Sunday, August 7, 2005
ORDER OF THE DAY:
| 7 a.m. | Public gates open |
| 8:30 a.m. | The Crew performs on Coke Stage, Pagoda Plaza |
| 10 a.m. | Sponsor laps |
| 10:15 a.m. | Interview with Homes for Our Troops representatives, Victory Podium |
| 11 a.m. | J. Henry performs on Coke Stage, Pagoda Plaza |
| 11 a.m. | Interview with Purple Heart Association representatives, Victory Podium |
| 11:40 a.m. | Drivers/crew chiefs meeting |
| 12:21 p.m. | Parade lap of past Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Pace Cars |
| 12:25 p.m. | Indianapolis Police Department Motorcycle Drill Team Parade Lap |
| 12:28 p.m. | Indiana State University band performs |
| 12:30 p.m. | Pit lane open only to "hot" credentials |
| 12:50 p.m. | Presentation of Allstate 400 Bricklayer Award, Victory Podium |
| 12:54 p.m. | Driver introductions, ceremonial lap |
| 1:26 p.m. | Presentation of colors, Military Department of Indiana Ceremonial Unit, Indiana National Guard |
| 1:29 p.m. | " the Beautiful," Indiana State University band |
| 1:32 p.m. | Invocation, Rev. Howard Brammer, Trader's Point Christian Church |
| 1:33 p.m. | National anthem, Diamond Rio |
| 1:34 p.m. | Flyover, 122nd Fighter Wing of Indiana Air National Guard, Terre Haute, Ind. |
| 1:39 p.m. | "Gentlemen, start your engines," Mari Hulman George, followed by balloon launch |
| 1:40 p.m. | Parade lap |
| 1:50 p.m. | Start of 12th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard (160 laps/400 miles) |
***
Television spokesperson and actor Dennis Haysbert is the grand marshal of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday, Aug. 7 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Haysbert will participate in pre-race activities, including a ceremonial parade lap, and will wave the green flag to signal the start of the 12th running of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard
Haysbert is perhaps best known as President David Palmer from the critically acclaimed, award-winning FOX television drama "24." In 2003, his performance in the show earned Haysbert Golden Globe Award, NAACP Image Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. Haysbert made his feature film debut in 1989, portraying baseball player Pedro Cerrano in the sports comedy hit "Major League" and has starred in other films, including "Heat" (1995) and "Waiting to Exhale" (1995). Haysbert next will star in his own series, "The Unit," for CBS.
Haysbert also is a spokesperson for Allstate Insurance Company and has appeared in commercials for the insurance company since 2003.
***
Former NFL star Tim Brown and NASCAR team owner Jack Roush are conducting a press conference at 9:30 a.m. today in the Trackside Conference Room on the first floor of the Media Center .
Brown will discuss why he's becoming a NASCAR team owner, his commitment to NASCAR's diversity strategy and a technology partnership with Roush Racing.
***
Martin Truex Jr. won the Kroger 200 NASCAR Busch Series race Saturday night at Indianapolis Raceway Park . Truex will start 17th in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard this afternoon.
***
Goodyear brought 2,800 Eagle Speedway Radial tires to this event, 1,400 left-side tires and 1,400 right-side tires. The tire codes are D-6868 (left side) and D-6870 (right side).
This is the only track at which NEXTEL Cup Series teams run this combination in 2005.
The minimum recommended inflation for the tires are 19 psi for the left front and left rear, 34 psi for the right front and 31 psi for the right rear, according to Goodyear.
MARK KETO (Lead engineer, stock car racing, Goodyear): "We tested at Indianapolis with Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman in late April of this year. We found that the new track surface is very fast with a lot of grip, so we have a tire combination unique to Indy. Compared to last year, this setup features new compounds on both sides, as well as a new left-side construction. Recently, we also attended all three pre-race team test sessions to monitor performance of the new setup, and it performed very well."
***
Jimmy Fennig, crew chief of the No. 97 Crown Royal Ford driven by reigning series champion Kurt Busch, was presented with the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard True Grit Award and a $10,000 check this morning.
The award, sponsored by C&R Racing, honors outstanding achievement in racing and honors a fellow colleague.
***
Former NFL star wide receiver Tim Brown was the guest of a press conference this morning in which he announced plans to form a NASCAR team, Tim Brown Racing. It will be the only African-American majority-owned team in NASCAR, upon funding.
Tim Brown Racing will form a technical alliance with two-time NEXTEL Cup Series champion Roush Racing.
