jimmie Johnson;Chad Knaus;Rick Hendrick

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: (L-R) Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates with crew chief Chad Knaus after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson;Chad Knaus

    Getty Images for NASCAR


He holds a 100-point edge over 13th place David Reutimann with six races remaining to set the 12-driver Chase for the Championship playoff field.

Pattie said after the race he wasn't going to contest the situation.

"It's electronic, there's not much to discuss,'' Pattie said. "This isn't like the old days where everybody's using the hand-held devices. It's black and white. It is what it is.''

And certainly the effort from the Earnhardt-Ganassi team wasn't overlooked.

"He never really was challenged all day,'' third-place finisher Tony Stewart said of Montoya. "He did a great job today and I know what he's feeling. He's got to be sick.''

After the race Montoya pulled up to his team's semi-truck and stormed away from the waiting press to speak with his team members on the side. When he returned to speak to reporters, he was calm and collected and said he was glad to have had a good points day.

"It is what it is,'' Montoya said. "I thought I was right on speed. We had a deal like that before and once it happens you can't change it so it's pretty frustrating.''

Most of his competitors sympathized with the Colombian-born, former Formula One driver. At one point Montoya's retro-look No. 42 Target Chevy -- a replica of his winning Indy 500 car -- held a 17-second edge on 10th place.

Seventh-place finisher Kasey Kahne half-jokingly said Montoya was so far out in front, he never saw him.

"I really feel bad for him, if either of my teammates weren't going to win I was absolutely pulling for Juan,'' runner-up Mark Martin said.

"They sure had the car today, but you know what, they'll keep doing that and their day will come. That's happened to every one of us. Their day will come.''

However, the good sympathy only went so far. Race winner Jimmie Johnson was asked about Montoya's dominant day and the now three-time Brickyard winner had a slightly -- and understandably -- different take.

"I don't know about Montoya, but I do know I have the trophy and it's going home with me,'' Johnson said with a smile.

"We're all so selfish. I would have gone to Victory Lane and congratulated him, but I'm really glad we got the trophy.

"Not only is his team getting better, but Juan is really a great talent and if you look at the guys that came over from open-wheel he is by far the best of them. He's become a stock-car driver and I think we'll see a lot more of Juan. I see him being a threat.''

Montoya's Indy Domination Melts Away originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>allstate 400allstate 400 at the brickyardHolly CainSun, 26 Jul 2009 19:32:00 EST Jimmie Johnson Repeats at Brickyardhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/26/johnson-repeats-as-brickyard-400-champ/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/26/johnson-repeats-as-brickyard-400-champ/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/26/johnson-repeats-as-brickyard-400-champ/#commentsFiled under: , ,

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Jimmie Johnson grabbed an improbable third victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when a speeding penalty to Juan Pablo Montoya blew Sunday's race wide open.

Montoya led 116 laps and had a 5-second lead when he headed to pit road for a routine stop with 35 laps remaining. NASCAR flagged him for speeding on his way in, and the penalty knocked him out of contention.

"I swear on my children and my wife that I was not speeding!" he shouted over his radio. "There is no way! Thank you NASCAR for screwing my day."

Crew chief Brian Pattie begged his driver to calm down and focus on salvaging a solid points day, to no avail.

"Don't tell me to relax, dude!" Montoya yelled. "We had this in the bag."

Indeed he did, but the 2000 winner of the Indianapolis 500 was relegated to an 11th-place finish. Montoya, who had moved as high as sixth in the Sprint Cup standings as he ran out front, instead lost a spot and is now 10th in the race for the Chase for the championship.

The performance was reminiscent of Montoya's win in the Indy 500, when he led 167 of 200 laps in his first race at the storied track. His team celebrated his return Sunday with a retro paint scheme that duplicated that winning car, and as he clicked off lap after lap, it was deja vu for the Colombian driver.

"Actually reminded me of last time I led here to be honest,'' a calm Montoya said after the race. ``I was cruise(ing). I was super fast.''

Too fast, actually. NASCAR said the electronic timing system caught Montoya twice exceeding the limit as he drove down pit road.

"There's nothing to prove wrong,'' said Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition. "It's about as simple math as you can use.''

Latest NASCAR Images

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Getty Images for NASCAR)

    Getty Images

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, drives in front of Mark Martin, driver of the #5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet, before Johnson wins the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson;Mark Martin

    Getty Images

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, drives in front of Mark Martin, driver of the #5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet, before Johnson wins the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson;Mark Martin

    Getty Images

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Getty Images for NASCAR)

    Getty Images

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Getty Images for NASCAR)

    Getty Images

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Getty Images for NASCAR)

    Getty Images

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Getty Images for NASCAR)

    Getty Images

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, celebrates with his crew members after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 26: at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Getty Images for NASCAR)

    Getty Images


The penalty opened up the race for anyone else to claim.

Mark Martin restarted as the leader with 24 laps to go and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson lined up on his outside. Johnson sailed to the front and pulled away, only to have to hold off Martin over a nerve-racking final five laps.

Johnson, winner of three of the last four races at The Brickyard, became the first driver to win in consecutive years in 16 NASCAR races at Indy. It was the third win this season for the three-time defending NASCAR champion.

Martin, who at 50 became the oldest polesitter in Indy's 100 years, finished second and moved up two spots in the standings to ninth.

``I would have liked to win it,'' Martin said. ``Just got beat by Superman.''

Current points leader Tony Stewart, a two-time Brickyard winner, was third and could commiserate with Montoya's heartbreak.

``He never really was challenged all day,'' Stewart said. ``He did a great job. I know what he's feeling like - he's got to be sick inside. He had the car, he had the talent to do it, he just made a mistake and it cost him.''

Greg Biffle was third and followed by Brian Vickers and Kevin Harvick, who grabbed his best finish in 15 races.

