Allstate 400 At The Brickyard Notebook - June 5, 2009

Goodyear happy with tire test results; Double-file restarts to spice up racing

INDIANAPOLIS, June 5, 2009: Goodyear officials were pleased with the results of NASCAR Sprint Cup tire testing June 1-2 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in preparation for the 16th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on July 24-26, as drivers completed several full-fuel runs on the 2.5-mile oval.

Nine drivers representing all four manufacturers in Sprint Cup combined to turn more 1,200 laps during two days of testing: Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Patrick Carpentier, Bill Elliott, Robby Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Juan Pablo Montoya, two-time Brickyard winner and Indiana native Tony Stewart and Indiana native David Stremme.

Goodyear has scheduled another test June 15-16 at IMS for final confirmation of the tire combination for the race. Twelve drivers are scheduled to test, again representing all four manufacturers in Sprint Cup: Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, four-time Brickyard winner Jeff Gordon, Kahne, Matt Kenseth, 2000 Brickyard winner Bobby Labonte, Indiana native Ryan Newman, David Reutimann, Reed Sorenson, Brian Vickers and Michael Waltrip.

“IMS, Goodyear and NASCAR are all committed to presenting a 2009 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard that all fans will enjoy, and it looks like the tire testing, which began last fall, is proving successful,” said Joie Chitwood, IMS president and chief operating officer. “This upcoming test scheduled June 15-16 will continue the process of producing an effective tire for the race.”

Throughout the test June 1-2, several cars made runs of more than 30 laps, with some even running out of fuel on track. A full-fuel run at IMS is estimated at 32 laps.

“We are very pleased with the results of this week’s test at Indy,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of race tire sales. “The weather cooperated and gave us two days of hot, sunny conditions, just like we expect to see in late July. We were able to put rubber down on the track very quickly, and completed several full fuel runs, with tire wear, temperatures, and appearance all looking good. We believe we’re in good shape for our final confirmation test on June 15-16.”

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Double-file restarts at Indy: NASCAR will use double-file restarts at the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on July 26 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, adding more shootout-style duels between the race leaders after caution periods.

The first- and second-place drivers will line up side-by-side as the green flag flies for each restart. Under the previous format, cars on the lead lap would restart in a single-file line while cars that had been lapped would start in an adjacent line.

NASCAR instituted the new system effective at the race June 7 at Pocono Raceway.

“I’m excited about it,” said two-time Allstate 400 at the Brickyard winner Tony Stewart. “The good thing is that when they drop the green, you’re going to be racing with the guys you’re racing for position instead of trying to clear lapped cars.

“Since NASCAR has adapted the ‘free pass,’ I think that’s something that now justifies being able to put those lapped cars to the back and let them race with each other, and let the guys who are racing on the lead lap do the same. I’m behind NASCAR 100 percent on this.”

Said 2003 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard winner Kevin Harvick: “I think it’s great that NASCAR is listening to the fans. These new restart procedures are going to make our sport even more exciting than it already is. This will not only benefit the lead lap cars, but also the cars that go a lap down, so you get the best of both worlds.”

Under the new format, the race leader will have the option to restart on the inside or outside lane. The second-place driver would then restart next to the leader. Regardless of where the leader starts, drivers in odd number positions (third, fifth, seventh places, etc.) will restart on the inside lane, while drivers in even number positions (fourth, sixth, eighth places, etc.) will restart on the outside. All restarts will use the same format regardless of the number of laps remaining in the race.

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‘Sweet spot’ tickets available: Turn 3 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is historically the “sweet spot” of action during the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, as some of the race’s most decisive passes and incidents have taken place there.

Selected backstretch reserved seats will be available at a special value price for the 16th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday, July 26, offering NASCAR fans great action at a great price. These seats are at the end of the back straightaway entering Turn 3 of the historic 2.5-mile IMS oval.

Seats in Sections 41 through 50 of the Northeast Vista Backstretch, including the Northeast Vista Backstretch Platform (wheelchair-accessible seating), will sell for $45 each, a $30 savings.

Fans can order tickets online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or at the ticket office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Parking and camping information also can be obtained through the ticket office.