Track Smack: Dodge and Toyota need to do it again

1. Dodges took six of the top eight spots in the Daytona 500, with Penske Racing finishing 1-2. Is that an accurate glimpse of what the team and the manufacturer may be capable of this year?

Dave Rodman: It may be. Like most people have been saying, restrictor-plate races are different animals, and this was the second restrictor-plate race with that car. Let's wait and see what we see at California.

Joe Menzer: Well, if so, all I can say is it's about time. Penske has been one of the great mysteries of NASCAR, in my opinion. They have far too many resources to not be winning more races, more consistently.

David Caraviello: The Dodge boys are going to have to show me a little more strength at a few more tracks to convince me of that. They didn't overwhelm people in testing. And strange things can happen in the draft at Daytona.

Joe Menzer: Yeah, think back to last year. Even though the Childress teams had decent years -- all three making the Chase -- it's not like they dominated after Kevin Harvick won the 500.

Dave Rodman: David, I agree. But six of eight isn't draft-borne happenstance. Penske's teamwork continues to impress, and you had to like the fact that Sam Hornish Jr. got a top-15 -- and that both he and Dario Franchitti emerged unscathed after a rough lead-up to Speedweeks.

David Caraviello: But let's be honest -- no manufacturer looked more impressive in the 500 than Toyota, with all those laps led. Those engines could be lethal once they take the restrictor plates off.

Dave Rodman: Well, don't forget that that was one Toyota organization -- though it was the one everyone agreed would elevate the marquee. Dodge had four of its teams contribute to those six spots, and that is pretty cool.

Joe Menzer: It's interesting that you say that. In talking with Gibbs engine builder Mark Cronquist before the 500, he said that the real tests for their new Toyota engines would come at California and Las Vegas. He said he was more interested in what was going to happen to them at those places than what was going to happen in Daytona (read more).

David Caraviello: Dave, I'm not trying to be a Toyota apologist, but it was more than one team at Daytona. Dave Blaney ran near the front. So did Michael Waltrip and Brian Vickers, at times. That whole package is so much better because of Gibbs' involvement.

Dave Rodman: California offers a different variety of stress, and history has proven it can be tough on engines, but it was somewhat significant that after all the engine issues we saw leading up to the 500, engines weren't an issue in the big one.

David Caraviello: And as for the Dodges ... well, they should be better. Like Joe said, they've under-performed lately. Gillett Evernham cars, particularly, should be up front. But this is also a race in which Scott Wimmer finished third, and was never heard from again. It has a fluky quality to it sometimes.

Joe Menzer: You know, I thought that was the neat thing about the 500. Someone from each of the manufacturers was running up front at one point or another, even the Fords before David Ragan took Matt Kenseth out. And don't forget that Casey Mears was having a nice run in his Hendrick Chevy -- until he took himself out.

Dave Rodman: What's that saying, "perception is reality?" When I think back, the Gibbs cars were the ones I remember -- other than Blaney's latest horrendous dose of luck. Now, he was coming to the front at the right time.

Joe Menzer: Yeah, well, Rodman when you think back ... you can't think back too far because you're too old. The memory gets a little addled.

Dave Rodman: Can't remember what I had for breakfast, true. (Continued)