TIM BROWN: "Today is a great day for me. Seventeen years ago when I entered the NFL, it was very exciting for me. It was an opportunity for me to go show my wares on a different level than in college. When this opportunity came around at the beginning of the year, I sort of looked at it as the same way. It was an opportunity for me to sort of come and show my wares. It's not the same as me being out there competing driving the cars. I thought about it guys, but I figured I'd leave that to the pros out there. But certainly being able to get involved and do what I can do as far as NASCAR is concerned is something that is very exciting to me. Obviously, this opportunity would not be happening if not for the support of Mr. Jack Roush of Roush Racing. NASCAR is a very difficult sport to get into. I think with their technical support in the future, Tim Brown Racing can be very successful. Otherwise, I think it would have been really silly to try to get involved in a sport like NASCAR that obviously has so many ins and outs into it that if you don't have the support of somebody like Mr. Jack Roush, it's a very difficult thing to do." (Why did you want to get involved in NASCAR?): "Obviously, one of the main reasons I wanted to get involved is NASCAR is a beast. I understand that it's a beast. I understand there are a lot of proponents of NASCAR. One of the things that has been missing is obviously the diversity issue. So from that standpoint when you look at NASCAR, the excitement, the fans, and everything that goes on, and you look at the part of it that's missing. I just thought it was a winning combination. There was an opportunity for me to come in, take NASCAR the beast and hopefully in some kind of way put it together with the urban community. We think we'll be able to do that. We think we'll be able to bring people in that maybe have not been in NASCAR. You know, it's not too cool to wear a Dale Earnhardt jacket in the neighborhood. You know, you just can't be cool and wear that jacket. But what we want to do is we want to make that cool. We want to make it cool to have a Roush Racing jacket on. We want to make that cool. We want to make that a good thing in the neighborhood. And I think the only way to do that is to put a different face on. Now get this - and I want everyone to understand - we're not trying to change the face of NASCAR. There's obviously nothing wrong with NASCAR. All we want to do is add to what's going on. If NASCAR is going to be 's sport, obviously they have to include all of into it. This is a great opportunity for me, for NASCAR. I think there have probably been sponsors … well, I shouldn't say probably because we know this for a fact … that there have been sponsors who have walked away because of the diversity issue. Obviously, all that will help the whole series, and that's what we're here to do. There will not be any rallies in the middle of any tracks. I don't want anyone to think we're coming in here trying to uproot something. There won't be any rallies … NAACP rallies … or anything of that nature. We're just here to add to what's already going on. Obviously, we wouldn't be a part if we didn't think we could help change a little bit what needs to be changed. But the fans have been absolutely wonderful to me and my family all weekend. Quite honestly, you don't know what to expect. I've been telling everyone initially when I walked out into the crowd, I kept my head straight. I wasn't looking either way because you never know what's going to come your way. After five or 10 minutes, people were coming up for autographs and people, 'Hey, Tim, we're glad to have you here.' It was very, very welcoming not only to me, but to the whole family." (About team specifics): "As of right now, we do not have a crew chief. We do not have a driver. We obviously have some people in mind. Please don't start asking me about all these names and stuff. I'm still learning this, guys. So as of right now, we don't have those two things situated. It is our intention to run the Cup series. We have a very short time to get that done. If that's going to happen, it's going to have to happen in the next 45 to 60 days. So we're going to be pushing very hard to get that done. If we end up in the Truck series or the Busch series, that would be good, too. Mr. Roush told me yesterday he started in the Truck series, so if it's good enough for him, obviously, it's good enough for us. We think we will be able to bring in the people to get us to the Cup series. It's our hope to be able to run the Cup series and the Busch Series this year. That's what we would like to do so we can get a young driver, young minority driver, woman driver, some kind of young driver and develop them in the Truck series, Busch series on up to NEXTEL."
JACK ROUSH: "It's an extreme compliment and a great honor to have the chance to stand behind, or beside Tim. More behind than beside. We would not presume to tell Tim what he needed to do or what he had to do, but we've certainly made our share of mistakes in the 18 years that we've been involved in this business, and we could show him where some of the hard points are. We'll have a great relationship and a great interest in the NASCAR community, and the NASCAR community is anxious to have a representation of all of our people in what has become our second national sport right behind football. With Tim having made the career that he's made there, to step off into this and to establish a reputation and a level of success for himself, as well as bring the diversity issue to the front and integrating that to the driver and the team format is going to be a wonderful thing, and I'm glad to be invited to be part of it. You can come back and say, 'What do you need to get it going?' and Tim and I talked for 30 or 40 minutes yesterday and I told him, 'You need a Busch team, a truck team and a Cup team.' Of course, you need a Cup team to get the money, because that's where the sponsors want to be, but you need the other two to develop the skills and the people and all the things that are necessary. In our world, we seldom hire a mechanic or a tire changer for our Cup team from the outside. We typically hire them from our truck or Busch team, advance them, showcase them, get confidence with them and get them comfortable, and then we promote them vertically within our own organization in order to be able to really know what we've got and operate the best. Finding the people and getting the people to work correctly is going to be a challenge. There's lots of people and they are going