Today’s race, or should we say sprint race, no wait, sprint races was not the usual race we would see. NASCAR and Goodyear Tires most likely did not expect to see tires give out every 10 laps with the surface they were running on and the COT being run at Indy for the first time. 

Historically, we would see tires wear out quickly, but only during practice sessions and by the time race day would hit, the rubber would be left on the track for the race. 

This time however, NASCAR had to put out mandatory cautions every ten laps. The biggest run of the day was 12 laps. This set up sprint runs for the drivers to do what they could to get to the front. 

It took a while for the teams to get in sync of what was going on, but with 60 laps to go, they did, so action would occur in the first three or four laps, the drivers would settle down then come into pit. 

This occurred for the next 5 cautions. We did see some drivers from the back like Jeff Burton, who started 32^nd finished 9^th, A.J. Allmendinger starting 26^th finished 10^th and Clint Bowyer starting 40^th to finish 19^th. 

Johnson started on the pole, did not fall from the top ten for most of the race to pull off his second race win at the Brickyard. The big challenges came to the pit crews who had the biggest and hardest day so far this year. Every stop would see four tires and fuel for the majority of the teams. 

Carl Edwards did his best to take the lead from Johnson in the final sprint, but could not gain the momentum to move past Johnson in the end. 

Mark Martin looked forward to this day to be a great day, starting on the outside front row, but after the first round of pit stops and his tires giving out, he would settle for an 11^th place finish.  

Most of the top ten starters would finish in the top ten except for Kurt Busch, starting 7^th had his day shattered as he would be one of the first drivers to blow a tire and finish his race 41 laps down. 

Ryan Newman would also finish 13^th from his start of 3^rd and Matt Kenseth, starting 10^th to finish 38^th after the right rear of his car would be torn apart after his tire exploded. 

PRE RACE CHATTER 

The big story so far has been the tires. Practice sessions had the tires showing cords only after less than 10 laps. NASCAR and Goodyear has brought an extra set yesterday that were tires from next week’s Pocono race. 

The teams had burned through so many sets of tires they looked to be short for today’s race. We have heard that the Pocono set runs 2 seconds faster. This could be trouble as this will make the engines run faster. This could be engine damage for some. 

After 14 runnings of the 400, the trend is etched in stone ...  er, brick: 

Only big guns win Indy. 

Check it out: 

Six times in the 14 races, the winner at Indianapolis has gone on to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. 

The first four of those special sweeps came in consecutive years; Gordon (1998), Dale Jarrett (‘99), Bobby Labonte (No. 43 Cheerios/Totinos Dodge) (2000) and Gordon again (’01). 

12 of NASCAR’s Brickyard events have been won by series  champions and the two exceptions — Ricky Rudd in 1997 and Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet) in 2003 — were by no means upset results. 

On the other hand, there was a memorable upset in the summer of 2002, by former series champion Bill Elliott (No. 21 Motorcraft Ford), then amid a late-career resurgence with the new Ray Evernham-led Dodge operation. 

“I'm planning on winning the Brickyard in the 8 car,” Martin said. “We've got the stuff. We've got the team. The cars are awesome on flat tracks … I have never planned on anything any more than my plan is for the Brickyard. That's the crown jewel. 

“And if you look at how that car ran at Phoenix, I believe that we can adapt that setup to work there. The team is strong enough on pit road, and (crew chief) Tony Gibson and those guys that work on that car are due a win.  

“They got several disappointments last year when they had great race cars and had failures and what have you. Nothing would make me happier than to see their faces in Victory Lane.” 

In 1998, Martin was second in the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard. In 14 starts at Indy he has five top-five runs. 

Narrow the focus to the last three seasons and the gathering of Loop Data (statistics gleaned from electronic scoring loops imbedded under race tracks), and Martin has a Driver Rating of 102.9, fifth-best in the series at Indianapolis. 

TO WIN IT’S BEST TO QUALIFY 

Jimmie Johnson won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard with a lap of 49.515 seconds, 181.763 mph. This is his 15th pole in 239 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. This is his second pole and 15th top-10 start in 2008. This is his first pole in seven races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

Mark Martin (second) posted his eighth top-10 start of 2008 and his seventh in 15 races at Indianapolis. Ryan Newman (third) posted his eighth top-10 start at Indianapolis. It is his eighth in 15 races this season. Patrick Carpentier (15th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.  

NOW LET’S HIT THE BRICKS 

Marcus Ambrose will go to the back of the pack for an engine change and Regan Smith to the back for going to a back up car. For Smith, that’s no big loss, as he qualified 42^nd. 

With the tire concerns, NASCAR will have two competition cautions, one at lap 10 the second on lap 20. 

The engines roar to life. The drivers take their cars down that hallowed ground, across the yard of bricks to kick off 160 times they will do that and at the end they will pay respect to Indy with the famous kiss of the bricks. 

