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Nothing like starting out a brand new season with good news!!!!

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Stewart hot with Goodyear after Newman's tire pops


Crash will force both SHR drivers to backup cars for 500

By Joe Menzer, NASCAR.COM
February 14, 2009


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A relatively and unusually calm Speedweeks exploded in controversy Saturday at the very moment Ryan Newman's right-rear tire did the same, resulting in an accident that forced both Newman and his owner/driver teammate Tony Stewart into backup cars for Sunday's Daytona 500.
Autostock
“
It's the same stuff that we always talk about every year -- the failures that Goodyear has.
”
TONY STEWART

Stewart, owner of Newman's No. 39 Chevrolet as well as his own No. 14 Chevy for Stewart-Haas Racing, was livid with Goodyear for what he claims are faulty tires that have been issued to Sprint Cup teams for the season-opening race. It wasn't the first time Stewart has blasted Goodyear for bringing bad tires to a race, as he did so last year at events in Atlanta and Indianapolis.

But this time, as he experienced his first tire blowout and blowup as a car owner, Stewart seemed even hotter than usual.

"It's just a Goodyear right-rear tire," Stewart said. "So it's the same thing everybody has been talking about all week. It's the same stuff that we always talk about every year -- the failures that Goodyear has. I think that's part of their marketing campaign. The more we talk about it, the more press they get. I think they forget that it's supposed to be in a good way, not a bad way."

The incident occurred during Saturday's final Cup practice for Sunday's 500, which was led by Reed Sorenson with a top speed of 191.575 mph. Newman said he felt a slight vibration in the right-rear of his car as he exited Turn 1 at Daytona International Speedway with Stewart running just behind him, and then almost immediately the tire blew -- taking both of their cars out (watch video).

Looking at it afterward, with the right-rear quarterpanel torn completely off and the entire right side of the No. 39 Chevy mangled, Newman said there was no doubt he was going to his second backup car. The car he had been driving already was a backup to the one he originally thought he would drive in the 500, until he wrecked in his Gatorade Duel qualifying race on Thursday.

"This one is junk," said Newman, nodding toward his wrecked machine. "The right-rear tire exploded in the middle of [Turns] 1 and 2 there. It gave me maybe 100 yards of a sign that it might. It started with the very, very slightest vibration. I was getting ready to come in and it was too late.

"It was just unfortunate. We took out my teammate. I don't even know who else was caught up in it. I'm just disappointed in the situation Goodyear has put us in. ... It is ridiculous the situation we are in with these tires."
Daytona 500
Practice 6

Pos. Driver Speed
1. Reed Sorenson 191.575
2. Matt Kenseth 191.042
3. Kurt Busch 190.815
4. Juan Montoya 190.751
5. Greg Biffle 190.718
6. David Ragan 190.525
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 190.504
8. Joey Logano 190.448
9. Jeff Gordon 190.210
10. Brian Vickers 190.126
• Complete Speeds

Stewart, who will now use the car that he drove in the Budweiser Shootout in the 500, was even more furious with Goodyear.

"It's just frustrating because the gold-and-blue down there [where Goodyear is located in the Daytona garage] are the cause of another deal," Stewart said. "I'm just so tired of talking about Goodyear, it's ridiculous. I'm just over it."

But, of course, he wasn't really over it. He was just getting warmed up. Asked about the fact that Goodyear recalled a small batch of eight tires that they deemed bad prior to Saturday's final practice, Stewart added: "Apparently, it wasn't enough.

"Apparently this is their marketing strategy to get press. I'm just tired of talking about them, tired of them being an issue. And us talking about them right now isn't going to change anything because it falls on deaf ears and won't change."

Stewart said he didn't blame Newman in any way for the incident, which means both Stewart-Haas cars will be forced to start from the rear of the field Sunday.

"It wasn't his fault," Stewart said of Newman.

Stewart also said he took no comfort from the fact that his Shootout car was good enough to finish third in that event, reminding reporters that "we haven't really gotten any time in it except when it was really cold and in the dark." Sunday's race will begin at 3:30 p.m. ET, in full daylight.

Asked if he still has a chance to win the 500, Stewart bristled and replied: "I don't know, rocket scientist. I'm sitting here with a backup car. What do you think?"

Stu Grant, Goodyear's managing director of worldwide racing, said he understood Stewart's anger "as a race car driver and car owner" and pledged to talk with him when the time was right. But Stewart made it sound like he wanted nothing to do with that meeting of the minds.

"Don't get them anywhere near me," Stewart said when asked if he had spoken to any Goodyear officials. "Don't bring them anywhere close; don't let them come close. I don't want anything to do with them."

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Asked if he still has a chance to win the 500, Stewart bristled and replied: "I don't know, rocket scientist. I'm sitting here with a backup car. What do you think?"

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Taboo to reply to my own thread start I know but this is hilaaaaaaaaarious!!!

Screw you Tony Stewart!!!!

Stewart is a hot head but he's a great personality. His anger level will probably be even higher now that HE is the one paying for his wrecked cars and not Joe Gibbs.

That being said I don't follow NASCAR like I used to. Rusty Wallace was my guy and when he raced I watched every weekend or at least paid attention to where he was. After he retired, I just sort of view the results and standings online occasionally.

I'm really pulling for Mark Martin this year. Him or Burton or Little E. Someone besides Johnson. The guy wins all these championships and no one seems to care. It is probably hurting the sport in a way.

The landscape of NASCAR has transformed this offseason moreso than when the shift from "Winston Cup" to "Nextel Cup" occurred.

The economy really threw a wrench at this sport. All the mergers and stuff has been pretty interesting to watch, while sad at the same time.

Go Mark Martin.