to be motivated to be part of this program, but it will take a while to exercise it. A rookie driver. People that haven't worked together, in any of the three series, will be a challenge and we'll just have to see where it goes in terms of the interest that he has in sponsors, but the thing that we at Roush are prepared to bring to the table is a full faith and trust in Roush Racing, which involves access to all the aerodynamic signatures to all the vehicles. Whichever ones he decides he wants to run. We understand what the aero packages are, and it's cost us, literally, millions of dollars over the course of a decade to establish those routines and understand how that works. The chassis have taken similar years in the development, and it has taken similar money to get all the pick-up points and the stiffness and all the dynamics and kinematics that are involved in those functioning. The chassis, the aerodynamics, when we get the program in place, so I'm sure that we can make a difference and effectively use what's there. I put on the table, also, the laptop computer, access to our testing and the information, involving all the decisions we make as relates to shock absorbers and bar springs. All those system-tuning things that you carry to the racetrack. We typically come to the racetrack, not unlike Formula One, and you understand from the computer relations and from the data acquisition of having been at the racetrack, you understand what the car faces and all the thing that the car faces. So you come back and you know what kind of rear axle ratio that you're going to run, what transmission, the shock absorbers and things. There may be a case that it doesn't work right, so you anticipate that it may not have enough grip in the front, or not have enough grip in the back, so not only do you have, in the car, what you believe, through experience and simulation, what's going to make you go fast, but you've got in the can, two or three things that are going to be challenges that you're going to be expected to go to. And without having 20 years of that stuff that you've been working on, you just can't do this today. But all those things are on the table for Tim, and as soon as we can put together the sponsorship and he can get himself organized, for the time and the organization that's going to support that, we'll bring this to bare." (About Tim Brown as a team owner): "I might advance the proposition that the thing most important here is Tim Brown to the image that comes forward. There will be a huge, protracted sorting process to bring people in and meld them together in a functioning team that can be competitive. The drivers are going to be fluid, we need to be fluid for a while, it seems by me. I know Tim is interested in Hispanic personalities, as well as female drivers of all races. The first decisions that will be made in order to launch the team will probably not be the ones that Tim would want to carry into corporate white or black and say, 'This is the image that we are going to build around for the next five years.' I don't know who the people would be that we would make those assurances to,' and I suspect Tim doesn't, either. The thing that really needs to be the anchor for this is the expectation for what Tim Brown will be able to do is if he brings his enthusiasm and his reputation and his determination to this enterprise."
***
Doug Miller, from Bloomington, Ind. , devised a unique way to collect autographs Saturday. He put a small clipboard, pen and paper on the hook of a fishing line and he "cast" his fishing rod to drivers from the pit suite level into the garage area.
Among those who signed were Brian Vickers, Ricky Rudd, Greg Biffle, Bobby Hamilton Jr., Morgan Shepherd and NASCAR President Mike Helton. In addition, SPEED TV shot a clip with Vicki Johnson of "NASCAR Nation" signing.
DOUG MILLER: "I thought of it last year. It's working."
***
Seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty, the winner of a record 200 races, was in the transporter area Saturday.
He was asked if he would've liked to have raced the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.
RICHARD PETTY: "I always had the urge to race here, but not in an Indy car. I think they found out I was going to retire so they started having races up here. We ran (now-defunct) Ontario ( Calif. ) Motor Speedway, and it was built like this. We always ran good there. I don't know if we ever won a race or not, but I always liked that kind of racetrack. This would've been a good kind of racetrack that we would've liked. We used to come up all the time with STP first day of qualifying (for the Indianapolis 500), came 15or 20 years just to watch them qualify the first day. Then we got a chance to come back with the Cup cars, and it's been great ever since."
***
RACE SPECIFICS:
·Eight-time Allstate 400 at the Brickyard starter Brett Bodine drives the Chevrolet SSR Pace Vehicle during the race. Bodine finished second to Jeff Gordon in the inaugural Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in 1994.
·Pit-road speed limit is 55 mph.
·The Pace Car speed will be 65 mph during caution periods.
·The race distance is 160 laps/400 miles on the 2.5-mile oval.
·The estimated pit window is every 44 to 48 laps, based on fuel mileage.
·The flagman for today's race is Rodney Wise.
***
RACE RUNNING:
·At 1:35 p.m., the ambient temperature was 85 degrees with a relative humidity of 51 percent and east winds at 7 mph. Skies were partly cloudy.
·#36 Boris Said, #41 Casey Mears and #2 Rusty Wallace will move to the rear of the field during the pace laps. Said and Mears had work done on their cars during the impound period between qualifying and the start of the race, and Wallace is starting the race in the backup car. Said qualified 32nd, while Mears and Wallace were to start 40th and 41st, respectively.
1:40 p.m. - Command to start engines by Mari Hulman George, Indianapolis Motor Speedway chairman of the board.
1:45 p.m. - All 43 starters pull away on first pace lap.
Lap 1: GREEN. Grand marshal Dennis Haysbert waves green flag to start 12th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. #38 Sadler leads into Turn 1. #38 Sadler leads #15 Waltrip by .846 of a second. #19 Mayfield third, .852 of a second behind leader.
Lap 2: #38 Sadler leads #15 Waltrip by 1.340 seconds.
Lap 3: #38 Sadler leads #19 Waltrip by 1.525 seconds. #15 Waltrip third, 2.194 seconds behind leader. #20 Stewart has climbed from 22nd to 16th in three laps.
Lap 4: #38 Sadler leads #19 Mayfield by 1.799 seconds. #20 Stewart up to 15th.