GREEN FLAG as Johnson and Martin take the 43 drivers into turn 1. Johnson has a good start and Martin falls behind Johnson to grab the low line so he doesn’t fall back. 

Lap 2 Jeff Gordon hops up to 3^rd from 5^th. The field strings out single file. Out of turn two the field scatters as they try to make a jump forward in positions. Carl Edwards and Dale Earnhardt Jr. pop all the way to the left. They almost hit each other.

YELLOW FLAG lap 4 as Michael Waltrip basically looses control of his car in turn two. It looked like he was going to save it, but as drivers were cutting under him, Paul Menard does not make it by. Menard clips the left front of Waltrip’s car, shooting him into the outside wall followed by a 360 or two. Waltrip’s car has major damage. Menard’s car has his right front torn off. 

Menard’s team is working on his car on pit road. Waltrip is in the garage. NASCAR has moved the competition caution to lap 14. We see a split in who stays out and who pits. 

GREEN FLAG lap 9 Johnson and Jeff Gordon leading the drivers back to racing. Back the back stretch, almost all the drivers are single file. Lap 10 Carl Edwards passes Kasey Kahne for 5^th. 

Lap 11 David Reutimann slaps the wall coming out of turn 4. 

YELLOW FLAG lap 14 and not for the competition caution as Kurt Busch breaks loose in turn 2. Busch all of a sudden comes to the left into the path of Kevin Harvick, causing both drivers to head into the outside wall. Harvick’s car is trashed as well as Busch’s. 

The field except for Earnhardt Jr. and Jason Leffler. They will move into 1^st and 2^nd. Johnson, Gordon, Edwards and Kahne are the first ones back to the track. 

GREEN FLAG lap 18 as Earnhardt and Leffler lead the field past the start finish line. ON fresh tires the field zigs and zags across the track to move up in position. Jeff Gordon takes second. 

We hear that lap 32 will be the next competition caution. Lap 20 Earnhardt leads the field by 1 second. Lap 21 Edwards takes over 6^th from Martin. Ryan Newman out of turn 4 passes Kahne for 4^th. Lap 22 Edwards takes over 5^th from Kahne. 

Lap 23 we hear that Kahne may have an engine issue. We hear that it hasn’t slowed him down yet, but the team is concerned. Lap 25 your top 10 drivers are – Jeff Gordon as the takes the lead followed by Johnson, Earnhardt, Edwards, Newman, Kenseth, Kahne, Juan Pablo Montoya, Martin and Ragan. 

Lap 26 we hear that Earnhardt Jr. has a tire going down. He will take the car to pit road. He falls back to the rear as he will hit his pit stall and get four fresh tires. Earnhardt Jr. will fall a lap down. With the competition caution, he will be the lucky dog. 

Lap 29 Martin is in for tires. We hear another tire. 

YELLOW FLAG lap 30 for the competition caution. Montoya blows a tire, scattering debris across the track out of turn 2. We hear that Earnhardt is not the lucky dog as Hornish Jr. was on pit road and the field passing them. 

We hear some talk that when the caution came out that Earnhardt crossed the start finish line before Hornish did on pit road. The team is informing NASCAR about that. The race out of pit road is Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Johnson, Biffle and Edwards. 

GREEN FLAG lap 34 as new leader Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon bring the field back up to speed. With the single file start, the field is spread out, no movement in positions. NASCAR will have another competition caution on lap 47 after seeing all the tire issues so far. 

Lap 37 Jeff Gordon takes the lead. On the back stretch Johnson takes the lead. Earnhardt, who is a lap down is third on the track behind Johnson and Gordon. Lap 39 we have a couple of movers on the track. Jeff Burton started the day 32^nd and has moved himself up to 6^th. Denny Hamlin started 23^rd and is up to 7^th along with A.J. Allmendinger from 26^th to 11^th, Clint Bowyer from 40^th to 13^th and Truex Jr. from 25^th to 14^th. 

We hear drivers already talking about tires getting to the cords.

Lap 45 we hear that some of the drivers are having tire issues. Lap 46 Martin is in for his stop. This happened the last time as well. Lap 47 Edwards blows a tire, Kenseth blows a tire. 

YELLOW FLAG lap 47 as Kenseth spins and the tire shreds the right rear quarter panel apart as he comes out of turn two. Big time debris coming out of the turn. We hear that Earnhardt Jr. is not the lucky dog again as the same issue occurs again as Hornish was on pit road and Earnhardt on the track. NASCAR gives Hornish the lucky dog again. 

The race out of pit road is Kyle Busch, Allmendinger, Jeff Burton, Elliott Sadler and Martin Truex Jr. 

