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Tiring story
Johnson avoids tire issues, kisses bricks again
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Jimmie Johnson celebrated his second victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a burnout.
Appropriately, one of his tires exploded.
Johnson survived horrendous tire troubles that made Sunday's race a caution-filled debacle because the Goodyear product was not durable enough to withstand the lack of downforce on NASCAR's new car and the speeds and surface of Indy.
"We came with the best tire we had for the conditions and we fell short. We'll try to get it right," said Greg Stucker, director of race tire sales for Goodyear. "I don't think anybody likes to race like this, us included. We'll do what we can to make it better."
But there was nothing Goodyear could do on Sunday, when NASCAR threw six competition cautions designed to force teams to pit and change their tires.
It meant the longest green-flag run was an embarrassing 12 laps, causing teams to fear both tire failures and a possible supply shortage. Goodyear shipped in 800 tires earmarked for use next week in Pocono before the race, but they ultimately weren't needed.
It was little consolation as drivers feared going full speed and crew chiefs were forced to gamble on tire strategy. No one was certain when NASCAR would call a caution, or if the sanctioning body would eventually decide to let the drivers go as long as they wanted.
Instead, NASCAR called them roughly every 10-to-12 laps.
Johnson fretted the final two stops, unsure what the right strategy would be. He took two tires on his final stop to emerge from pit road as the leader, then held off Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin over a final seven-lap green flag run to the finish line.
Complete story
Prerace note: Teams have experienced problems with tires throughout the weekend and NASCAR has decided to introduce several safety precautions including at least one mandatory caution (Lap 10) and bringing in tires from Pocono Raceway. To learn more about the problems, click here.
Race coverage
Cautions: 11 for 52 laps
Caution 1 / Laps 5-9: Michael Waltrip hit the wall coming off Turn 2 to bring out the caution. He has severe damage to his vehicle. Waltrip got loose underneath Sam Hornish Jr. and may have saved it but Paul Menard hit his spinning vehicle. Menard also has a lot of right side damage. Due to this caution, NASCAR has changed the competition yellow to Lap 14.
"I got in beside (Hornish) and got loose and then (Menard) just ran me over," said Waltrip. "It wasn't a track issue, just racing ... I have to control my car - It's not (Hornish's) fault.
Free pass: None.
Caution 2 / Laps 15-17: Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch crash in Turn 2. Busch lost control of his car in Turn 1 and hit Harvick as the two approached Turn 2. NASCAR will count this as the competition caution. The next competition caution is scheduled for Lap 30.
Free pass: None.
Caution 3 / Laps 30-34: Debris came off No. 42. NASCAR will count this as the competition caution. Next competition caution will be on Lap 47.
Free pass: Sam Hornish Jr. (38th).
Caution 4 / Laps 48-53: Matt Kenseth takes a spin after having a problem with his right rear tire on the backstretch. His car is torn up in the right rear. To be honest though, this could have happened to one of several teams because many reported issues over the last few laps. The next competition yellow will be on Lap 64.
Free pass: Sam Hornish Jr. (36th).
Caution 5 / Laps 66-70: Competition caution. This is the first time all afternoon we have actually reached the limit set by NASCAR. The next competition caution is scheduled for Lap 81.
Free pass: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (36th).
Lap 80 - Halfway: Jimmie Johnson leads the race with Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, AJ Allmendinger and Elliott Sadler rounding out the top five. However, the story this afternoon revolves around the tires and all the problems they have caused so far.
Caution 6 / Laps 83-86: Competition yellow. Lap 97 will be the next competition caution.
Free pass: Jason Leffler (35th).
Caution 7 / Laps 99-105: Competition caution.
Free pass: Robby Gordon (36th).
Caution 8 / Laps 107-112: Brian Vickers' engine blew up. A tough break for Vickers who entered the race with a strong chance of making the Chase field. Next competition caution will be on Lap 121
Free pass: None.
Caution 9 / Laps 123-127: Competition caution. Lap 138 will be the next competition caution. NASCAR has informed teams they have two sets of sticker tires left to manage for the rest of the event.
Free pass: Kevin Harvick (37th) - now 14 laps down.
Caution 10 / Laps 139-141: Competition caution. The next competition caution, likely the last one, will come on Lap 150.
Free pass: Kevin Harvick (37th) - now 13 laps down.
Caution 11 / Laps 151-153: Competition caution.
Free pass: None.
Lead changes: 26 among 16 drivers Jimmie Johnson (pole, 1-15), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (16-23), Jeff Gordon (24-29), Jimmie Johnson (30), Scott Riggs (31), Kyle Busch (32-35), Jeff Gordon (36), Jimmie Johnson (37-48), Travis Kvapil (49-51), Kyle Busch (52-61), Jimmie Johnson (62-66), Brian Vickers (67), AJ Allmendinger (68-71), Jimmie Johnson (72-82), Michael McDowell (83), Regan Smith (84), Martin Truex Jr. (85-87), Carl Edwards (88-90), Jimmie Johnson (91-99), Dave Blaney (100), Elliott Sadler (101-105), Jeff Burton (106-115), Jimmie Johnson (116-123), Denny Hamlin (124-138), Carl Edwards (139), Denny Hamlin (140-150), Jimmie Johnson (151-160)
Off the track: Brian Vickers (engine), Juan Pablo Montoya (engine)
Starting in the back: Regan Smith (backup car), Marcos Ambrose (engine change)
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Hendrick leads the way ... again
Practice Speeds: First | Second | Third | Final
So far this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it's been the Hendrick Motorsports show. Things didn't change late Saturday afternoon.
