Cup finishes ‘a crapshoot’
Double-file restarts and the chance for multiple attempts at green-white-checkered finishes are certainly changing the end of NASCAR races and late-race strategy.
Or is it even strategy anymore?
“It’s a crapshoot,” Kyle Busch said.
Going into today’s race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, four of seven Cup races this season have gone to NASCAR’s version of overtime with extra laps. Two of those included multiple restarts after the scheduled final lap.
“It has really made finishes less predictable,” four-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson said. “I don’t know if there even is a strategy now. It’s more what the masses do.”
The problem this weekend could be getting the race started with rain in the forecast today. Cup practice was canceled because of rain Saturday, a day after Tony Stewart earned his first pole in five years for what will be his 400th career start.
When Busch pulled onto pit road last weekend at Phoenix International Raceway during another late caution, the only thing that could thwart his dominating run, he got four tires. So did Johnson.
“It’s definitely a gamble, for sure. We knew who we were racing. We were racing the 48 car,” said Busch, whose 2-second lead over Johnson with three laps left was wiped out by the caution.
Race postponed
Kyle Busch’s drive for five at Texas Motor Speedway was delayed.
The wet weather and more forecasted showers led to the postponement of the Nationwide race, at which Busch is trying to join Jack Ingram and Dale Earnhardt as the only drivers to win five consecutive Nationwide races at the same track.
Power grabs IRL pole
Will Power earned his third consecutive Indy Racing League pole, giving him a shot at a third win in four races.
The winner in Brazil and St. Petersburg, Power had the fastest qualifying time at the Grand Prix of Long Beach (Calif.), finishing just ahead of Ryan Hunter-Reay.
Tracy gets ride
Paul Tracy is getting another shot at the Indianapolis 500.
Tracy will drive a fourth car for KV Racing Technology for the May 30 race, joining E.J. Viso, Takuma Sato and Mario Moraes. Tracy drove KV Racing’s No. 15 car at last year’s Indy 500. He finished ninth.
Vettel earns F1 pole
Sebastian Vettel led qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, narrowly edging his teammate Mark Webber to give Red Bull its fourth straight pole position of the Formula One season.