His last-lap pass below the yellow line on Nextel Cup rival Kurt Busch is ruled legal.
By BRANT JAMES
Published February 14, 2004
DAYTONA BEACH - It's hard to believe IROC cars are a smidge wider than their Nextel Cup counterparts. Just ask Kurt Busch.
The race leader left too much room along the bottom of the track in the final lap on Friday, allowing Ryan Newman to duck under the yellow boundary line and pass for the victory in the first installment of the International Race of Champions series at Daytona International Speedway.
Indy Racing League driver Helio Castroneves was penalized earlier for dipping under the yellow line, but it was ruled that Newman was forced there by Busch and returned as soon as possible.
"I had mixed emotions about it because it is an opinionated rule," Newman said, "but I knew I had been forced down there."
The lead line of cars bunched on the final lap when Busch got loose after being bumped by Jimmie Johnson and had to brake. Busch moved to the middle of the track on the tri-oval, then tucked low as Newman made his move.
"I came through the tri-oval and rode the middle of the track," Busch said. "I looked in the mirror, saw Newman was coming, so I went to the bottom to save just a half a car length between me and the yellow line, which would have not allowed him to go below me. He was able to squeak underneath me with a tremendous run."
Busch said he might have made his move down the track a second too late, which gave the appearance he was trying to force Newman under the line.
Newman finished the 100-mile race in 39 minutes, 44 seconds and beat Busch by .035 seconds.
The IROC series pits drivers from different styles of racing in equally prepared Pontiac Firebirds. Nextel Cup drivers dominated; Busch was second, followed by Matt Kenseth and Johnson. Steve Kinser (World of Outlaws) was next, followed by Castroneves and Kevin Harvick (Nextel).
Under new IROC rules, the field was brought under caution to pit with 25 laps left, setting up a shootout finish. Harvick earned three bonus points for leading at the caution, Travis Kvapil (NASCAR trucks) two and Busch one.
The IROC champion wins a $1-million bonus. The series' remaining races are at Texas Motor Speedway (April 2), Richmond (Sept. 9) and Atlanta (Oct. 30).