Kasey Kahne was seventh and followed by David Reutimann, four-time Brickyard winner Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth.

A cut tire caused Kyle Busch to finish 38th and drop out of contention for the Chase. The bad day cost him four spots in the standings, and he is 14th with six races left to set the 12-driver Chase field.

``I think it's pretty self-explanatory that we're trying to fight for a spot in the Chase,'' said Busch, a three-time winner this season.

The tire problems that plagued last year's race were never a factor, as Goodyear made good on its promise to find the right compound for one of the biggest races of the season. Goodyear's product last year couldn't last longer than 10-to-12 laps, and the tiremaker spent 11 months diligently correcting the problem.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Jimmie Johnson Repeats at Brickyard originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>allstate 400FanHouse NewswireSun, 26 Jul 2009 17:34:00 EST Rough Day at Brickyard for Kyle Buschhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/26/rough-day-at-brickyard-for-kyle-busch/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/26/rough-day-at-brickyard-for-kyle-busch/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/26/rough-day-at-brickyard-for-kyle-busch/#commentsFiled under: ,

Kyle BuschINDIANAPOLIS -- Troubles continue for Kyle Busch and it may cost him a shot at the Sprint Cup Championship.

The right front tire on Busch's No. 18 Toyota blew out on lap 57 of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Sunday sending the car hard into the Turn 3 wall at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and eventually into the garage for major repairs.

Busch was able to return to the race but finished 38th and drops outside the top-12 Chase contention with only six races remaining to set the playoff field. He's 82 points behind 12th place Matt Kenseth and now has only one top-10 finish in the last eight races.


"We were just biding our time,'' Busch said after climbing out of his car. "I had been loose the whole run so I didn't think I had been abusing it (tire) at all, but all of the sudden it just started vibrating and then in two laps it just blew out. I don't know what happened.

"I think it's pretty self-explanatory that we're trying to fight for a spot in the Chase and this is obviously frustrating because I don't know if it was our cars, the tire or what.'''


Rough Day at Brickyard for Kyle Busch originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Holly CainSun, 26 Jul 2009 16:04:00 EST FanHouse Warmup: Allstate 400http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/26/fanhouse-warmup-allstate-400/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/26/fanhouse-warmup-allstate-400/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/26/fanhouse-warmup-allstate-400/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Essentials
Brickyard Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ryan Newman Allstate 400 NASCAR Sprint CupRace: Allstate 400 @ the Brickyard
Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Time: Sunday 2:00pm/EDT
TV/Radio: ESPN, IMS Radio Network
Twitter: Updates @ FanHouseRacing
Forecast: 82 degrees, Partly Cloudy
Distance: 160 laps (400 miles)
Pole Winner: Mark Martin
2008 Winner: Jimmie Johnson

The Storylines

Bill Elliott was probably the happiest guy in Indianapolis Saturday afternoon when the skies cleared and, most importantly, NASCAR chose to avoid canceling qualifying.


Elliott put his No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford fourth on the starting grid for Sunday's race at the Brickyard with a lap of 180.357 mph. Had NASCAR chose to allow the rain to cancel qualifying and set the grid by points, Elliott and his part-time team would have packed up and gone home because they wouldn't have been one of the eight cars eligible per the rule book.

Instead, the 53-year-old former Brickyard winner is in the race and is hoping to make headlines as the 'other' graybeard in the field.

"I'm gonna give it my best shot," said Elliott. "If a 50-year-old can win, I think a few more years ain't gonna hurt a thing."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. may have been battling a nasty case of the stomach flu on Friday, but his hopes for Sunday's race seem to be raised thanks to the confidence he's seen this weekend in crew chief Lance McGrew. Sunday's 400-miler will mark the first race for the No. 88 team with a car that was prepared completely by McGrew.

"He seemed real excited the last couple of weeks talking about the car, some of the advantages the car seemed to have over what we've been using," Earnhardt Jr. said Saturday after qualifying 3rd -- his first Top-10 start of the entire 2009 season. "I guess I like it because if he feels this way or feels that much confidence and he knows the car as well as he does, then I have the ability to feel a little more confident in his decisions during practice and during the race on what to change, what's he's trying to do to improve the car.

"I feel like he'll know the car better."

As for Earnhardt Jr.'s health, it's apparently improved considerably from Friday as the team won't have Brad Keselowski or any other driver standing by in the pits during Sunday's race for relief.

NASCAR, and more narrowly, Goodyear need to be commended for the fantastic work they've done to make the tire right for racing Sunday at Allstate 400.

Words like debacle, disaster and anything else to describe the ugliness of last year's Allstate 400 Miles of 10-lap Feature Sprints have been completely erased from the stories of the media pool, and instead Sunday's race is promising to be a darn good show. The tires have rubbered in the track very well and most importantly, they are showing signs of wearing evenly throughout a run.

In fact, the tires have been so good that drivers have commented about being able drive more aggressively in the corners than in previous years and the possibility of making two-tire stops.

Anybody that's planning the build a new race track doesn't need to look at Richmond International Raceway as the ideal layout for stock car racing. Instead, they need to look no further than the .686-mile track just down the road from IMS at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

Both the Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series competed at the mostly flat but variably-banked on Friday and Saturday night and the racing was just fantastic. ORP is different than any other short track because the fastest groove is often up top, which opens the inside lane for passing.

The only problem? It's not too easy to make a move on the low, flat part of the track and that creates a side effect that every race fan loves -- side-by-side racing nearly all night long.

ORP proves that flat tracks can be fun to watch, and before we get another 1.5-miler added to any NASCAR series, the brain trust of track designers need to take a good hard look at what their doing out at ORP. It's one heckuva show, every single year.

