The Talladega race weekend had to offer: records, a lot of excitement and unexpected end of the race. Jimmie Johnson's DNF cost him some points in the championship and led the lead group back together more closely.
Although up to the incredibly exciting final phase hardly anything that happened for the outcome of the race was relevant, it's still been pretty interesting - it was something new in the slipstream equation incorporated. In Daytona, it was an idea already, and also in Talladega last April-race you could see it in the last round: the "two-car trains," or how the FOX commentators called it, the "two car tango". These names describe the phenomenon that two cars drive exactly the bumper to bumper, just sometimes can be up to 10mph faster than the throng of well over 20 cars. At best the whole thing was apparently on the outer line, but this is extremely good coordination is required.
If one of the two cars in the "bump drafting" just a little sideways, therefore, a lathe operator and the "big one" are inevitable. Feasible is such a "two-car train," but only about one lap, because the man behind almost no air to get the radiator and the engine temperature but suddenly drifts into dangerous areas. As mentioned, this one has "two car tango" already experienced in the past "restrictor plate" racing, but as excessive as in this week's race, this technique has not yet been exploited. Several factors contributed most to the fact that something is now increasingly possible: first, certainly the NASCAR orders which it allows the drivers again, even in the curves directly to contact with draften. On the other hand seems to change the aerodynamics of the spoiler, the feasibility of this form of "bump drafting" a positive influence. In conjunction with the newly dimensioned "restrictor plates", this combination should probably have the most influence on the altered aerodynamics and driving performance.
The four holes in the metal plate that sits directly in front of the carburetor and the air supply for combustion - and thus the power - to limit, have been magnified in the spoiler test at Talladega a few weeks ago to nearly an inch in diameter. While this brings a few more horsepower for the car, but what affects the ride in the slipstream massive. First, even a size greater than one inch was provided, but this led to the fact that drivers aground in the lee of a high speed to profit on their front man. The new plate dimensions, the speed is now back to almost 200mph in a crowd, but there is enough power available to the person in front to push correctly. Ergo, the spoiler provides a higher drag than the old rear wing, which was filled with more power for the driver. We can understand easily why this intimate contact is possible via a round. Because of the bunch but not as precise as just another drive behind two cars can share, the advantage comes out clearly.
Although in the first 150 + rounds with the exception of a "little one" does not happen much, relative newness really captivated me this close to the screen. This was real racing and incredibly beautiful to watch, as always on all over again two Draftingpartner pushed into the lead. "Two car trains" also provided equal time for some records in Talladega: 29 different drivers led the race for at least one crossing the Start-/Ziellinie and changed it 88 times a place in the sun with each other. In the meantime, we flirted with FOX even so that the field could break the 100 mark change of leadership. I would probably be mad if I tried to trace the exact course of the race here in detail. So I assume that a particular phase of the exciting circuit, and then show how the race result had an impact on the championship table.
Came to power in Talladega until the finale, which required three extensions
After all drivers had completed their final pit stop under green, the need for compliance with the fuel window was several rounds of "single file" were gone. Bobby Labonte then rang the closing stages by using a spin caused the fifth caution period of the race, the culprit was the way David Reutimann. Three laps after the restart, came close to Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson dangerously circulated 182nd Gordon got a huge push from the back of his man and the train began to move, and probably realized what Johnson also wanted to use to his advantage. The # 48 also scored the # 24 directly in front of the hood, forcing Gordon to escape to the apron. Johnson These were a "tire rub" and got a new filing with the Jeff Gordon Scott Speed to each other. They both sparked by her next spin, the sixth Caution. Jeff Gordon after the race was on record that it would cost a lot of effort to make him angry, but now he was "pissed". Meanwhile, Johnson also saw that because he has screwed up and after an apology to his teammates should now all be at peace with Hendrick, despite their jostling in the previous week.
The ensuing restart on lap 189 meant the first "green-white-checkered" extension, which are indeed, most recently available three tries to finish a race under green. All three tests were used here also in Talladega, which was a first. But first, the reason why the first extension was not enough: Joey Logano wanted a lap after the green flag of the pan to give a push Ryan Newman. This was not one hundred percent in line with Toyota Loganos what Newman sent into a spin that triggered a "big one". The riders in front were so concerned about the slow amount of fuel remaining on board in their cars, especially the two EGR Chevys from Montoya and McMurray. Driving on the apron trying to keep the engine running and actually kept until the very end - by a full twelve rounds at the end of the race was extended even so, 200 of 188 laps.
Really got problems with the lack of tank contents as the leader of the outer column in the second overdrive restart Greg Biffle came in time to speed through the field and fell back to the rear. He met Jimmie Johnson, who had again missed a lucid moment and say goodbye completely with a harder strike to the inner concrete wall of the race had to. Front were located at number 1 and 2 EGR driver now separated, as they had to run through their top positions in different lines now. The third and last attempt to restart then saw Kevin Harvick behind Jamie McMurray, Denny Hamlin and Juan Pablo Montoya behind. The former duo got the better start, leaving the competition, which also stormed a "two-car train" the main draw of it. Harvick pushed McMurray really up to the last round into the Trioval, where he made him loose with small movements. The # 1 then slipped up and lost easily to speed, which in just Harvick had enough room to collect McMurray.
Eleven thousandths of a second separated the # 1 and # 29, which is a narrower goal of enemas in recent NASCAR history. Behind Harvick, who won his first points race since the 2007 Daytona 500, and McMurray came Montoya, Hamlin and Mark Martin to the finish. Kevin Harvick won the Budweiser Shootout and the way this year and probably with his first Talladega victory now definitely belong to the super speedway specialists. The top 10 was completed by David Ragan, Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch and Mike Bliss in the previous year's winning car with the # 09th Dale Earnhardt Jr, who earlier in the race was well under way, came at the end only at # 13, Tony Stewart was 16th place to 17th position before Greg Biffle Jeff Gordon dragged his battered Chevy still on the lead lap at number 22, while Jimmie Johnson ended up with a DNF to position 31st Also not on the lead lap landed Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton.
Jimmie Johnson's lead in the championship melted together due to the DNF
For Jimmie Johnson, his failure meant that the 100 + point lead in the championship, which he could go out in Texas, are now evaporated again. Only 26 points behind Johnson, Kevin Harvick lurks now, which is passed by with his win at Talladega Roush Fenway equal to two-pilot: Greg Biffle (-86) and Matt Kenseth (-99). In 5th place is Kyle Busch (-160) in front of Mark Martin (-169) and his brother Kurt Busch (-177). Then Dale Earnhardt Jr. followed (181k), Denny Hamlin (-185) and Jeff Gordon (-193), who lost in the Top 12 most positions in the Championship table. Then, the distances are even greater, because who has returned to the Chase ranks Clint Bowyer has returned 237 points behind Jimmie Johnson. This required in the rest of Joey Logano out of the Top12 goodbye to Jeff Burton (-241) rounds.
Hunt for the Chase Carl Edwards making (-15), Tony Stewart (-21), Martin Truex Jr (-37), Joey Logano (-81), Jamie McMurray (-84) and Ryan Newman (-87). All drivers have been followed more than 100 points behind 12th place, among others, the Paul Menard (-120) and Juan Pablo Montoya (-126), who is now with his third place again moved a little closer to the chase. Nevertheless, it remains a difficult task to outweigh the failures of the previous weeks. In the Top35 has Robby Gordon once again pushed past the front row, and Ford is now ranked 34th The closer battle between position 30 and 36 is as follows:
30) # 47 Marcos Ambrose (MWR): 787 points (+88)
31) # 71 Bobby Labonte (TRG): 774 points (+75)
32) # 78 Reagan Smith (Furniture Row): 734 points (+35)
33) # 34 Travis Kvapil (Front Row): 731 points (+32)
34) # 7 Robby Gordon (RGM / BAM): 721 points (+22)
35) # 38 Kevin Conway (Front Row): 701 points (+2)
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36) # 37 David Gilliland (Front Row): 699 points (-2)
Next weekend is another night race on the calendar. The Cup visited together with the Nationwide Series Richmond International Raceway, a short track with 0.75 miles in length. The trucks drive again, but within range of the Indy cars in Kansas.
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