Lap 5: #38 Sadler leads #19 Mayfield by 1.746 seconds. #25 Vickers third, 2.994 seconds behind leader. #20 Stewart up to 14th. #8 Earnhardt has fallen from 27th at start to 32nd.
Lap 6: #38 Sadler leads #19 Mayfield by 1.781 seconds.
Lap 7: #38 Sadler leads #19 Mayfield by 1.869 seconds. #25 Vickers third, 3.856 seconds behind leader.
Lap 8: #38 Sadler leads #19 Mayfield by 1.915 seconds.
Lap 9: #38 Sadler leads #19 Mayfield by 2.017 seconds.
Lap 10: Top 10 -- #38 Sadler, #19 Mayfield, #25 Vickers, #15 Waltrip, #9 Kahne, #24 J. Gordon, #21 Rudd, #49 Schrader, #6 Martin, #5 Kyle Busch.
Lap 11: #38 Sadler leads #19 Mayfield by 2.144 seconds. #20 Stewart 13th after staring 22nd.
Lap 12: #38 Sadler leads #19 Mayfield by 2.387 seconds.
Lap 13: #38 Sadler leads #19 Mayfield by 2.585 seconds.
Lap 14: #38 Sadler leads #19 Mayfield by 2.507 seconds. #25 Vickers is third, 6.917 seconds behind leader.
Lap 15: #38 Sadler leads #19 Mayfield by 2.162 seconds.
Lap 16: #04 Hamilton two laps down due to pit stop. Hamilton thought he felt vibration in wheel or tire, but crew found no problems and Hamilton returned to race.
Lap 18: #38 Sadler leads #19 Mayfield by 2.000 seconds. #16 Biffle up to 17th after starting 31st.
Lap 19: #38 Sadler leads #19 Mayfield by 1.975 seconds.
Lap 23: YELLOW. #32 Hamilton slows on track with shredded left front tire, causing major sheet metal damage to left front of car. Hamilton to pits, then to garage to repair broken sway bar.
Lap 24: Pit stops for nearly entire field. #7 R. Gordon does not pit, inherits lead. Four tires, gas: #16 Biffle, 14 seconds; #9 Kahne, 15 seconds; #19 Mayfield, 16 seconds; #5 Kyle Busch, 15 seconds; #38 Sadler, 18 seconds; #24 J. Gordon, 17 seconds; #15 Waltrip, 17 seconds; #25 Vickers, 18 seconds; #49 Schrader with hood up due to clutch problem. Crew is loosening bleed-through to provide more play with clutch for Schrader. Four tires, gas, chassis adjustment: #48 Johnson, 17 seconds. Four tires, gas, fender repair, air adjustments to tires: #29 Harvick, who also reports radio problems. Four tires, gas, chassis, air pressure adjustments: #8 Earnhardt.
Lap 25: #7 R. Gordon, #36 Said, #77 Kvapil to pits. Left tires, repairs: #7 R. Gordon, two minutes, 17 seconds; #36 Said, 90 seconds.
Lap 26: #49 Schrader to pits.
Restart order: #38 Sadler, #25 Vickers, #19 Mayfield, #9 Kahne, #24 J. Gordon, #6 Martin, #15 Waltrip, #21 Rudd, #5 Kyle Busch, #01 Nemechek.
Lap 27: GREEN. #38 Sadler leads into Turn 1.
Lap 28: #38 Sadler leads #25 Vickers by .372 of a second.
Lap 35: #38 Sadler leads #19 Mayfield by 1.907 seconds.
Lap 38: YELLOW. #43 Green slows with shredded left front tire. Light sheet metal damage to left front wheel arch.
Lap 39: Pit stops for nearly entire field. #2 Wallace with hood up due to plastic tear-off from another car entering his grille, causing engine overheating. Two tires, gas: #24 J. Gordon, stalled exiting pits. Two tires only and gas: #25 Vickers, 9 seconds; #17 Kenseth, #15 Waltrip, #24 J. Gordon, 11 seconds; #20 Stewart, 13 seconds; #16 Biffle, 9 seconds; #48 Johnson, 10 seconds. Two tires, gas, chassis adjustment: #29 Harvick. Four tires, gas, chassis adjustment, air pressure adjustment: #8 Earnhardt, who reported vibration on right front. Four tires and gas: #38 Sadler, 17 seconds; #01 Nemechek, 16 seconds; #19 Mayfield, 15 seconds; #6 Martin, 16 seconds. Four tires, gas, wedge adjustment: #9 Kahne, 16 seconds. Engine overheating repairs: #2 R. Wallace, 65 seconds.
Restart order: #25 Vickers, #15 Waltrip, #17 Kenseth, #5 Kyle Busch, #24 J. Gordon, #38 Sadler, #29 Harvick, #16 Biffle, #19 Mayfield, #9 Kahne.
Lap 46: YELLOW. #25 Vickers leads into Turn 1. #25 Vickers leads #17 Kenseth by .556 of a second.
Lap 47: YELLOW. Front left of #41 Mears hit right rear of #97 Busch entering Turn 3. Mears slid sideways in short chute between Turns 3 and 4, no contact, continued.