Kurt Busch's car bumped and bucked like a bronco Saturday afternoon during his qualifying run, and it was feat in itself that the backup wasn't rolling off of the No. 2 hauler to replace the primary machine. There was an obvious problem with the car's suspension, but the team wasn't saying much.

Busch surmised after his lap that it was an issue with the shocks or bump stops, but when his crew chief Pat Tryson was asked later about the issue, he declined to specify what the problem was. Team owner Roger Penske appeared on Sunday morning's ESPN NASCAR NOW and mentioned that the team had "tried" something in qualifying that didn't work, but didn't elaborate.

Generally, if the issue was a problem, a team will divulge the information, but it seems that Busch's team was trying something from way out in left field and didn't want the rest of the competition to know about it. Busch lines up 40th for Sunday's race.

There's plenty of storylines for Sunday's 400-miler, and each of those are making this race an appealing one to watch.

Does Juan Pablo Montoya or Sam Hornish Jr. have a chance to be the first crossover winner in Speedway history? Can Jeff Gordon become a 5-time winner at IMS? Is there a driver lurking the shadows that we haven't talked about ready to make a run at history? And -- gasp -- does Dale Earnhardt Jr. really have a car that can compete for a win today?

We'll know in just 160 laps. Until then, enjoy the race and we'll see you right here after the race for extensive post-race coverage, live from Brickyard.

FanHouse Warmup: Allstate 400 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Allstate 400bill elliottBrickyardFanhouse WarmupOReilly Raceway ParkGeoffrey MillerSun, 26 Jul 2009 10:10:00 EST Brickyard Still Special for Drivershttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/25/brickyard-still-special-for-drivers/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/25/brickyard-still-special-for-drivers/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/25/brickyard-still-special-for-drivers/#commentsFiled under: ,

Indianapolis NASCAR Brickyard Allstate 400INDIANAPOLIS -- It took just three hours, 28 minutes and 29 seconds to undo the 15-year love affair between the Brickyard and NASCAR.

Four-hundred miles of shredding tires and competition cautions left a lump in the throat of stock car racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2008, and a year later, the Sprint Cup Series has returned to the disaster zone facing a myriad of questions. Can stock cars produce a good show here? Should NASCAR be at the Brickyard? And, most importantly, do drivers still feel the awe and prestige of this legendary speedway?

Yes, yes and especially yes, drivers say.

"What makes this a great event -- whether it is stock cars or IndyCar or Formula One -- is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's history in automobile racing," said Jeff Gordon, the winner of the inaugural Brickyard 400 in 1994 and three more since then.

The history aspect is something that fellow Chevrolet driver Jeff Burton agrees with.

"To me, the history makes this a great race," said Burton. "If you don't grasp the history and you don't understand how historic this race track is and the legacy of this race track, not just in the [United] States but around the world, you probably don't enjoy this race as much as somebody else does. To me, because of all of that I think it's an awesome race."

The history, and the what-could-have-been's are what stick with former driver, two-time Brickyard 400 champion and now ESPN commentator Dale Jarrett.

"It was the thrill of a lifetime to come here in 1994," said Jarrett of the inaugural running. "Really, it's hard to put in words what it meant."

Jarrett, despite being a two-time winner, experienced tremendous disappointment at IMS in 1997. While leading by 11 seconds in the middle of the race, the team tried to stretch the fuel during a green flag run to lead the race's halfway mark and secure the accompanying bonus money. The team succeeded, but ran out of fuel nearly immediately and coasted for nearly an entire lap.

When it was all said and done, Jarrett went from leading to being some four laps down while the team tried to get the car refired.

"All I could think about was how we just lost the Brickyard 400 and two million dollars in order to win $10,000," said Jarrett. "That was the toughest race I ever lost."

Speaking of that inaugural race, Tony Stewart readily admitted Friday that he initially hated the idea of stock cars coming to Indianapolis.

"I was a die-hard Indy Car guy at that time," said Stewart. "I was one of the people that was pretty upset around here about it. Once you saw the test tession and once you saw the first race here, you were like 'Hey, this really makes a lot of sense and it is a fit for here."

History alone, however, doesn't make a race significant or exciting to watch, or in the case of drivers, to compete in.

"I don't think that it's the best track that we race at for excitement and passing and things like that," said Indiana-native Ryan Newman. "It's the fastest and flattest track that we go to. That combination makes for more difficult racing and track position, and therefore, its more important."

Because history doesn't simply keep an event at its peak, Sunday's race will prove especially important. After the problems of a year ago, the attendance is likely to be lower in the mammoth IMS grandstands and the bruised feelings will need mended.

"No one walked out of here that wasn't disappointed," said Greg Stucker, Goodyear's director of race tire sales following a successful tire test at IMS in June. "And there hasn't been a day go by since that we haven't talked about the race. It's been our number-one priority for the last 11 months."

And that priority has paid off in the form of zero complaints or worries about the Goodyear rubber meeting the track for Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Practices and qualifying have gone off without a hitch, meaning that the prestige and glory that the match of Indianapolis with NASCAR seems to be heading back in the right direction.

Tires are expected to be a factor, but only because drivers and teams will now have them at their disposal to win.

"There are times when history outweighs other things and this race track is an example of that," said Burton.

Brickyard Still Special for Drivers originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 23:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Allstate 400BrickyardDale JarrettIndianapolisIndianapolis Motor SpeedwayJeff GordonRyan NewmanTony StewartGeoffrey MillerSat, 25 Jul 2009 23:18:00 EST Allstate 400 Live Chat Wraphttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/25/chat-live-sunday-from-indianapolis-motor-speedway/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/25/chat-live-sunday-from-indianapolis-motor-speedway/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/25/chat-live-sunday-from-indianapolis-motor-speedway/#commentsFiled under: ,

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Brickyard NASCAR Allstate 400Before Sunday's Allstate 400, I chatted with FanHouse readers live from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to discuss all things NASCAR.