Lap 50 you top twenty drivers are Kvapil, Martin, Kyle Busch, Allmendinger, Burton, Sadler, Truex Jr., Jamie McMurray, Johnson, Hamlin, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Gordon, Biffle, Edwards, Stewart, David Ragan, Reed Sorenson, David Gilliland, Bowyer and Newman. 

This is going to be an extended caution with all the debris.  

GREEN FLAG lap 54 as Kyle Busch and Allmendinger are the new leaders after the pit by Martin and Kvapil. Kurt Busch has returned back to the track. We hear the next competition caution on lap 64. 

Lap 57 most of the field is not making a big move. I think we will see them just watching and waiting to see how the tires hold up. Lap 58 we hear that the drivers are not running full speed as they conserve their tires. 

Lap 59 we are five laps until the caution. The movers at this time are Allmendinger from 26^th up to 3^rd, Burton from 32^nd up to 4^th, Hamlin from 23^rd to 5^th, Bobby Labonte from 27^th up to 8^th and Truex Jr. from 25^th to 11^th.  

Lap 62 Johnson is back in front again. Lap 64 Kyle Busch may have a tire issue. He only took two tires on his last stop. Busch falls off pace back to 12^th so far. He waits for the competition caution to come out. 

YELLOW FLAG lap 66 as the teams still complain about the tires. This time Earnhardt will be the lucky dog.  

GREEN FLAG lap 70 with Allmendinger and Sadler lead the field back to racing, or what is called racing. The next competition caution is lap 81. Lap 72 Johnson is back in the lead. Lap 73 Jeff Gordon takes over 3^rd from Sadler. Waltrip is back in the race. 

Lap 74 Brian Vickers takes his car to pit road. The crew lifts the hood. Doesn’t look good. Lap 77 Hamlin has moved up to 3^rd, Truex Jr. to 7^th, Burton runs 8^th, Bowyer 12^th from 40^th, Bobby Labonte 14^th from his start of 27^th, Hornish Jr. 19^th from 38^th, J.J. Yeley 20^th from 39^th and Dave Blaney 21^st from 41^st. 

Lap 80 (Halfway) four more laps until the next caution. Johnson just brushes the outside wall of turn two. Lap 81 Truex Jr. brings his car to pit road.  

YELLOW FLAG lap 82, two laps early for the competition caution. Leffler is the lucky dog. Everyone is into pit road. Edwards leads them out followed by Biffle, McMurray, Johnson, Stewart and Jeff Gordon. 

GREEN FLAG lap 87 as Truex Jr. and Edwards lead the field to the race condition. We see a couple of drivers making a move as Edwards takes the lead, Johnson and Jeff Gordon moving into 2^nd and 3^rd. Lap 88 McMurray takes 4^th and Stewart 5^th. 

Lap 89 Truex Jr. falls back many positions back to 9^th. Lap 90 Earnhardt Jr. has moved back up to 20^th. Johnson takes the lead from Edwards, followed by Jeff Gordon. The next competition caution looks to be lap 97. 

Lap 93 Earnhardt back up to 17^th. Truex slides back to 14^th. Allmendinger slides back to 11^th. Lap 95 Mark Martin who was looking forward to a strong day runs in 17^th as Earnhardt moves into 15^th. McMurray started 8^th and is 4^th now. Lap 96 Bobby Labonte moves into pit road as it was closed and he was speeding. NASCAR is starting to close pit road about two or three laps before the competition caution. 

YELLOW FLAG lap 97 for the competition caution. Robby Gordon is the lucky dog. Earnhardt Jr. has moved up to 12^th. The race back to the track is Sadler, Burton, Allmendinger, Johnson and Biffle. 

Lap 100 (60 to go) your top 20 drivers are – Blaney, who is in front to pick up 5 bonus points, Sadler, Burton, Allmendinger, Johnson, Biffle, Ragan, Newman, Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, McMurray, Hamlin, Bowyer, McDowell, Earnhardt Jr., Stewart, Martin, Kahne and Sorenson. So far we have seen 7 cautions for 31 laps so far and 19 lead changes among 13 leaders. 

GREEN FLAG lap 105 as Sadler and Burton lead us back to racing. So far our biggest run has been 12 laps under green. Burton and Allmendinger drop under Sadler to take the lead.

YELLOW FLAG lap 105 as Vickers engine blows up. We will be sitting under yellow for a few extra laps to clean up the oil. We see a replay that on the restart a couple of birds were sitting on the track just before turn one. McMurray heads to the inside line and the birds start to fly up in the air. One bird makes it, the second one does not and it explodes as his car hits it. Harvick may be the lucky dog. Maybe not as Vickers was supposed to be in the position. 

GREEN FLAG lap 112 as Burton and Allmendinger get the show going again. The next caution will be on lap 121. Lap 113 is three wide for 2^nd place as Allmendinger, Sadler challenge Johnson for 2^nd. Allmendinger moves into the position, but the next lap Johnson comes back into the spot. 