Lap 49: #8 Earnhardt, #88 Jarrett, #7 R. Gordon, #43 Green, #41 Mears to pits. Target crew repairing sheet metal on left front of #41 Mears, 59 seconds. Right side tires, chassis adjustment: #8 Earnhardt, who is reporting radio problems, 18 seconds.
Lap 51: GREEN. #17 Kenseth passes #25 Vickers for lead between Turns 1 and 2.
Lap 52: #32 Hamilton exiting garage to return to track. #17 Kenseth leads #5 Kyle Busch by .384 of a second. #25 Vickers third, #38 Sadler fourth.
Lap 53: #17 Kenseth leads #5 Kyle Busch by .479 of a second.
Lap 55: #17 Kenseth leads #25 Vickers by .848 of a second. #32 Hamilton to garage due to left front tire smoke from cut left front tire. Crew changed left front suspension and repaired left front bodywork on previous repairs.
Lap 56: #17 Kenseth leads #25 Vickers by .856 of a second.
Lap 57: #17 Kenseth leads #25 Vickers by .799 of a second. #38 Sadler third, 1.642 seconds behind leader.
Lap 58: YELLOW. #01 Nemechek slows due to flat left front tire, to pits. Heavy damage to left front bodywork.
Lap 59: Majority of field pits. Four tires, gas: #20 Stewart, 14 seconds; #15 Waltrip, 17 seconds; #25 Vickers, 16 seconds; #38 Sadler, 17 seconds; #6 Martin, 14 seconds; #48 Johnson, 17 seconds. Four tires, gas, chassis adjustment: #17 Kenseth, #8 Earnhardt. Four tires, gas, wedge, pressure adjustment: #16 Biffle, 10 seconds; #29 Harvick, 14 seconds. Two tires, gas: #38 Sadler, #9 Kahne, 9 seconds; #19 Mayfield, 8 seconds. Fuel only: #2 R. Wallace, 8 seconds. Carburetor problems for #21 Rudd, who had pit stop of 19 seconds.
Lap 62: #21 Rudd returns to pits to replace carburetor, 121 seconds.
Restart order: #41 Mears, #38 Sadler, #9 Kahne, #19 Mayfield, #17 Kenseth, #6 Martin, 25, 20, 5, 29.
Lap 63: GREEN, then YELLOW. #8 Earnhardt veered into inside retaining wall on restart before start-finish line, hitting nose first after apparent contact from behind by #23 Skinner. Car bounced backward across track and hit #1 Truex, #22 Wimmer, grazed #7 R. Gordon. Heavy damage to #1 Truex, #8 Earnhardt, who both park in turn-off area adjacent to Turn 1.
DALE EARNHARDT JR.: "When I stopped, I got ran into. It's hard to see when you're in the back what you're doing. I don't think Skinner knew what was going on. I just got turned into the wall." (Are your Chase hopes over?): "Man, I just don't want to get back in that piece of crap again. I want to go home. We'll have to start winning some races later in the year."
Lap 64: #22 Wimmer to pits to repair crash damage, 1 minute, 51 seconds.
Restart order: #41 Mears, #38 Sadler, #9 Kahne, #19 Mayfield, #17 Kenseth, #6 Martin, #25 Vickers, #20 Stewart, #5 Kyle Busch, #29 Harvick.
Lap 69: GREEN. #41 Mears leads into Turn 1. #9 Kahne passes #38 Sadler for second. #41 Mears leads #9 Kahne by .264 of a second at line.
Lap 70: #9 Kahne passes #41 Mears for lead with inside move on back straightaway. #9 Kahne leads #41 Mears by .326 of a second at line.
#8 Earnhardt garage repair report: Crew has removed everything from radiator forward, including duct work. Working on left rear and repairing left side body damage.
Lap 75: YELLOW. #48 Johnson did full spin exiting Turn 2, no contact, continued. #21 Rudd against outside retaining wall exiting Turn 2, facing backward, after sliding backward into wall. Damage to left rear of car. Rudd climbs from car without assistance.
Lap 75: #48 Johnson to pits for track-bar adjustment, 32 seconds
Lap 76: Pit stops. Leader #9 Kahne, #38 Sadler, #5 Kyle Busch stay on track. Four tires, fuel, air pressure adjustment: #41 Mears, 16 seconds. Two tires, fuel, left front fender repair, 12 seconds: #29 Harvick. Four tires, fuel, tire pressure adjustment: #25 Vickers, 17 seconds. Fuel only: #6 Martin, 5 seconds. Four tires, fuel: #16 Biffle, 24 seconds.
#8 Earnhardt is out of race as team abandons attempted repairs.
Lap 77: #29 Harvick returns to pits due to penalty for commitment-line violation, team makes repairs, 58 seconds. #48 Johnson to pits to repair left front bodywork damage, 18 seconds.
Restart order: #9 Kahne, #38 Sadler, #19 Mayfield, #17 Kenseth, #20 Stewart, #5 Kyle Busch, #16 Biffle, #18 B. Labonte, #40 Marlin, #12 Newman.