Will Jeff Gordon become the first driver to win five oval races at the famed Speedway? Will Indy's favorite son Tony Stewart win a third Allstate 400? Will Juan Pablo Montoya or Sam Hornish Jr. become the first men to win both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR's 400-miler? Will Danica Patrick make the move to stock cars?

Check out the great questions -- and my answers -- in the chat wrap after the jump.
FanHouse Warmup: Allstate 400


Allstate 400 Live Chat Wrap originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>allstate 400Holly CainSat, 25 Jul 2009 19:18:00 EST Sprint Cup N's & Q's: Gasoline Alleyhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/25/inside-gasoline-alley/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/25/inside-gasoline-alley/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/25/inside-gasoline-alley/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Brian Vickers Indianapolis Brickyard NASCAR Sprint CupINDIANAPOLIS -- Some notes and quotes from inside Indianapolis Motor Speedway's famous Gasoline Alley:

*Four-time Brickyard winner Jeff Gordon said Saturday he does not plan on getting any more invasive treatments for his nagging back pain.

Earlier this year an MRI revealed that Gordon suffers from mild arthritis. He underwent a procedure in May to inject anti-inflammatory medicine and Gordon said he's feeling better but credits that mostly to an improved training regiment, not the procedure.

He said some tracks irritate the injury more than others joking that he could take a month off, "then go to Bristol (Tenn.) and it will hurt.""The procedure really didn't have an impact so I made the decision after talking with my doctors not to do anything more,'' Gordon said. "And frankly, I don't like having needles in my back.''*Moments after earning a front row starting spot for Sunday's race Juan Pablo Montoya told reporters his mind was on Felipe Massa, who was injured in a crash during Formula One qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Montoya, a former F1 star, noted the differences between safety in F1 and NASCAR.

Montoya praised NASCAR's COT, the carbon seats used by many drivers and a responsive medical team as being superior to what they have in Europe.

"What really shook me about Massa is how long it took the medical response,'' Montoya said. "I always said that when I was over there, but then you get here and see what NASCAR does. ... ''

Massa was in the intensive care unit of a Hungarian hospital after a piece of steel flew off of another car and struck Massa in the helmet. The debris tore Massa's helmet visor and struck the young Brazilian in the forehead. It comes a week after 18-year old Henry Surtees was killed after being struck in the head by a tire that came off another car in an F2 race.

Another former F1 driver, American Eddie Cheever, said he didn't know enough about the Massa incident to comment directly on that, but did offer, "For open-wheel racing there's always that risk of your head being exposed. Safety is never an issue that ends with one innovation.''

*Brian Vickers has won five pole positions, had eight top-10 finishes, led almost 100 laps this season and qualified sixth here at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Red Bull Racing Team, but the 25-year old still doesn't a have a job for next season.

quot;We've agreed to everything verbally and they've stressed to me time and time again they want me to stay,'' Vickers said of his Red Bull team. "But I look at it as until the contract is signed I'm a free agent. I'm keeping all my options open at this point.''

*Ryan Newman and Denny Hamlin topped the speed charts in final practice for Sunday's AllState 400 at the Brickyard on Saturday evening, with defending winner Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and pole sitter Mark Martin rounding out the top-five. Greg Biffle spun on the last lap of practice but didn't hit anything. Two-time Brickyard winner Tony Stewart ran the most laps (50) in practice.

Sprint Cup N's & Q's: Gasoline Alley originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Brian VickersBrianVickersFelipe MassaFelipeMassaJeff GordonJeffGordonHolly CainSat, 25 Jul 2009 19:17:00 EST Mark Martin Wins Pole for AllState 400http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/25/mark-martin-wins-pole-for-allstate-400-at-brickyard/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/25/mark-martin-wins-pole-for-allstate-400-at-brickyard/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/25/mark-martin-wins-pole-for-allstate-400-at-brickyard/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

INDIANAPOLIS -- The hits keep coming for 50-year-old Mark Martin. He leads NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series with four wins and Saturday won the pole position for one of the most prestigious events of the season, Sunday's AllState 400 at the Brickyard.

He is the oldest pole winner in the storied 100-year history of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"I like making history that's for sure," Martin said with a smile. "I can promise you one thing: no matter what, there is nobody in NASCAR having more fun than me. And ultimately that's what it's all about."

Martin will have veteran company at the front of the grid with 53-year old Bill Elliott earning the fourth starting position in a part-time entry fielded by the legendary Woods Brothers team.

Former Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya will start alongside Martin on the outside pole. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will roll off third -- his first top-10 start of the season and an impressive qualifying run considering he's suffering from the stomach flu and has needed IVs to keep hydrated this weekend.

At one point, Earnhardt's team had made arrangements for Brad Keselowski to stand by in the pits Sunday as a possible relief driver. But Earnhardt said after qualifying that he would "man up" and that he's feeling better as the weekend progresses.

"I feel a lot more confident about coming in tomorrow," Earnhardt said. "Yesterday was just a frustrating and miserable day physically."

David Reutimann, Brian Vickers, two-time race winner Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Reed Sorenson and Clint Bowyer rounded out the top 10. Defending winner Jimmie Johnson will start 16th and four-time Brickyard winner Jeff Gordon will roll off 22nd.

Qualifying results were similar to Friday's two practice sessions. Martin and Montoya were quickest then and also were fortunate to draw early qualifying positions. Heavy rains delayed qualifying for almost four hours and the temperatures were more than 10 degrees cooler for the early qualifiers than those that came later as the afternoon sun heated up the track.

Martin went out third, Montoya was 17th.

"You should have seen the light in all my guys faces," Martin said. "The most fun of everything we're doing here is to see their faces. It's just really really cool and we got to do that again today.