31...Cat.........Go Baby, Go.........



Brownsrule09

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The only other thing I really have to say is GO JEFF GORDON!!

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There. I corrected that for you........

Nope....he had it right....though I gots "The Rainbow Warrior" on my team....the only true, great racer out there.......



GO JEFF BURTON !!!!!

Brownsrule09

Only problem is...Stewart's RIGHT...

Goodyear keeps this up and they may just find their way right outta the circuit...

80% Chance of Thunderstorms right around the Green Flag...BS...

They are saying maybe 60 % here on the local news...


Brownsrule09

Damn straight...

Tony Stewart's gonna be an excellent owner...He knows everything about racing...ALL KINDS...

Last year's Press Conference with him and Gordon and Jr. slammin' Goodyear was an eye-opener...

Jr takes the lead early, Stewart to 2nd. Martin is in 11th, Burton has slipped a bit. Joey Loganao is really struggling right now

Then on the pit line...

WTF is Earnhardt doin??????????...And WHY was Vickers drivin' em' below the yellow with 75 left??????????

That's on VICKERS...Then retaliation...

Hanlin and Busch r PISSED...

What a CRAPPY race!!!!

Nice to see Kenseth back in victory lane but yeah, this is not what NASCAR envisioned when starting their season. Rain shortened races are always dissappointments

has to be one of the worst 500's in recent memory

Not a Nascar fan. I just watch occasionally. I realize that weather can affect outdoor events. But, geez, a guy just won the biggest race of the season after leading just one lap because of rain (combined with a caution flag, of course).

I gotta believe they could change the rules somewhat to allow the entire race to be run at some point. I certainly wanted to see those last 50 laps.

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I gotta believe they could change the rules somewhat to allow the entire race to be run at some point. I certainly wanted to see those last 50 laps.

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Nascar ended the race due to reports the rain would last atleast another hour & 45 minutes almost two hours and then it would take atleast another hour - two hours to dry the track, remember the track is 2.5 miles long. so it would be 11:00 pm if not later when they could return to racing, and if during that time another shower went over it would all start over and the weather called for lingering pop up showers,

I hated seeing it end also, best racing was gonna be the last twenty laps and being a harvick fan I would have like to see if Kevin could has taken Matt, but ya know it is what it is....LOL...

One more thing...

They really need to repave Daytona.

Unlike Shep, I love plate racing when it's done right. The show is much better at Talladega cuz the cars can get some actual grip there.

I was enjoying the race, until the rain came. I hate rain shortened races.

I was laughing midway through the race when it dawned on me that the hub's best friend is a HUGE Carl Edwards fan and has a ton of Office Depot stuff. Now all his Office Depot stuff is now cheering for Tony Stewart, and he HATES Smoke! Just made me giggle.

I was looking forward to the last 20-25 laps of that race yesterday.

I understand why they couldn't finish it yesterday. But if the Super Bowl were "rained out" in the 4th quarter I'm pretty sure they'd finish it the next day.

The same could certainly have happened in Daytona. (Assuming it's not gonna rain all day today).

I hate rain shortened races as much as anyone.

With that said, keep in mind the next race is in california. The teams need time to load up from daytona, head back to n. carolina, unload, then load the cars, tools, etc etc and head out to california - from n. carolina. That's east coast to west coast - the whole way across this country.

Add in that there is/was no guarantee of running today anyway, due to weather. So, you would have had teams leaving daytona at 2 or 3 today, up to n. carolina. spend the night unloading and reloading, and take off tuesday a.m. with a 2400 mile trip in front of them.

Now, believe it or not, the highway patrol of each state LOVES to see those semi's cruising through their state. Those semi drivers need to toe the line on speed, time driving, etc.....I have spoken personally with 3 of the car hauler drivers. You'd be surprised how often they get stopped. If everything is fine, they get to continue on their way. If it's not? Huge fines, and most importantly, huge delays. A trooper can park a semi for any one of hundreds of reasons.

They are looking at a 40 hour drive. Almost 2 days if they use 2 drivers. Throw in the mandatory down time, and it takes at least 50 hours.

Still, the biggest event in Nascar ended with a whimper not a bang.

I think if the forecast had looked favorable for today (I have no clue whether it rained there today or not but I believe it was supposed to be clear but cool) it would not have been that inconvenient to finish the race by 1 pm today and be on their way.

And frankly, if I was a big fan I doubt I would figure ending the race early was preferable to having the racing team's semis have to use team drivers to get to the next destination.

Hey dude, chill. There is not one race fan that is happy about a rain shortened race - not even Kenseth fans.

However, there are other things at play. That's all I was saying. And when you get down to brass tacks, that's what nascar was doing. That, and the rules are in place and known by everyone: once the race has reached the halfway point, all attempts to finish it that day will be tried. If the race cannot continue that day, it's over.

Had the race been red flagged at lap 99, they would've finished today.

The rules are the rules. You don't change them for the superbowl, or the toilet bowl.

Hey, dude, I'll chill when you do. The last time I looked this was a message board where everyone is allowed to express their opinions. Even if they don't agree with you. Sheesh......

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The rules are the rules. You don't change them for the superbowl, or the toilet bowl.

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Sure you do.....if they're bad. The NFL does it all the time. You may have noticed. Or maybe not.......

Yep... but they sure wouldn't surprise me if they did!

j/c

This race used to start at 1:00 back in the day. They should go back to that to allow for weather and longer delays if need be. Its the Daytona 500. If you are going to have your Superbowl, World Series, NBA Finals, at least give yourself the best opportunity to finish it.

I'd move it to the last race too, especially now that they have the chase. That would be out of the question from far too many people though.

They also need to throw a roadcoarse into the chase.