Click here to view pictures from the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard
http://stlracingphotos.smugmug.com/gallery/5547841_MDEWp#339868770_qvg3z
“Kissing the bricks”, the traditional kiss by the Brickyard winner on the famed yard of bricks at the Indianapolis Motor speedway, will have a different taste this year…It will taste like rubber. That is because the tires kept disintegrating and rubber dust was everywhere.
All things considered, Jimmie Johnson will gladly kiss the rubber debris on the famed yard of bricks.
“Thank you boys,” exclaimed Jimmie Johnson on the radio to his team as he won his second Allstate 400 at The Brickyard race.
The Goodyear Tires were the story of the day at the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard, especially the right side rear tire that wore down to the cords after 10 laps. All of the drivers were impacted.
NASCAR had to force “competition yellows” almost every 10-12 laps to keep the race safe fro the drivers.
“NASCAR has no choice,” said Rick Hendrick owner of a multicar team. “They are doing the right thing."
Car owner Joe Gibbs agreed and hoped fans would understand.
“Everyone is working together in a tough situation to make the most out of the day,” said Gibbs. “I think fans understand that, too."
The last competition caution came out on lap 150. That setup a sprint to the finish between Jimmie Johnson and Missouri’s own, Carl Edwards. The two drivers broke away from the pack and set up the dramatic finish.
Johnson used every inch of the track and Edwards followed every step of the way. But in the end Edwards just could not catch Johnson.
The force cautions helped prevent accidents. However, there were a few early in the race. Matt Kenseth was impacted by the tire situation when his car spun on the back straightaway. He received heavy damage to right rear of his car due to apparent right rear tire failure.
“I feel bad for the fans; we’re running three-quarters speed because we're worried of the tires blowing out,” said Kenseth. “This is one of the two biggest races of the year, and to never have this tire here before and not come and do an open test and work on these things and work on the tires, it’s pretty darn disappointing.”
There were 22 lap changes through the first 120 laps but the Hendrick cars of Johnson, Gordon and Earnhart led large portion of the race. Pole sitter Jimmie Johnson took the early lead and led the first 15 laps of the race before “fan favorite” Dale Earnhardt took the lead after caution and held it for eight laps. Then Jeff Gordon took his turn. This first three lead changes were a notice to the competition as Johnson ended up leading the last lap.
It was fitting conclusion the days events that Johnson blew out a tire doing a burnout celebrating his victory.
http://stlracingphotos.smugmug.com/gallery/5547841_MDEWp#339868770_qvg3z
“Kissing the bricks”, the traditional kiss by the Brickyard winner on the famed yard of bricks at the Indianapolis Motor speedway, will have a different taste this year…It will taste like rubber. That is because the tires kept disintegrating and rubber dust was everywhere.
All things considered, Jimmie Johnson will gladly kiss the rubber debris on the famed yard of bricks.
“Thank you boys,” exclaimed Jimmie Johnson on the radio to his team as he won his second Allstate 400 at The Brickyard race.
The Goodyear Tires were the story of the day at the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard, especially the right side rear tire that wore down to the cords after 10 laps. All of the drivers were impacted.
NASCAR had to force “competition yellows” almost every 10-12 laps to keep the race safe fro the drivers.
“NASCAR has no choice,” said Rick Hendrick owner of a multicar team. “They are doing the right thing."
Car owner Joe Gibbs agreed and hoped fans would understand.
“Everyone is working together in a tough situation to make the most out of the day,” said Gibbs. “I think fans understand that, too."
The last competition caution came out on lap 150. That setup a sprint to the finish between Jimmie Johnson and Missouri’s own, Carl Edwards. The two drivers broke away from the pack and set up the dramatic finish.
Johnson used every inch of the track and Edwards followed every step of the way. But in the end Edwards just could not catch Johnson.
The force cautions helped prevent accidents. However, there were a few early in the race. Matt Kenseth was impacted by the tire situation when his car spun on the back straightaway. He received heavy damage to right rear of his car due to apparent right rear tire failure.
“I feel bad for the fans; we’re running three-quarters speed because we're worried of the tires blowing out,” said Kenseth. “This is one of the two biggest races of the year, and to never have this tire here before and not come and do an open test and work on these things and work on the tires, it’s pretty darn disappointing.”
There were 22 lap changes through the first 120 laps but the Hendrick cars of Johnson, Gordon and Earnhart led large portion of the race. Pole sitter Jimmie Johnson took the early lead and led the first 15 laps of the race before “fan favorite” Dale Earnhardt took the lead after caution and held it for eight laps. Then Jeff Gordon took his turn. This first three lead changes were a notice to the competition as Johnson ended up leading the last lap.
It was fitting conclusion the days events that Johnson blew out a tire doing a burnout celebrating his victory.