"I'm a pretty tough unit, I have a lot of disappointments but I feel like them, like I do my children. I don't want them to have to suffer through disappointments. I put a lot of pressure on myself to get a good lap today so I didn't let then down.

"The media had high expectations for me coming into the season, but my expectations were what eventually ground me into the ground and took the fun out of racing for me -- being burned out, tired and frustrated,'' Martin said. "So to be rejuvenated after a couple years of catching my breath and then have this crazy success we're experiencing is even beyond my dreams."

Mark Martin Wins Pole for AllState 400 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Holly CainSat, 25 Jul 2009 17:32:00 EST Kyle Busch: 'I've Got Some Things I've Got to Work On'http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/25/kyle-busch-ive-got-some-things-ive-got-to-work-on/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/25/kyle-busch-ive-got-some-things-ive-got-to-work-on/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/25/kyle-busch-ive-got-some-things-ive-got-to-work-on/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

INDIANAPOLIS -- Judging by Kyle Busch's comments and demeanor this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, maybe the 24-year-old has had a bit of an attitude epiphany.

When it comes to dealing with a bad day on track, Busch conceded, "I haven't done a good job at that."

"I've got some things that I've got to try to work on to make ourselves better and ultimately more championship caliber."

It was a revealing and introspective side of Busch at odds with the petulant nature he has often shown this season -- an attitude that some observers caution may be the difference in the super-talent winning a championship or not.

Everyone agrees that Busch is one of the most naturally talented race car drivers NASCAR has ever seen. But it has been his inability to deal with a bad race that sometimes overshadows his many good races.

He's had only one top-10 finish in the last seven races and dropped to 10th in the standings entering Sunday's AllState 400 at the Brickyard. Despite winning three times he holds only a 13-point cushion in qualifying for The Chase with seven races remaining before the 12-driver playoff field is set. He has had good success at Indy with three top-10 finishes in four starts.

"Kyle Busch is a tremendous talent but I think his win or nothing, 'we're going to go for broke' attitude about each and every race could put him in a precarious position in trying to keep himself inside the Chase because that's his mentality that all he wants to do is win the race," said 1999 Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett, who is an analyst for ESPN's race broadcasts.

"We've seen him be extremely disappointed about finishing second whether it's in the Nationwide Series or the Cup Series and that's a great attitude to have, but it can also be your downfall too if you're in a situation like this where you're having to try to protect just a little bit."

Maybe Busch is listening. He said Friday he's had some conversations with those close to him, including his spotter and his public relations manager, who know how much more productive it would be for Busch to control his frustrations instead of the racing equivalent of pitching a temper tantrum when his car isn't perfect.

"If you're having a bad day then you need to make a 10th out of it and we're not very good at that, at least I'm not very good at that and I don't think our team is very good at that," said Busch, who drives the No. 18 Snickers Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.

"Maybe that's because of me -- maybe I'm not leading it in the right direction."

When asked if that's simply a by-product of his ultra-competitive, singularly-focused personality, Busch conceded, "Maybe that's why I've won some races because of who I am, but maybe that's a lot of the reason why I've lost some races is because of who I am.

"There's a balancing act in everything you do and there's consequences and ultimately repercussions for things so I'm trying to work on it and make it better so we don't have to look at myself as to why the problem exists."

"The bad races aren't just bad, they're horrible, whether it's my fault or not, you need a common denominator," Busch said.

"It was me who kept my head in the game and stayed focused, which I feel like I've done, but maybe I give up a little bit and don't tell my team exactly what we need on fixing the car.

"That frustration sets in and then we don't get the car any better because I'm so zoned out. I'm still driving the heck out of what I've got, but I'm not trying to make what I've got better. If I can fix myself and stay tuned in and stay zoned in on what the task is then we can look in other areas."

Kyle Busch: 'I've Got Some Things I've Got to Work On' originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>kyle buschHolly CainSat, 25 Jul 2009 12:50:00 EST NASCAR Teams Taking Cautious Approach to Danica Sweepstakes http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/nascar-teams-taking-cautious-approach-to-danica-sweepstakes/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/nascar-teams-taking-cautious-approach-to-danica-sweepstakes/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/nascar-teams-taking-cautious-approach-to-danica-sweepstakes/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Danica PatrickINDIANAPOLIS -- Perhaps it was inevitable that Danica Patrick's name would come up here during preparation for NASCAR's AllState 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday.

She's the most successful woman driver in the history of the Indy 500, and she's openly flirting with NASCAR as she decides where she'll race when her contract with Andretti Green Racing ends this season.

But at least one of Patrick's potential suitors, team owner Chip Ganassi, said Friday he'd advise her to stay in the Indy Racing League.
More: Notes From Indy Motor Speedway

"My counsel to her was that she's close to making that last step in Indy Car racing, and she could easily do that in the next three to five years and still be able to do this [NASCAR],'' said Ganassi, who confirmed he has had discussions with Patrick.

"She's one of those athletes with an opportunity to make career moves into the foreseeable future. It's up to her.''

Ganassi's name has been mentioned because he owns teams in the Indy Racing League and NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series and would potentially be able to ease Patrick into the stock-car ranks while she still runs in the IRL.

"If she wanted to do NASCAR on full-time basis, I'd suggest there are better places,'' Ganassi said. "I don't think our team is in position to do that.''

Patrick made headlines last week when she visited Cup Series championship leader Tony Stewart's race shop in Charlotte, N.C. -- but Stewart wasn't even in town and Patrick also visited five other team shops.

Stewart, a former IRL champion himself, said he hasn't spoken with Patrick. He suggested earlier in the month that, before she sign a contract with a NASCAR team, she should at least turn a lap in a stock car -- something she hasn't done yet.

