 | | Credit: Autostock |
By Dave Rodman, NASCAR.COM
July 1, 2005
11:37 PM EDT (03:37 GMT)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Chevrolet and Ford are seeking approval for new models to race in the 2006 Nextel Cup Series, while Toyota has satisfied all requirements to submit a car to compete in Nextel Cup or the Busch Series next season. NASCAR vice president for competition Robin Pemberton on Friday said the sanctioning body had already looked at Chevrolet's new Monte Carlo and Ford's new model, which will be revealed to the media in Charlotte, N.C., on July 14. "We've had conversations with Toyota all along, even though they haven't officially thrown their hat in the ring," Pemberton said. "We've had good conversations with them and they're evaluating the Busch and Cup Series now -- though no decisions been made (on proceeding). "They have done what they need to do by the (deadline), but they've made no official request to participate in 2006." Pemberton said the deadline for getting a vehicle through the approval process -- which includes wind tunnel and track testing -- to race in either Nextel Cup or the Busch Series next season is Sept. 1. Wallace upbeat about final Daytona start Rusty Wallace was enthused Friday evening after posting his best Daytona qualifying run in in five years, when he put his No. 2 Dodge into Saturday's Pepsi 400 in ninth spot.  |  | | Rusty Wallace Credit: Autostock |
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Wallace is making his final Daytona start Saturday night. "I feel good about my chances here -- we have a real good car, and we qualified well," Wallace said. "I told the guys when I got out of the car that it felt friction free, and it drafted nice. "This is my last one, and I'll be driving extra hard, trying to win this thing. I was fighting the car a little bit more than I wanted to in practice, but we made some changes at the very end and I think that got it." Wallace said Saturday night's outlook is the same as it ever has been at Daytona in mid-summer. "I don't think anybody is going to tell you their car handles perfect here," Wallace said. "These tires are going to give up and it's going to get slick out here. "We did all the stuff we could do with the new impound rule. I think I'm liking this rule because it's got me qualifying better than I normally have here. I'm tickled with that." Sigh of relief from Robby Robby Gordon's No. 7 Chevrolet team was praying for rain after he turned in only the 42nd fastest time in Friday's Nextel Cup practice -- since Gordon had to make the field on his speed. |  | | Robby Gordon Credit: Autostock |
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But in qualifying, Gordon clocked the 11th best lap, less than four-tenths of a second slower than pole winner Tony Stewart. Earlier this season, Gordon missed both restrictor-plate races, which put him in the position of being out of the locked-in top 35 in the owners' standings. "Wow," Gordon said after exiting his car. "After missing the first two (plate races) it's a sigh of relief more than a sigh of speed. "I'm just really pleased with the guys and the work they're doing. The Menard engines are obviously getting better and oh, I was nervous, I'll be honest. I'm just really happy about this." No tire change for Pocono Officials for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and NASCAR Friday confirmed the same tire combination that was used last month at Pocono Raceway would be employed in the July 24 Pennsylvania 500. At June's Pocono 500, a plethora of left front tire failures caused many competitors in the Nextel Cup garage to call for a tire change for July. "Three days later we were back at Pocono, working on it," NASCAR vice president for competition Robin Pemberton said. "There was a patch in the racetrack at the Tunnel Turn that was settling, that they decided to replace -- it was just a number of little things." |  | | Credit: Autostock |
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During and after the Pocono 500, sources said under-inflated tires and over-cambered settings as well as the "rumble strips" on the inside of the Tunnel Turn were responsible for the issues -- although some teams blamed the tires themselves. "They worked on the speed bumps down there," Pemberton said. "So the tires going back are going to be the same tires (because) after we spent a couple days talking to the teams that had trouble, for the most part the teams were taking responsibility with their set-ups of the cars. "If they do their part and with the little changes we made -- which included grinding some sharp edges off the rumble strips inside the Tunnel Turn -- we think everything will be fine." A Goodyear spokesperson Friday said the tire manufacturer would dictate a pound more air pressure in each of the left side tires than was recommended in June, and its engineers would "be more diligent in working with the teams." Earnhardt, others' struggles continue Dale Earnhardt Jr. (18th in points) has ranked among the top 10 in the standings after just three of the 16 races this season. He ranked second in the point standings just 27 points behind then point leader Jimmie Johnson after 16 races one year ago. He is now 543 points behind point leader Greg Biffle. Earnhardt Jr. has finished 14th or worse in seven of his last eight races. Matt Kenseth ranks 20th in the NASCAR Nextel Cup point standings after 16 races in 2005. One year ago he was third. Bobby Labonte ranks 26th in the point standings after 16 races in 2005. One year ago he was seventh. Needing to lead laps Among the leading Nextel Cup teams that have struggled to pace the field in 2005 are those of Jeff Burton (six laps led) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (five laps led). Even worse are the squads of Jamie McMurray and Dale Jarrett, who have each led only one lap. The failure to lead has not been a death-knell for any of them, as Burton is 16th, Earnhardt 18th, McMurray 10th and Jarrett, 12th. | 
