Jeremy Mayfield's suspension for drug abuse has been reinstated by the
courts. Mayfield was granted an injunction lifting the suspension while
hinting that he might run at Daytona three weeks ago. Mayfield has not
competed since being suspended. NASCAR issued a statement Friday at
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "We are pleased with the 4th Circuit
Court's ruling to reinstate NASCAR's suspension of Jeremy Mayfield.
This is an important decision for NASCAR to make fair and equitable
regulations for the safety of competitors and spectators at the track.
We will continue to respectfully make our case for as long as the
litigation continues."
--
After last years debacle caused by tires that shredded after10 laps,
Goodyear has done their homework. Since last smmer's race, Goodyear
has conducted seven tire tests at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Three tests were held last fall, two during the spring prior to the
Indianapolis 500 and two were held in June. In all, Goodyear worked with
30 different drivers, logging more than 14,000 miles at the Speedway.
The left side tire is the same code tire as run at Pocono while the
right side tire is a new compound formulized to address the high wear
characteristics of the Speedway.
--
Bobby Santos won the USAC Silver Crown race Thursday night at O'Reilly
Raceway Park. NASCAR star and 1999 Silver Crown Champion Ryan Newman
finished eighth. Bryan Clausen won the USAC National Midget race. The
USAC National Midgets compete at the Anderson (IN) Speedway on Saturday
night.
--
If Scott Speed qualifies for the Brickyard he joins Juan Pablo Montoya,
becoming the second person to have competed in the NASCAR race and
the United States Grand Prix Formula One race at the Speedway. Speed
competed in the USGP in 2006 and 2007. Juan Pablo Montoya has also
competed in the Indianapolis 500, winning the race in 2000.
--
Jeff Gordon is looking to tie Michael Schumacher's record of five major
victories at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Gordon went to victory
lane in the Brickyard 400 in 1994, '98, 2001 and '04. Schumacher is a
five time winner of the United States Grand Prix on the Speedway's road
course. Three drivers have earned four victories in the Indianapolis
500: A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears.
--
Road racing veteran Andy Lally has been selected to drive the TRG entry
in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen.
--
Comments elicited Thursday night during a barbecue from five time Indy
500 starter Jimmy Kite were remarkably similar to those of four-time
Brickyard 400 winner Jeff Gordon. Kite tested a Cup car at the Speedway,
noting that, on his first lap, he had no reference point for braking in
Turn one. "I went in deep and had to put both feet on the brake pedal
to get it slowed down. By the time I got through the corner, I think I
was probably going 65 mph," Kite said with a laugh. "On the next lap,
I said, 'let's see if we can go a little faster.'" Gordon's comments
on Friday sounded much the same. "The first couple of laps around the
track, you always use too much brake. The straightaways are really long
and you build up a lot of speed. You have this tunnel vision, and all
you see is wall and grandstand. The corner appears to be extremely tight
and extremely narrow -- and it is. You always snap out of the gas way
too early and use too much brake because the corner is intimidating at
first."
--
Three drivers, Max Papis, Joey Logano and Scott Speed are attempting
to make their first Brickyard 400. Papis, who has competed in the
Indianapolis 500 and Speed, who has competed in the USGP, have to
qualify on speed. Six drivers entered this weekend have competed in the
Indianapolis 500: John Andretti (10 starts), Robby Gordon (10 starts),
Sam Hornish Jr. (8 starts), Tony Stewart (five starts), Max Papis (two
starts) and Juan Pablo Montoya (one start).
--
Tony Stewart has made 18 starts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - 10
starts in the Cup Series, 5 starts in the Indy 500 and three starts in
IROC competition.
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ESPN's live coverage of the August 15 NASCAR Nationwide Series race
at Michigan will have a different approach to the commentary provided
by the announcers. Rather than a traditional play-by-play announcer,
five former NASCAR champions will be onboard for ESPN's "Backseat
Drivers" telecast. Tim Brewer will report from the garage area while Ray
Evernham, Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree and Rusty Wallace will be in the
announcer's booth. Allen Bestwick will host the telecast with a regular
contingent of pit reporters.