For the third time in four practice sessions, HMS had one of their drivers top the practice charts Saturday as Jimmie Johnson topped teammate Jeff Gordon with a fast lap of 176.298 mph.
Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman complete the top five.
Practice 3 recap: Gordon leads the way
With a best lap of 174.496 mph, Jeff Gordon edged Greg Biffle to top the practice charts early Saturday afternoon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Gordon, a four time winner at Indianapolis, completed 15 laps during the third practice session of the weekend.
Biffle was followed by Ryan Newman, polesitter Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin.
Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, David Gilliland, Elliott Sadler and Kyle Busch completed the top 10.
Kurt Busch had the only incident of the session as he hit the wall to create minor damage to his No. 2 Dodge.
Practice 2 recap: Johnson back on top
Hendrick Motorsports found their way back up top Friday afternoon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
A short while after all four of their drivers finished in the top 10 during the first practice at the 2.5-mile speedway, Former Indy winners Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon flexed their muscles by sweeping the top spots in the second practice.
Johnson led the way with a best lap of 180.047 mph while Gordon finished close behind with a 180.007 mph run. They are the only two drivers to top the 180 mph barrier so far this weekend.
Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne and former race winner Kevin Harvick completed the top five.
Debris in Turn 3 forced the only stoppage of the session.
Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday morning at 10:10 a.m. ET, followed by two final practice sessions before Sunday's 400-mile event.
Practice 1 recap: Sadler spoils Hendrick parade
In a session that looked to be a Hendrick revival of sorts, Elliott Sadler crashed the party.
With a fast lap of 179.190 mph late during the first practice session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sadler topped Jimmie Johnson and the rest of the 47 car field.
Johnson took over the top spot from Dale Earnhardt Jr., who led most of the session and finished fifth fastest (176.534 mph). Between Johnson and Earnhardt were teammate Jeff Gordon (177.799 mph) and Mark Martin (177.050 mph).
The hour-long practice session featured one incident early as 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr. lost control of his car and went for a spin in Turn 1. He avoided damage and was able to continue, finishing the session 38th quick.
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Chevrolet back on top
Johnson, Martin claim Brickyard front row
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Darrell Waltrip
Not chasing wins
Tony Stewart will make the Chase, yet he hasn't won a race all year. Darrell Waltrip says NASCAR should make victory mandatory.
Lee Spencer
Fontana follies
Sub-par racing and small crowds prove Fontana doesn't deserve a spot in the Chase, much less a second race, Lee Spencer says.
Jeff Hammond
Missing in action
Let's face it — Sunday's Cup race was a snoozefest. So how do we fix it? Jeff Hammond has some sobering solutions.
Larry McReynolds
Feel the heat
The pressure is on for drivers and crews as time is running out for teams to make the Chase, Larry McReynolds says.
Mike Joy
Ticking away
NASCAR on FOX unveiled its new "Ticker" at Richmond, and Mike Joy says it will help viewers stay on top of the race.
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| OWNER POINT STANDINGS |
| Pos |
+/- |
Driver |
Car |
Points |
| 31 |
+24 |
AJ Allmendinger |
Toyota |
1935 |
| 32 |
+21 |
Dave Blaney |
Toyota |
1932 |
| 33 |
+20 |
Scott Riggs |
Chevrolet |
1931 |
| 34 |
+19 |
Michael Waltrip |
Toyota |
1930 |
| 35 |
-- |
Robby Gordon |
Dodge |
1911 |
| 36 |
-18 |
Sam Hornish Jr. |
Dodge |
1893 |
| 37 |
-55 |
Mike Skinner |
Toyota |
1856 |
| 38 |
-232 |
Patrick Carpentier |
Dodge |
1679 |
| 39 |
-289 |
Ken Schrader |
Toyota |
1622 |
| 40 |
-299 |
Kyle Petty |
Dodge |
1612 |
| Complete Owner Standings |
| Track Information |
| On Track With Larry Mac |
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Larry McReynolds, NASCAR on FOX analyst, scouts the track
Read his full analysis. |
| Track Vitals |
Location:
Indianapolis, IN |
Distance/Track Type:
2.5 Mile Quad-Oval 9-degree bank |
Nextel Cup Top Race Speed:
155.912 by Bobby Labonte on 8/5/2000 |
Nextel Cup Top Qualifying Speed:
186.293 by Casey Mears on 8/7/2004 |
| Nextel Cup Schedule |
| Date |
Race |
Sun.
7/27 |
Allstate 400 at the Brickyard
Results | Race Trax |
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