Latest Danica Patrick Photos

    Danica Patrick describes her car's performance following practice for the IndyCar Series auto race, in Edmonton, Alberta, Friday, July 24, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jeff McIntosh)

    AP

    EDMONTON, AB - JULY 24: Danica Patrick drives his #7 Boost Mobile Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda during practice for the IRL IndyCar Series Rexall Edmonton Indy on July 24, 2009 at Edmonton City Centre Airport in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

    Getty Images

    Danica Patrick rides her scooter back to the garage after the first practice run at the Edmonton Indy in Edmonton, July 24, 2009. REUTERS/Todd Korol (CANADA SPORT MOTOR RACING)

    Reuters

    Danica Patrick gets her tires changed in a pit stop during the first practice run at the Edmonton Indy in Edmonton, July 24, 2009. REUTERS/Todd Korol (CANADA SPORT MOTOR RACING)

    Reuters

    Danica Patrick comes in for a pit stop during the first practice run at the Edmonton Indy in Edmonton, July 24, 2009. REUTERS/Todd Korol (CANADA SPORT MOTOR RACING)

    Reuters

    Danica Patrick prepares to get her steering wheel from a crew member during the first practice run at the Edmonton Indy in Edmonton, July 24, 2009. REUTERS/Todd Korol (CANADA SPORT MOTOR RACING)

    Reuters

    Danica Patrick drives during the first practice session of the Edmonton Indy in Edmonton July 24, 2009. REUTERS/Dan Riedlhuber (CANADA SPORT MOTOR RACING)

    Reuters

    Danica Patrick talks to a crew member about the track during the first practice run at the Edmonton Indy in Edmonton, July 24, 2009. REUTERS/Todd Korol (CANADA SPORT MOTOR RACING)

    Reuters

    Indy Car Series driver Danica Patrick signs autographs for a fan in an Andretti Green Racing motorhome on Friday, July 24, 2009 in Edmonton, Alberta. Patrick will be competing in the Rexall Edmonton Indy race on Sunday. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, John Ulan)

    AP

    Indy driver Danica Patrick arrives at the 2009 ESPY Awards Arrivals at Nokia Theatre LA Live on July 15, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. 2009 ESPY Awards - Arrivals Nokia Theatre LA Live Los Angeles, CA United States July 15, 2009 Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.com To license this image (16869752), contact FilmMagic.com

    Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.com


However, Stewart also insisted on Friday that no one else should judge whether Patrick, who currently ranks fifth in the Indy Racing League championship standings, should make the challenging transition to NASCAR.

"She is the only one that knows what she wants to do,'' Stewart said. "I feel that way with everybody that considers making a change. I made a significant change exactly one year ago today here, and people said I was crazy and now all of a sudden, people are saying, "Oh, it wasn't such a bad idea after all.'

"It's nice to have input from other people, but only one person knows what is right for them and that is that person.''

Ganassi, whose IRL team is leading the championship, said it's too early to characterize his discussions with Patrick.

"If I told you we didn't have conversations or weren't interested, I'd be lying to you,'' Ganassi said. "Like a lot of teams, we've had discussions, and she's on the market now and is ready to make the next step in her career where ever that takes her.

"Like most teams, we're in the top of the first inning. It's way early.''

NASCAR Teams Taking Cautious Approach to Danica Sweepstakes originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Chip GanassiChipGanassiDanica PatrickDanicaPatrickTony StewartTonyStewartHolly CainFri, 24 Jul 2009 21:25:00 EST NASCAR Arrives at Indy: Notes From Friday's Practice Sessionshttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/nascar-arrives-at-indy-notes-from-fridays-practice-sessions/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/nascar-arrives-at-indy-notes-from-fridays-practice-sessions/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/nascar-arrives-at-indy-notes-from-fridays-practice-sessions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Kurt BuschINDIANAPOLIS -- So far, so good.

Two hour-long practice sessions Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway eased the minds of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams concerned with tire wear for Sunday's AllState 400 at the Brickyard.

"It is done, they have created a great tire,'' said four-time Brickyard winner Jeff Gordon, who, following a June tire test, promised fans that Goodyear had fixed the problems that wreaked havoc on last year's race when tire wear forced drivers to pit every 10-15 laps.
More: NASCAR Teams Cautious Concerning Danica

Drivers, reporters and race officials have blamed the backlash from last year's tire debacle for lagging ticket sales for Sunday's race.

"They have backed it up with testing and they have now proven it here,'' Gordon said. "What I think is most crucial is the practice that we had, and I think I could have probably run all day long on one set of tires if I wanted to.''

Throughout the garage, crew chiefs and drivers echoed Gordon's sentiment.

Kyle Busch ran 26 laps in the first session, one of eight cars that turned at least 20 laps. And no one had any issues with tires.

The drivers who participated in Goodyear's final test in June were confident that Goodyear had solved its problem. Gordon even suggested that it wasn't purely a tire-compound issue, but a bad combination of the new car, the track and the tire. Friday's practice erased any remaining doubt with qualifying set for Saturday.

"All of that historical stuff is gone, it was basically an isolated incident,'' said Greg Biffle, who was fastest in the opening practice session. "A big deal was made about it, and it's gone now. We're good.''

Latest NASCAR Images

    Mark Martin talks with a crew member following practice for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard NASCAR auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, July 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

    AP

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 24: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT tools Chevrolet, looks at lap times during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 24: Fans watch practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 24: Mark Martin, driver of the #5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet, smiles in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Mark Martin

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 24: Jimmie Johnson (R), driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT tools Chevrolet, stands with crew chief Chad Knaus (L) during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson;Chad Knaus

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 24: (L) Mark Martin, driver of the #5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet, signs an autograph during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Mark Martin

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    Kasey Kahne sits in his car during practice for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard NASCAR auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, July 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

    AP

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 24: Jimmie Johnson (R), driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, talks with a crew member during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 24: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #17 DeWalt Ford, practices for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matt Kenseth

    Getty Images

    INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 24: Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 Haas Automation Chevrolet, practices for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ryan Newman

    Getty Images


Close Call: Defending race winner Jimmie Johnson had a rough return to the track. Johnson's No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet scraped the wall only minutes into the first practice session.

