[Bob Tanner]

OK, NA__AR made a decision to run the race knowing there was a tire problem, so much of a problem that they hastily brought in extra tires marked for the Pocono race next week.

Why wasn't this problem discovered when they ran the tire tests earlier in the year. It was reported that the temperatures weren't that much different. Obviously besides the new car being as bad, or worse, aerodynamically, the higher center of gravity causes excessive RR tire wear. This is the 3rd or 4th race I've heard this complaint, but by far the most pronounced.

I don't think postponing the race was a logical option. So, I guess NA__AR did what it had to do, grit their teeth and run the "race." (Race, in this case, is a bit misleading, "races" might be more to the point) One thing was obvious. 43 cars are too many cars to run in a ten- or fifteen- lap heat race!

There is one VERY positive thing about today's "race." I didn't pay a cent or expend a joule of energy to attend that thing they held today. (Sorry, LilSexy, can't say the same for you) If I would have paid to see that I would have been sorely put out.

Considering what the new car has done to the racing, what they done to Bristol and the continued NA__AR mindset that California is THE place to hold a race on Labour Day, I think the 2008 BY400 is a perfect metaphor for today's NASCAR.

But that's just my opinion and I could be very, very wrong...

[3fanforever]

I tihink it was a combination of tires, the winged car, and NASCAR's decision to have inadequate testing at Indy with said winged car, that made for the fiasco we had today. I also think the teams and the drivers did the best they could to make it good for the fans. But even their best, faced with NASCAR's decisions, wasn't good enough. NASCAR's gonna take a big hit from the fans on this one, and rightfully so.

Just got to thinking, I watched a bunch of heat races at my local track Friday night, and I just finished watching a bunch of heat races at Indy. And the winner...the heat races at State Fair Speedway on Friday night

[Phils20]

I've gotta say that today's race was an embarrassment. Congrats to JJ, he won it, and earned it, doing the best under trying circumstances.

But NASCAR these days is far from a crown jewel. I was glad to be without power for a bit, I just listened on the radio, and wrenched on the bike a bit.

One interesting tidbit. I was listening to Sirius this morning, on the way home from work around 10:30am.

The reporter said what we have all been thinking, and known for quite a while.

NASCAR has just become entertainment. It is clearly no longer about racing.

BUT, where has the entertainment been?

Bad racing.
Bad tires.
Bad Rulings.

Just all around bad news for the real race fans. If there are any left still watching...

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Phils20

One interesting tidbit. I was listening to Sirius this morning, on the way home from work around 10:30am.
The reporter said what we have all been thinking, and known for quite a while.
NASCAR has just become entertainment. It is clearly no longer about racing.

It MUST have been Pat Patterson. He's not on the MRN payroll and from MRN, "Never is heard a discouraging word..."

Originally Posted by Phils20

BUT, where has the entertainment been?

Bad racing.
Bad tires.
Bad Rulings.

Just all around bad news for the real race fans. If there are any left still watching...

You haven't figured it out, Phil? The entertainment has been in the #88 car, #99 car, #9 car, #20, #18 and all the other high-volume tee-shirt sellers.

Racing? We don't need no steenking racing! We've got personalities!

[Phils20]

Actually it was a lady. And not Suzy Q, or any of the others I know. Not Lee Spencer either. The name wasn't familiar. It was "press pass" I think!

[NASCAR Gnome]

Someone has to take the blame for this pathetic excuse for a "competitive" race! 12 laps then pit. 11 laps then pit. Blown right rear then pit. "Competition Yellows?" Bull! This was "damage control" by NASCAR at it's best to save face!

You think we watching at home had it bad? As TV viewers? How about the 250,000-plus people that were there to watch a series of sprint and match races instead of a 400-mile race?!? Just to put that number into perspective, there was more people at that race than there is in my little town of Dublin, California! That's a LOT of people and they had to sit through this! (And most PAID to get in!)

Atlanta saw Tony Stewart come out and blast Goodyear. Goodyear's excuse? "First time we run the COT at that track..." Today, during the race, the "spin" was already in full song! "First time we run the COT at Indy..." Sound familiar? Pathetic...

