Double-file restarts add new twist to road racing

SONOMA, Calif. -- When NASCAR recently announced its new double-file restart rule, in which leaders of races no longer line up single file along the outside of lapped cars and are free to battle each other side-by-side for positions, everyone wondered what kind of impact it would have on Sprint Cup races.

So far, it hasn't been that big a deal.

But then the Sprint Cup Series has not visited a road course -- until now. Sunday's Toyota SaveMart 350 at Infineon Raceway will offer the first such road-course test for the new rule, and drivers are wary of what it will mean.

"My strategy is going to be to survive, to be quite honest," Jeff Burton said.

Carl Edwards added: "I didn't even think about road courses when I heard that double-file restart thing. I was thinking about Martinsville and Bristol and those places -- but I now have a feeling that the places where that new rule is going to have the biggest impact are on the road courses, here being first and then Watkins Glen being second. I think it will be great for the fans. I think it could be extremely frustrating for the drivers, if it goes bad."

The potential problems lurk in the first two turns after the start/finish line on the road course -- especially the second turn that sits at the top of a hill and encompasses a quick and severe blind turn to the right. Burton said restarts even under the old rules were difficult, but are likely to become far more treacherous now with the race leaders fighting hard with each other for position.

"I've got to tell you that of all the hardest restarts we do all year, this one is probably the hardest," Burton said. "Going up the hill and getting to the top of the hill and having to make a 90-degree turn, the speed difference between the guys still going up the hill and the guys on top of the hill having to make the turn is huge.

"Every year we see people get run over because the closer rate is so high. It's hard to anticipate two guys in the front getting bottled up more than you're anticipating, and it's just like a freeway. The cars behind them get slowed down, but the cars behind them don't get slowed down quite as much -- and it just keeps on going like that. It's just bumper-car tag up there." (Continued)