There was no major damage, however and Johnson posted the eighth-quickest speed in the session.

Mending Fences: Johnson said he reached out to Kurt Busch during the off-week to discuss their on-track run-in at Chicago two weeks ago. But Johnson said Busch did not respond to his text message.

The two made contact late in the race, and Busch -- still upset after getting wrecked by Johnson at Sears Point, Calif. in the previous race -- retaliated by hitting Johnson's Chevy. Johnson apologized about the Sears Point accident but insisted last week's contact was purely a racing incident and that his car just got loose.

In a television interview immediately after the Chicago race, Busch questioned Johnson's judgment and ability. But they both said Friday they are ready to move on.

"I'll find him in the garage,'' Busch said. "I felt like Chicago was definitely a heat of the moment type situation where it wasn't that big of a deal. Then to see everybody bombard us after we finished 17th, then I guess it was an issue.

"So we'll work on it, shake hands and laugh about it. I don't think that it's that big of a deal.''

Double Trouble: While the double-file restarts have certainly added a new element of excitement to Sprint Cup racing this summer, not all drivers are big fans of the format, even if they choose not to admit it.

Veteran Jeff Burton criticized the restarts after wrecking in one at Chicago two weeks ago and like many people, expects the tight-quarters at Indianapolis to make double-file restarts even more difficult to pull off.

"I really like the double-file restarts from the fan's perspective,'' Burton said. "Even from a competitor's perspective I"m good with it. It's just that I've been on the wrong end of it for four weeks in a row and we've been in wrecks that other people have caused four weeks in a row right after the double-file restarts.

"I'd love to think there is some magic fix but there's not. Double-file restarts do make the racing better, there's no question about it but they do put us in a little more jeopardy of being in a wreck.''

NASCAR Arrives at Indy: Notes From Friday's Practice Sessions originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayIndianapolisMotorSpeedwayJeff GordonJeffGordonJimmie JohnsonJimmieJohnsonHolly CainFri, 24 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST Appeals Court Upholds NASCAR's Jeremy Mayfield Suspensionhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/appeals-court-upholds-mayfield-suspension/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/appeals-court-upholds-mayfield-suspension/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/appeals-court-upholds-mayfield-suspension/#commentsFiled under:

Jeremy MayfieldINDIANAPOLIS -- As cars head to the track for opening practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, NASCAR received word Friday that the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has sided with the sanctioning body and upheld its suspension of Sprint Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield.

Mayfield, who has now tested positive for drug use in two separate tests conducted by NASCAR, was originally suspended on May 9. But earlier this month he won an injunction which lifted the suspension and allowed him to race.

He did not enter a race while the suspension was lifted, and failed a second drug test last week.

"We are pleased with the 4th Circuit Court's ruling to reinstate NASCAR's suspension of Jeremy Mayfield," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said in a statement. "This is an important decision for NASCAR to make fair and equitable regulations for the safety of competitors and spectators at the track. We will continue to respectfully make our case for as long as the litigation continues."

Mayfield is in the process of selling his team and the lone remaining employee resigned last week. Mayfield, told NASCAR.com earlier this week that he has a potential sponsorship deal and hopes to drive for another team. He has repeatedly denied using drugs. NASCAR says the positive tests indicated methamphetamine use. Mayfield claims they have been false positives, reacting to his use of a prescription medication for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

Appeals Court Upholds NASCAR's Jeremy Mayfield Suspension originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Jeremy MayfieldJeremyMayfieldHolly CainFri, 24 Jul 2009 14:47:00 EST Live Chat With Dale Jarretthttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/live-chat-with-dale-jarrett/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/live-chat-with-dale-jarrett/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/live-chat-with-dale-jarrett/#commentsFiled under: ,

Dale JarrettINDIANAPOLIS -- He's won the Brickyard 400 two times, so he knows what it takes to succeed at Indy. He's current ESPN race analyst Dale Jarrett, and he'll be chatting live with FanHouse.

NASCAR's 1999 Cup champion joined us for a live chat from Indianapolis. Ask Dale any question you want, from his pick to win the Allstate 400 to ... well, that's up to you.

Check out the chat wrap after the jump.

Also, don't forget that myself (Holly Cain) and blogger Geoffrey Miller will be checking in all weekend live from Indy with race coverage, behind-the-scenes reports, and more.

We also chatted with Jimmie Johnson and Sam Hornish Jr. earlier today. Stay with FanHouse all weekend for great NASCAR coverage.

Live Chat With Dale Jarrett originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>dale jarrettDaleJarrettHolly CainFri, 24 Jul 2009 14:10:00 EST Live Chat With Sam Hornish Jr.http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/live-chat-with-sam-hornish-jr/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/live-chat-with-sam-hornish-jr/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/live-chat-with-sam-hornish-jr/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sam Hornish Jr.INDIANAPOLIS -- He won the Indy 500 in 2006. So the question is, can he repeat that success this year in a stock car?

Sam Hornish Jr. joined FanHouse for a live chat from the Brickyard at Indy. Hornish discussed several topics, including how he likes his chances at Indy.

You can read the entire chat wrap after the jump.

Also, don't forget that myself (Holly Cain) and blogger Geoffrey Miller will be checking in all weekend live from Indy with race coverage, behind-the-scenes reports, and more.

And we've also got one more chats set up for Friday, with Dale Jarrett (4:30 PM ET). We also chatted with Jimmie Johnson earlier today. Stay with FanHouse all weekend for great NASCAR coverage.

