Brickyard 402-1/2 recap
gNA$hCAR got its first test of the green-white-checker rule on Sunday when the crash-marred Brickyard 400 went to overtime. In the end, it was a great day for Jeff Gordon fans as Super-G picked up his 69th career victory, despite damage to the front valance of his DuPont Chevy incurred when he ran over a piece of debris with about 20 laps to go.
It was a good day for Gordon, but a mixed bag for a lot of other drivers. Let's see how the Chase guys fared as I review Glenn's Ten (6-for-10):
* Jeff Gordon (winner) -- Winner! Racing at about the only track on the circuit where the fans actually cheer for him, Jeff charged his way past Elliott Sadler about a quarter of the way into the race and dominated the rest of the event. Only the debris damage and a couple of late restarts when Dale Jarrett had a shot at him left much suspense as to the outcome. That's Gordo's fifth win of the season (which leads all drivers) and has him just 97 points out of first.
* Ryan Newman -- 31st, Ryan was looking for a wreck all day and finally found one, getting together with Brian Vickers less than 10 laps from the finish. The Alltel Dodge looked as if it had been caught in a trash compactor. He was at best a top 15 car.
* Jimmie Johnson -- 36th, This wasn't Jimmie's day. He got into a spin early, then drove around until the engine went up in smoke on lap 89. You can't convince me that the spin didn't tear up the engine. He gave up beaucoup points to Gordon and many others, but what does it matter? Answer: It doesn't... until after Sept. 11.
* Jamie McMurray -- 7th, He didn't deserve this. Ran in the 20s all day and then benefited from the position shuffles in the final two cautions.
* Kasey Kahne -- 4th, Kasey brushed the wall and still managed a top-five. Eventually the stars will align for this kid.
* Jeremy Mayfield -- 11th, Missed it by a hair. Typical Mayfield; just mediocre enough to ruin my predictions.
* Kurt Busch -- 10th, Mostly stayed out of trouble and got a decent finish to show for it. Keeps him solidly in the top 10 for points.
* Dale Jarrett -- 2nd, Know what I notice about DJ these days? He's happy. We are seeing the Dale Jarrett of yore, driving well and contending for the win. He sounded positive before the race and was equally positive at its end. Contrast that with two seasons ago when nothing went right and he went through three crew chiefs. Those days are long gone. That win's a coming...
* Matt Kenseth -- 16th, I never thought I'd say I feel bad for Matt, but today I did. He was perhaps the only car that would have given Gordon a run for the money at the end and he got taken out by that same hunk of debris Gordon hit. Matt had been running second at the time and had to give it up for a pit stop. Luck was on his side at the end, as he picked up about 13 spots when others pitted on the next to last caution.
* Tony Stewart -- 5th, Tony looked determined early on, coming quickly from 24th, but he settled into around 8th until the late cautions that moved him up.
REST OF THE TOP 10:
* Elliott Sadler -- 3rd, How'd I miss this? Same crew chief (Todd Parrott) who got DJ his two wins here. He worked the old Jarrett magic on the M&M's Ford. Sadler led a ton of laps early, before giving way to Gordon.
* Greg Biffle -- 6th, I'll bet if I'd picked him he would have crapped out midway. >8-(
* Kevin Harvick -- 8th, How 'bout that. Never much of a factor, though.
* Bill Elliott -- 9th, Semi-retired Bill places in one of his cherry-picked events for 2004. Yawn. Can we fully retire him next season?
OTHER NOTABLES (Here's where the fun begins...):
* Bobby Labonte -- 15th, Like McMurray, didn't deserve this finish after running in the 20s most of the race after rolling off 43rd.
* Robby Gordon -- 22nd, Blew a tire running third to bring out the caution. But does he come to the pit to save the car from getting torn up? Of course not. He tries to make another 2.5-mile circuit during which the tire rips to shreds and the naked wheel catches fire. He pulls into his pit in a cloud and loses plenty of time while they try to put out the flames and repair the damage he otherwise wouldn't have had. A precursor to Watkins Glen next week???
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- 27th, Had a top 10 in the bag until he got into a scuffle on the next to last lap that left him a lap down. Maybe he was insisting on driving no further than the advertised 160 laps? Who knows. Ah well, he actually had a good points day because Johnson finished worse. But he lost a ton of ground to Gordon and Stewart...
* Casey Mears -- 26th, How to
not win friends and influence people: Start from the pole and rub fenders for half a lap with the guy on the outside (Ward Burton), then scrape the wall a couple times, and try to make your slow car an obstacle for all the fast cars behind you. He finished last on the lead lap, but at least he finished. Oh, BTW Casey, Ward says he owes you one...
* Mark Martin -- 25th, Was looking for another good Brickyard finish. But like Earnhardt Jr., he got into trouble on the next to final lap.
* Sterling Marlin -- 33rd, Just call him the Fire Starter.
Next week... Jeff's on a roll and heading to the road course at the Glen. Look out!