Lap 80: GREEN. #9 Kahne leads into Turn 1. Halfway point of race.
Top 10 at halfway: #9 Kahne, #38 Sadler, #19 Mayfield, #17 Kenseth, #20 Stewart, #16 Biffle, #5 Kyle Busch, #18 B. Labonte, #40 Marlin, #12 Newman.
Lap 81: #15 Waltrip to pits to change flat left-front tire, four tires and gas, 18 seconds.
Lap 83: #9 Kahne leads #38 Sadler by .535 of a second.
Lap 86: #9 Kahne leads #38 Sadler by .824 of a second.
Lap 87: #9 Kahne leads #38 Sadler by .641 of a second.
Lap 88: #20 Stewart up to third, 2.200 seconds behind leader #9 Kahne.
#21 Rudd out of race due to crash damage.
Lap 90: #9 Kahne leads #38 Sadler by 1.542 seconds. #20 Stewart third, 2.104 seconds behind leader.
Lap 93: YELLOW. #11 Leffler smoking in Turn 1, car slows with apparent cut left front tire. Leaders, nearly all cars to pits. #45 Petty stays out to inherit lead, his first leading lap in Allstate 400 at the Brickyard since 1996. Catch can stuck to rear of #48 Johnson when exiting pits, returns to pits for 19 seconds to remove can. #25 Vickers first off pit road, followed by #38 Sadler. Fire in pit of #11 Leffler, extinguished by crew. Four tires, gas, chassis, pressure adjustment: #38 Sadler, 16 seconds; #18 B. Labonte, 16 seconds. Four tires, gas, chassis adjustment: #5 Kyle Busch, 17 seconds. Four tires, gas, air pressure adjustment: #9 Kahne, 15 seconds. Four tires, gas: #40 Marlin, 17 seconds; #20 Stewart, 18 seconds; #0 Bliss, 17 seconds; #17 Kenseth, 18 seconds; #19 Mayfield, 18 seconds; #6 Martin, 15 seconds; #16 Biffle, 14 seconds. Extensive repair to left front fender: #15 Waltrip; Four tires, gas, chassis adjustment: #29 Harvick.
Lap 94: #45 Petty to pits. #44 T. Labonte inherits lead.
Lap 95: #11 Leffler returns to pits.
Restart order: #44 T. Labonte, #25 Vickers, #38 Sadler, #20 Stewart, #9 Kahne; #19 Mayfield; #5 Kyle Busch; #17 Kenseth; #41 Mears; #18 B. Labonte. Terry Labonte last led a lap in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in 1998.
Lap 97: GREEN. #44 T. Labonte leads into Turn 1. #20 Stewart dives under #38 Sadler in Turn 1 for third. #9 Kahne climbs to third exiting Turn 2. #38 Sadler falls from third to seventh on first lap after restart.
Lap 100: #20 Stewart dives under #25 Vickers in Turn 4 to take lead.
Lap 103: #20 Stewart leads #25 Vickers by 1.719 seconds.
Lap 104: #20 Stewart leads #25 Vickers by 2.158 seconds.
Lap 107: #20 Stewart leads #25 Vickers by 3.720 seconds.
Lap 109: #20 Stewart leads #19 Mayfield by 3.743 seconds.
Lap 111: #20 Stewart leads #19 Mayfield by 3.886 seconds. #25 Vickers third, 5.099 seconds behind leader.
Lap 114: #20 Stewart leads #19 Mayfield by 3.842 seconds.
Lap 115: Light drops of rain reported at pit exit.
Lap 117: YELLOW. #18 B. Labonte brushes against SAFER Barrier in Turn 3 with right side of car. Heavy damage to right side of car, which continues to garage. Right front tire deflated, causing accident, Labonte said.
Lap 118: Leaders, nearly entire field to pits except for #22 Wimmer, who inherits lead. #20 Stewart first off pit road, followed by #19 Mayfield, #25 Vickers. #16 Biffle, #49 Schrader, #24 J. Gordon make three-wide contact exiting pit road, with Biffle also squeezed into outside pit retaining wall. Four tires, gas, chassis adjustment: #9 Kahne, 15 seconds; #29 Harvick; #5 Kyle Busch, 17 seconds. Four tires, gas: #20 Stewart, 14 seconds; #19 Mayfield, 15 seconds; #0 Bliss, 17 seconds; #6 Martin, 16 seconds; #16 Biffle, 16 seconds; #41 Mears, 17 seconds. Two tires, gas, air pressure adjustment: #48 Johnson, 12 seconds. Four tires, gas, chassis, pressure adjustment: #38 Sadler, 16 seconds; #17 Kenseth, 14 seconds. Four tires, gas, pressure adjustment: #25 Vickers, 16 seconds.
Restart order: #20 Stewart, #19 Mayfield, #25 Vickers, #17 Kenseth, #9 Kahne, #38 Sadler, #48 Johnson, #5 Kyle Busch, #6 Martin.
