[BiscuitMan]

According to news reports Mark Martin’s team apparently had conflicting information as to just how much gas Martin did or did not have as the laps wound down. With Martin leading the race, they elected to play it safe, and go for the probable top-five finish. Martin pitted for gas and right-side rubber. Jimmie Johnson stayed out, as did Clint Bowyer, and those two drivers finished 1-2, respectively.

Mark Martin knows a thing or two about conserving gas. It’s not clear if his crew chief, Tony Gibson, asked Mark how much fuel has he been conserving and can you make it to the finish. And, if Gibson had let Mark “make the call” to pit or stay out the finish may very well been in Mark Martin’s favor.

Mark Martin didn’t complain after the race. I’m sure he must have been disappointed. He has come so close to winning championships several times. And in these closing years (we never know when with Mark) he’s now experiencing close calls like this. I know next time, Tony Gibson may say “ Old Man, you make the call this time.”

[NASCAR Gnome]

Imo, here is a great example of where a part-time driving schedule causes problems because of the lack of familiarity and trust.

Perhaps if MM was not driving a partial schedule and had more time to get close to his crew chief, this would not have happened? I use the Knaus / Johnson relationship model as a prime example. JJ has absolute and unwaivering trust in Chad Knaus so much so that I truly believe that if Chad tells Jimmie to make a right turn at an oval, (and summarily drive into the wall) Jimmie would do it without a second thought! That's how much trust this driver has in his crew chief!

And THAT's how you win championships... and races!

Even the greatness of Mark Martin could not overcome the lack of synchronicity between him and his crew chief. Martin made a comment after the race to the effect that: "...they have no idea how much gas I saved them!" and here, I would stress on the words "...have no idea..." because if they did, we'd be talking about how great a race that was for DEI and Mark Martin not how the #48 "stole" the race!

[Shreek]

Does any one know how much gas was actually left in the #8 car's bladder after the race?

[Fireball]

I don't think Mark Martin or his crew chief expected anyone to go the final 81 laps on the last tank of fuel. Otherwise, Mark and Gibson would have been talking about going the distance.

Wow! That's 81 miles on the tank of fuel for Jimmie Johnson. That's awfully good gas mileage. How big is the fuel tank anyway? Oh, it must be that carburetor HMS developed up there at their Idaho test track.

[NASCAR Gnome]

Nope. And it's likely no one will ever find out...

[clutch]

pure speculation.......is all I can say

woulda, coulda, shoulda

[Racer Duck]

On the one hand this makes no sense: a driver running a reduced schedule points racing.

On the other hand, it makes perfect sense: it's better to finish the race slightly behind than to be stuck on the track without enough fuel to complete the current lap.

It's gotta be one or the other.

[bob101]

The thing about it, it only works if everyone comes in but 1 person. Jimmy Johnson would likely have run out of gas if someone else had stayed out that he was trying to race. The only reason he made it to the finish is everyone else came in giving him a 20+ second lead for a while to pedal and save gas those last few laps.

[kcoruol]

Jimmie Johnson's car was a hybrid that HMS built from technology they stole from Jack Rousch. Everytime JJ stepped on the brake as he went into a corner, the fuel engine shut off while the electric motor took over. It's all a part of HMS's pilot program to conserve fuel and decrease the emissions which are causing global warming. JJ wins for the green.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by kcoruol

Jimmie Johnson's car was a hybrid that HMS built from technology they stole from Jack Rousch. Everytime JJ stepped on the brake as he went into a corner, the fuel engine shut off while the electric motor took over. It's all a part of HMS's pilot program to conserve fuel and decrease the emissions which are causing global warming. JJ wins for the green.

I didn't see any cord attached to the car ???? Did I miss it ???

[Bassdogs]

Mark has no one to blame but himself. With that said, the crew chief screwed up big time. Since the team is not running for a championship, points don't mean much. Winning on the other hand means everything to sponsors and to Mark. Mark is a veteran and should have made the decision himself. Overruling the crew chief if he thought he had enough fuel or simply wanted to take a shot at the win, was his call to make. I like Mark, but have felt for a long time that his lack of a killer instinct or decisive personality are the reason he has finished second many times but never first.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

Mark has no one to blame but himself. With that said, the crew chief screwed up big time. Since the team is not running for a championship, points don't mean much. Winning on the other hand means everything to sponsors and to Mark. Mark is a veteran and should have made the decision himself. Overruling the crew chief if he thought he had enough fuel or simply wanted to take a shot at the win, was his call to make. I like Mark, but have felt for a long time that his lack of a killer instinct or decisive personality are the reason he has finished second many times but never first.

yep! ...
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