Lap 114 Earnhardt Jr. moves up to 11^th, Stewart 14^th. Lap 115 Johnson makes his move up to the lead. We start to see more action on the track as the drivers are getting used to the sprint races. 

Lap 117 Jeff Gordon moves up to 2^nd. Martin is on the move forward again running 13^th. Lap 119 Johnson leads by 1 second over Gordon. Stewart moves up to 12^th. Edwards all over Burton for 3^rd. NASCAR closes pit road for the upcoming caution. Lap 120 Edwards takes over 3^rd from Burton. Lap 121 Earnhardt up to 10^th. Edwards takes over 2^nd as the. 

YELLOW FLAG lap 122 Harvick should be the lucky dog. Back to the track it’s Hamlin, Johnson, Edwards, Burton, Kyle Busch, Ragan, Jeff Gordon, Yeley, Allmendinger and McMurray, who are also your top ten on lap 125. 

GREEN FLAG lap 127 Hamlin and Johnson bring the field to life as they race across the start finish line. On the start Allmendinger pops out to the left of McMurray to take over 8^th. Earnhardt moves up to 10^th and Truex Jr. 11^th after they pass Yeley.

Lap 128 it will be 10 laps until the caution. Lap 130 Johnson has a wiggle into turn 2. 

30 to go as Hamlin leads. NASCAR informs the teams there are two sets of tires left until the end pf the race. That should be fine for the tires. Lap 131 Earnhardt Jr. is up to 8^th. Lap 132 McMurray hops in front of Earnhardt Jr. to take over 8^th place. 

Lap 133 Ragan all over Burton for 6^th. Lap 134 as Biffle takes over 16^th from Truex Jr. 

25 to go Hamlin leads Johnson by 1 second. Truex continues to fall back to 20^th as Bobby Labonte, Sorenson and Hornish Jr. take over 17^th through 19^th. 2 to go to the next caution. Pit road is closed. Lap 136 Edwards takes over 2^nd as Johnson is falling off pace. 

YELLOW FLAG lap 137 Harvick will be the lucky dog again. Hamlin leads them into pit road. Hamlin leads them back out followed by Burton, Allmendinger, Stewart and Sadler. 

GREEN FLAG lap 141 as Hamlin and Burton get us going. The next caution is lap 150. Johnson takes over 7^th from Edwards. We see the drivers start to get racy coming out of turn two.  

Lap 143 Edwards challenges Johnson as they pass Stewart, moving Stewart back to 8^th. Lap 144 McMurray and Gordon pass Stewart to take over 8^th and 9^th. Earnhardt has been struggling during pit stops and is fighting around 14^th. 

15 to go Hamlin over Burton by almost 1 second. We see several of the drivers try to the inside to make the move but no dice. Lap 146 Earnhardt up to 12^th, Stewart to 14^th. 

13 to go Sadler puts the pressure on Burton for 2^nd. By turn two, Sadler takes it. Pit road is closed. 12 to go we see a beer can stuck on Hamlin’s grill. This should not be an issue with the caution coming up.

11 to go Kahne under Newman on the front to take 9^th place. Earnhardt moves up to 11^th.

YELLOW FLAG with 10 to go as Hamlin leads. Harvick is the lucky dog. This will be the big move for the pit crews. Johnson is the first out followed by Edwards, Hamlin, Sadler, McMurray, Jeff Gordon, Burton, Kahne, Biffle and Allmendinger. We see that Edwards let Johnson know that he is on his bumper. 

GREEN FLAG with 8 to go. The front two rocket away from the field. 

6 to go Johnson and Edwards battle for the lead. Earnhardt up to 11^th. Gordon to 6^th. 

5 to go Johnson leads by 3 car lengths over Edwards and no threat from behind. 

4 to go as Johnson and Edwards float from the right to the left side on the track, as Johnson tries not to give the draft to Edwards. 

3 to go Martin is up to 12^th. The two front runners are 2 seconds in front of the pack. 

2 to go Martin takes over 11^th after Earnhardt Jr. is loose out of the turn. Johnson still has room behind him. 

WHITE FLAG as the two drive left then right and back and forth. Edwards did not get a good exit out of turn two. Johnson has three car lengths. Out of turn four and down the front stretch it’s…

CHECKERED FLAG for Johnson who takes home his second win at Indy. 

The race lasted for 3 and a half hours. We saw 26 lead changes among 16 leaders and 11 cautions (2 of them were real ones, the rest competition.) for 52 laps. 

The top ten finishers were Johnson, Edwards, Hamlin, Sadler, Jeff Gordon, McMurray, Kahne, Biffle, Burton and Allmendinger. 

Johnson led the most laps with 71. The pace car led the second most with 52, Hamlin led 26, Kyle Busch 14, Burton 10, Earnhardt Jr. 8, Jeff Gordon 7 and Sadler 5.