Lap 121: GREEN. #24 J. Gordon into grass in Turn 4 while dueling for position with #0 Bliss. The duo crashed together earlier this season at Chicagoland Speedway.
Lap 124: YELLOW. #10 Riggs backs into SAFER Barrier in Turn 2, heavy damage to rear of car. Riggs continues to pits.
#18 B. Labonte out of race due to crash damage.
Lap 124: #24 J. Gordon, #49 Schrader, #43 Green, #7 R. Gordon, #31 Burton, #88 Jarrett, #22 Wimmer, #91 Elliott to pits. Four tires, gas: #24 J. Gordon, 22 seconds.
Restart order: #20 Stewart, #19 Mayfield, #25 Vickers, #9 Kahne, #17 Kenseth, #38 Sadler.
Lap 128: GREEN. #20 Stewart leads #19 Mayfield by .619 of a second.
Lap 129: #9 Kahne under #19 Mayfield for second exiting Turn 4. #20 Stewart leads by 1.138 seconds over #9 Kahne.
Lap 130: #20 Stewart leads #9 Kahne by .702 of a second.
Lap 131: #20 Stewart leads #9 Kahne by .217 of a second. Stewart weaving on front straightaway to break draft to trailing Kahne.
Lap 132: #20 Stewart leads #9 Kahne by .184 of a second.
Lap 133: #9 Kahne on rear bumper of #20 Stewart on back straightaway. Stewart weaving to break draft. #20 Stewart leads #9 Kahne by .197 of a second.
Lap 134: #20 Stewart dives low on back straightaway to break draft. #9 Kahne dives under #20 Stewart in Turn 4 for lead. #9 Kahne leads #20 Stewart by .117 of a second at line.
Lap 136: #9 Kahne leads #20 Stewart by .455 of a second. #25 Vickers third, 2.076 seconds behind leader.
Lap 138: #9 Kahne leads #20 Stewart by .551 of a second.
Lap 139: #9 Kahne leads #20 Stewart by .383 of a second.
Lap 140: #9 Kahne leads #20 Stewart by .355 of a second.
Lap 141: #9 Kahne leads #20 Stewart by .325 of a second.
Lap 142: #9 Kahne leads #20 Stewart by .316 of a second.
Lap 143: #9 Kahne leads #20 Stewart by .257 of a second.
Lap 144: #20 Stewart pulls to Kahne's rear bumper in Turn 2 and entering Turn 3. #9 Kahne leads #20 Stewart by .319 of a second.
Lap 146: YELLOW. #48 Johnson hits SAFER Barrier in Turn 4 with right side of car, which continues to pits. Fire starts under hood as crew chief Chad Knaus climbs through passenger-side window to help Johnson unstrap safety harness. Johnson pulled from car quickly by crew in pits after heavy smoke from fire fills cockpit. #20 Stewart dives toward pit road and then pulls away quickly back on track.
#15 Waltrip, #24 J. Gordon, #29 Harvick, #43 Green to pits. Two tires, gas: #24 Gordon, 12 seconds.
Restart order: #9 Kahne, #20 Stewart, #25 Vickers, #19 Mayfield, #17 Kenseth, #38 Sadler, #6 Martin, #5 Kyle Busch, #41 Mears, #0 Bliss.
Lap 150: GREEN. #9 Kahne leads into Turn 1. #20 Stewart, #9 Kahne side-by-side in Turn 2, with Stewart inside. #20 Stewart passes #9 Kahne exiting Turn 2 for lead. #20 Stewart leads #9 Kahne by .184 of a second at line. #38 Sadler slowing.
Lap 151: #20 Stewart leads #9 Kahne by .319 of a second.
Lap 152: #20 Stewart, #9 Kahne weave down the back straightaway. #20 Stewart leads #9 Kahne by .206 of a second.
Lap 153: #20 Stewart leads #9 Kahne by .342 of a second.
Lap 154: #20 Stewart leads #9 Kahne by .561 of a second.
Lap 155: #20 Stewart leads #9 Kahne by .543 of a second.
Lap 156: #20 Stewart leads #9 Kahne by .680 of a second.
Lap 157: #20 Stewart leads #9 Kahne by .814 of a second.
Lap 158: #20 Stewart leads #9 Kahne by .803 of a second.
Lap 159: #20 Stewart leads #9 Kahne by .790 of a second.
Lap 160: CHECKERED. #20 Tony Stewart wins the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard by .794 of a second over #9 Kasey Kahne. #25 Brian Vickers finished third.
Stewart drove a victory lap around track with fist in air out window. Home Depot crew climbed fence near start-finish line to cheers from crowd. Stewart turned around car in Turn 1 and drove down front straightaway in opposite direction to high-five crew. Stewart drives in opposite direction around track to salute fans. Stewart stops at Hulman Suites in Turn 2 to climb fence and celebrate with friends watching race there, taking can of Coke from man for a sip.
Stewart stops car on start-finish line and celebrates with crew. Ladder laid against fence to help Stewart climb up fence. He pumps his fist in celebration, and crew joins him by climbing fence. Stewart laid on the outside retaining wall in exhausted joy while being interviewed by Allen Bestwick of NBC.