Look beyond the facade and veneer and what you'll see is a free ride for Goodyear because instead of PAYING for 2-3 cars to test a tire compound at the track, today (as it was in Atlanta) Goodyear got a bunch of free tests from all 43 cars! Of course, with all that data now in the computers of Goodyear, you won't see this again next year!

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Phils20

Actually it was a lady. And not Suzy Q, or any of the others I know. Not Lee Spencer either. The name wasn't familiar. It was "press pass" I think!

Jenna Fryer I bet. She's mainly on the AP payroll I think. I've found some of her stuff to be less fluff and more substance than a lot of the press. Lee Spencer is pretty good but she's been around along time. She's the person who got David Poole started when they both worked for the Observer.

[saltysenior]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

It MUST have been Pat Patterson. He's not on the MRN payroll and from MRN, "Never is heard a discouraging word..."



You haven't figured it out, Phil? The entertainment has been in the #88 car, #99 car, #9 car, #20, #18 and all the other high-volume tee-shirt sellers.

Racing? We don't need no steenking racing! We've got personalities!

sorta like the #undertaker,#kane #hulk hogan #sting,ect.

wreslin? We don't need no steenking wreslin! We've got personalities!

[Bob Tanner]

Nate Ryan wrote in USAToday yesterday:
Pemberton said there would be at least two NASCAR-mandated caution flags to check wear during the early stages of the race, with the first occurring on Lap 10.

"We're going to monitor the wear and early on, we'll make a call on how far we can go with Indy tires," Pemberton said. "If wear characteristics don't improve enough, and it gets to that point, there'll be a caution. All the current Indy tires will come out of the pit area, and we will issue the Pocono tire."

In hindsight this sure sounds like a plan to me. Why did they change course? Who made that decision?

[Bob Tanner]

The press and radio types have to be loving this fiasco today. They won't have to hunt for anything to write or talk about for a couple weeks!

[WestCoast]

Sad, Very Sad.
Once again a Tire supplier and Indy need to "refund" spectator's money.
First, a couple of years ago, it was that pathetic F1 Disaster where Michelin refused to run because it was unsafe, now it's Goodyear for just being really bad at what they do, and Indy/Nascar for turning a blind eye.

Time to pony-up and let other Tire manufacturers into the game.

[Bob Tanner]

nascar.com is even calling the "race" today a debacle> When you have your "pet media source" defaming a race, you know it was bad.

They wrote of Junior's feelings:
Because Earnhardt had already pitted, he stayed out and assumed the lead with the intention of trying to run to the next planned caution on lap 30.

But his tire started to fade four laps short of the stop, dropping him off the pace and a lap down when he had to pit under green.

Still, Earnhardt defended NASCAR.

"The truth of the deal is that was the best show we could put on today, NASCAR did everything right," he said. "It's all we could do aside from loading up and going home and not running at all. Yeah, it wasn't quite the race everybody expected, but shoot it was better than some of the races you've probably seen here."

I agree with everything except your last, Dale. You could have said, "...better than some of the races you've probably seen this year and ALL of the races they've held at California."

[BringBackWilkesboro]

A tire fiasco at Indy? Where have we seen that before?

Seriously, it may be early to get too carried away about this, but if something isn't done to make next year different, might we see shades of the US Grand Prix 2005?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

A tire fiasco at Indy? Where have we seen that before?

Seriously, it may be early to get too carried away about this, but if something isn't done to make next year different, might we see shades of the US Grand Prix 2005?

I say Goodyear should stop using Cup teams for testing. I believe they could hire their own drivers and use cars no longer used by the teams (Sadler said before the race that GEM had 21 new race cars which they would no longer use!)

Let's face it. Under the guise of a "Tire test" select teams get to go to tracks to check out chassis and chassis set ups. I wonder how many "tire test" HOF or BDR does, compared to JGR, Hendrick or Roush?

[runningmad]

If this was my first Nascar race it would have been my last.... it was a joke.

NasPukes better get their head out and address problems with the COT and tires, etc instead of just spinning a story.

Racers cant state their opinion... only we can with our checkbooks.

This race wasnt sold out.. not many have this year... racing is BORING. Racers are BORING....

Sorry state of affairs.