Track Smack: Road down, oval to go for Montoya (cont'd)

Dave Rodman: Focus Joe, focus. You'll need the same skill at the tables, so all in good time.

Joe Menzer: I mean I'm looking forward to the Blackjack, a little poker, etc. -- not the washboard whatever and the harder tire compound.

David Caraviello: It should be warmer this weekend. Will that help?

LVMS

Construction at LVMS

'New' Las Vegas track ready for debut

From alterations to the track to upgrades for the fans, Las Vegas Motor Speedway isn't the same racetrack it was a year ago. With the construction in the finishing stages, LVMS is ready to show off its new look.

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Dave Rodman: Warmer temps will help a little bit -- and there's a new tire combination in play. So will that increase or decrease the liability -- and likelihood of accidents?

David Caraviello: New racetracks and new tire compounds usually don't mix very well.

Dave Rodman: Along with the "ingeniousness" of these mechanics. I'd say there would be at least three crashes in pre-qualifying practice at Vegas and two more if there were two practices on Saturday. Busch Series, all bets are off but there will be at least three before quals as well.

Joe Menzer: All bets are off? But this is Vegas, man!

Dave Rodman: Yeah -- thanks for bringing me back to reality, pal.

David Caraviello: So, we're not going to see the 2005 Coca-Cola 600 all over again, are we?

Dave Rodman: Well, the race might be something again. And the struggle is -- at the test teams were testing limits, testing suspension combinations that in two cases cut tires and caused wrecks -- so hard to say.

David Caraviello: That's true. In testing, you're usually pushing the equipment much further than you would in a race.

Dave Rodman: I'd like to think Goodyear has the compound needs scoped out, and that it will take into account the warmer temps.

Joe Menzer: Is that why AJ wrecked so much?

Dave Rodman: I think on one of his he was caught out by cold tires, which unfortunately is dopey. The other, I think was a suspension setting, though I'm not positive.

Joe Menzer: Forget that. I'm ready to go scope out the casinos.

David Caraviello: Not to pile on the guy, but does A.J. go 0-for-3? When does he make his first race?

Joe Menzer: Why would anyone think he's going to make the field there, after what happened in testing?

Dave Rodman: Atlanta. He qualified great there in a truck -- but wrecked early in the race, and there's the rub. Did I say last week he should be racing a Toyota in Busch -- and his spotter should be racing his Cup car -- at least for a while?

Joe Menzer: Yes, you did. It's one of the few things I remember that you said.

Dave Rodman: Speaking of billionaires -- Red Bull could run both, A.J. in Busch and David Green in Cup for a while and create some valuable insight into that 84 car.

David Caraviello: At least he'll have the solace of knowing what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

The opinions expressed are solely of the participants.