TONY STEWART: "I'm dying right now. I'm too tired to chase fences now. Give me five minutes; I'll be ready." (About when Kahne passed him): "I knew I was loose at the time. I needed to stay with him when I got behind him." (What does this victory mean to you?): "I wish I could put it into words. Today has been my entire life. I feel like crap right now, but in five minutes I'll feel really good."
KASEY KAHNE: "We had an awesome car. It was really good through (Turns) 1 and 3. It just gave up a bit there on the restart. I slipped a bit. I couldn't do anything with him. It's a big win for Tony."
***
Jimmie Johnson was transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis via ground transportation for precautionary evaluation after the race. He was awake and alert.
CHAD KNAUS (Crew chief, #48 Johnson): "They are just going to take him over there and check him out. His bell has definitely been rung That was a pretty hard hit that he took out there. We cut a right front tire as he was going into Turn 4. (It) knocked the wind out of him a little bit, so they are going to send him over there and take a look at him." (About the race): "We definitely had a roller coaster day. (The car went from the) back to the front (and) front to the back. We had a lot of weird things go on. That is a part of racing. You are going to have days like that. We will bounce back, and we'll be fine." (About points race): "Does it really matter? Once we get to Loudon, it basically starts over at zero. I'm not really concerned about the points. As long as we stay in the top 10, that's really all we need to keep focused on. If we get to that point, then we will worry about the championship."
***
Tony Stewart's father, Nelson Stewart, and mother, Pam Boas, offered their comments about their son's victory.
NELSON STEWART (Tony Stewart's father): "I wasn't concerned after the first pass (by Kasey Kahne). I was hearing more noises than he was. I watched every inch." (About how Tony stressed over this event): "When you do that, then anything can go wrong. It has (in the past), and that's generally what happens."
PAM BOAS (Tony Stewart's mother): "That was a dream. You knew some day that (winning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway) would happen. It means everything in this world to him." (About what she did once she saw him after the win): "I ran up to him and jumped in his arms. He said, 'Mom, I can't hold you.' I thought later that I should be offended, but he was too tired. Indiana is home to Tony. That's where he has come back to. Any time he had an opportunity (while living in North Carolina ), he would come back home."
***
Former WCW wrestling champion Bill Goldberg attended today's race. He is the host of "Auto Maniac" on The History Channel.
BILL GOLDBERG: "This is awesome, man. My first time every at Indy. I have wanted to come here since I started becoming a race fan in 1990. Obviously, I am here promoting the Auto Maniac car. (Mike) Skinner is driving it. It is an awesome experience, man. Being at Indy is awesome. It is almost like my first race when I went to Bristol . It is all inspiring."
***
ALLSTATE 400 AT THE BRICKYARD POST-RACE NOTES:
·Tony Stewart became the first Indiana native to win the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Seven Indiana natives have won the Indianapolis 500 - Joe Dawson (1912), Howdy Wilcox (1919), L.L. Corum (1924 co-winner), George Souders (1927), Louis Schneider (1931), Bill Cummings (1934), Wilbur Shaw (1937, 1939, 1940).
·Tony Stewart is the first Indiana native to win any race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since Wilbur Shaw won the 1940 Indianapolis 500.
·Tony Stewart's best previous NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series finish at Indianapolis was fifth in 2000 and 2004.
·Kasey Kahne's second place was his best in two starts here. Last year, he finished fourth.
·Brian Vickers third-place finish tied Jamie McMurray in 2003 and Bill Elliott in the inaugural 1994 race for best finish by a first-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series starter here.
·Jeremy Mayfield's fourth place was his best in 11 starts here. His previous best was fifth in 1997.
·Matt Kenseth's fifth place was his third top-five finish in the last four races at the Brickyard.
·Casey Mears' sixth place was his best in three starts at Indy. His best previous was 26th in 2004.
·Mark Martin's seventh place was his seventh top-nine finish in 12 starts here.
·Sterling Marlin's ninth place was his third best finish in 12 starts here.
·Tony Stewart's 44 laps led pushed his career total to 150 and past Ernie Irvan for fourth place all time in career laps led in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.
·Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers and Scott Wimmer each led for the first time at this event.
·There was a record 31 cars on the lead lap, breaking the mark of 30 set in 2002.
·Bill Elliott continues to lead the career laps completed standings in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, completing all 160 laps for a total of 1,920 of a possible 1,921.Joe Nemechek moved ahead of Bobby Labonte for second at 1,896.
·Jeff Burton, Bill Elliott and Michael Waltrip each was running at the finish for their 12th straight race at Indy.
·This is the second Allstate 400 at the Brickyard victory for Joe Gibbs Racing. Bobby Labonte won for the team in 2000. Joe Gibbs Racing is the fourth team to win this race at least twice. Hendrick Motorsports has four victories, with Jeff Gordon (1994, 1998, 2001, 2004); Robert Yates Racing has two, with Dale Jarrett (1996, 1999); and Richard Childress Racing has two, with Dale Earnhardt (1995) and Kevin Harvick (2003).
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