Live Chat With Sam Hornish Jr. originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>sam hornish jr.SamHornishJr.Holly CainFri, 24 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST Live Chat With Jimmie Johnsonhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/live-chat-with-jimmie-johnson/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/live-chat-with-jimmie-johnson/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/24/live-chat-with-jimmie-johnson/#commentsFiled under: ,

Jimmie JohnsonINDIANAPOLIS -- Last year around this time in Indy, he won the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.

This year he chatted live at FanHouse.

Defending Allstate 400 champ Jimmie Johnson participated in a live chat with FanHouse's readers from the Brickyard at Indy.

Check out Jimmie's answers to your questions after the jump.

Also, don't forget that myself (Holly Cain) and blogger Geoffrey Miller will be checking in all weekend live from Indy with race coverage, behind-the-scenes reports, and more.

And we've also got two more chats set up for Friday, with Sam Hornish Jr. (12:15 PM ET) and Dale Jarrett (4:30 PM ET). Stay with FanHouse all weekend for great NASCAR coverage.

Live Chat With Jimmie Johnson originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>jimmie johnsonHolly CainFri, 24 Jul 2009 10:03:00 EST Will Kyle Busch's 'All or Nothing' Attitude Pay Off? http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/23/will-kyle-buschs-all-or-nothing-attitude-pay-off/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/23/will-kyle-buschs-all-or-nothing-attitude-pay-off/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/23/will-kyle-buschs-all-or-nothing-attitude-pay-off/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Kyle BuschINDIANAPOLIS -- With ESPN taking over the NASCAR Sprint Cup broadcast schedule beginning this week with the AllState 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the network's veteran analysts, Dr. Jerry Punch, Andy Petree and Dale Jarrett shared some of their thoughts on the season to date.

In addition to the obvious marquee story lines -- 50-year old Mark Martin winning and Tony Stewart's team a championship contender out of the box -- the ESPN crew was candid about the surprises on the other end of the spectrum, specifically whether three-time race winner Kyle Busch, 24, will even make The Chase.

"Nobody ever would have thought that that he would go in there and not make it,'' said Petree, the late Dale Earnhardt's championship crew chief. "He's struggled when he did get in the Chase the past couple of years, and that's not a surprise. But the fact is he's actually got a chance of not making it, and I think there's trouble brewing over there."

"This is a gut wrenching time for them as a team,'' Petree said. "You're going to see what kind of character they have these next seven races to get into the Chase. I think it's going to be very iffy that he gets in the Chase this year because of the way that car has performed, and now when you have this kind of a problem brewing, it can actually get worse."

The highly-talented but equally volatile Busch has had a season of extremes -- three Cup wins, but eight finishes outside the top-20 in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. He was ranked as high as fourth in the championship in March, winning twice in three weeks.

But while he holds an impressive 212-point lead atop the Nationwide Series championship, it's been a rough summer on the Cup side. He's in the midst of a points free fall, dropping to 10th place in the standings with only one top-10 finish in the last seven races.

He holds only a 13-point advantage over 13th place Greg Biffle in the Chase standings. Only 129 points separate him and 15th place Clint Bowyer, with seven races left to set the 12-driver Chase field.

"Kyle Busch is a tremendous talent but I think his win or nothing, 'we're going to go for broke' attitude about each and every race could put him in a precarious position in trying to keep himself inside the Chase because that's his mentality that all he wants to do is win the race,'' said 1999 Cup champion Jarrett.

"We've seen him be extremely disappointed about finishing second whether it's in the Nationwide Series or the Cup Series and that's a great attitude to have, but it can also be your downfall too if you're in a situation like this where you're having to try to protect just a little bit.

"And to be quite honest you look at the next two races, these next two tracks aren't his best. The flat tracks seem to be the ones that have given that race team more problems over the last 18 months than any others. I would look at him as the one person that is capable of winning every week, but he's also capable of having some bad finishes and falling out."

Busch does have a good record here at Indy, three top-10s in four Brickyard starts. His worst finish was 15th place last year. And he's coming off a Nationwide Series win last Saturday during a rare Cup Series off-week.

Thanks to the new championship format, this is the crunch time before the crunch time and Busch has got to perform under pressure before he's considered a championship contender -- a feat maybe more difficult for him than racking up race wins.

We'll see. And soon.

Will Kyle Busch's 'All or Nothing' Attitude Pay Off? originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>ESPNIndianapolis Motor SpeedwayIndianapolisMotorSpeedwayKyle BuschKyleBuschHolly CainThu, 23 Jul 2009 14:50:00 EST Chat with Jimmie Johnson, Sam Hornish Jr., Dale Jarrett on Fridayhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/22/chat-with-jimmie-johnson-sam-hornish-jr-dale-jarrett-on-frida/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/22/chat-with-jimmie-johnson-sam-hornish-jr-dale-jarrett-on-frida/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/22/chat-with-jimmie-johnson-sam-hornish-jr-dale-jarrett-on-frida/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Jimmie Johnson, Sam Hornish Jr.
Join FanHouse for a NASCAR "Chat with Champions" on Friday from the world famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, site of this week's AllState 400 at the Brickyard.

Jimmie Johnson, the three-time defending Sprint Cup champion and defending AllState 400 winner, will chat live at 11:15AM Friday, followed by 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr., at 12:15 PM ET.

Two-time Brickyard 400 winner Dale Jarrett, NASCAR's 1999 Cup champion and current ESPN race analyst, will chat at 4:30 PM ET.

NASCAR's visit to racing's hallowed Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the most anticipated events on the schedule, and FanHouse has you covered. In addition to the interactive chats, Holly Cain will provide on-site coverage beginning Thursday with Geoffrey Miller joining her on race day.

Chat with Jimmie Johnson, Sam Hornish Jr., Dale Jarrett on Friday originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>dale jarrettJimmie Johnsonsam hornish jr.Holly CainWed, 22 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST