Jimmie Johnson won at the Brickyard in the most boring NASCAR race of the century. 42 other drivers and 250,000-plus fans in the stands and countless viewers in the television audience lost due to a lack of testing and Goodyear’s ridiculous tires.
Drivers and crew chiefs and NASCAR officials did “the best they could” this afternoon. But why oh why didn’t Goodyear know they needed a different tire? Hasn’t this race with the “new car” been scheduled for over a year? Isn’t what used to be “the car of tomorrow” is the car of today? I know 10% never get the word, but Goodyear?
I do hope Goodyear officials were summoned to the NASCAR trailer for a big yelling at by NASCAR after the race. A 400 mile tire test at race prices (plus vacation days and nights in a motel and expensive meals away from home) is enough to justify fans throwing cans onto the track. I’m glad they waited until the end of the race, because drivers were clearly not at fault.
Now it’s up to NASCAR to make a move. Put Goodyear on probation until the end of the year. And if they can’t do better than this, fire them and get a tire maker who can do the job. Maybe this isn’t a good year for Goodyear. Or maybe Tony Stewart is right, Goodyear just stinks.


4 comments
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July 27, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Karen Hopper
Guess I look at the situation a little differently. Shouldn’t it be NASCAR’s responsiblity to clean up its own mess? It must address the tire issue as it is their sanctioned event and it was the first complete year of its COT. It wasn’t only Goodyear that did a lousy job – let’s start at the top. I say let’s also take points away from NASCAR, and present them with a heavy fine for putting the lives of the drivers in jeopardy. Oh yes, and add them to the prohibition list until the end of the year.
July 27, 2008 at 11:40 pm
helenl
Okay, Karen. I could live with that.
July 28, 2008 at 10:48 am
Mike Lovell
I heard it was an almost uneventful race, save the tires. I don’t follow NASCAR, but the local radio station does an update feature at 540am Monday thru Friday, so I get the highlights.
Nothing like racing under a yellow flag at pre-ordained lap numbers!
July 28, 2008 at 10:55 am
helenl
yep Mike, boringboringboringboringboring!!!!!