Motorsports

Drivers cautious about rule's use

By BRANT JAMES
Published May 1, 2005

TALLADEGA, Ala. - Elliott Sadler thinks the green/white/checkered rule could turn racing at Talladega Superspeedway upside down. He's familiar with the view.

Sadler has finished two of the past three races at NASCAR's largest track on his roof. He took a vicious tumble in the 2003 fall race and careened across the finish line last fall. He is unsure how the rule inspired by the beer-throwing antics of Dale Earnhardt Jr. faithful would work on the 2.66-mile tri-oval. "Let's have one here first," Sadler said. "Then we can comment on it."

But Jeff Gordon doesn't need to see it to think it wouldn't work. "I think on the restrictor-plate races it can get a little bit too crazy, but I like the rule in general (elsewhere)," said Gordon, who nosed ahead of Earnhardt in Turn 3 with four laps left last spring and won under caution when a yellow flag flew seconds later. "I think not racing back to the caution is definitely a plus."

Now, if a caution flies before the leader takes the white flag, NASCAR makes one attempt to finish under green even if the race goes beyond the intended length. The rule has been used four times - at Indianapolis, Phoenix, Homestead and in this season's Daytona 500. Coincidentally, the principals in that Talladega spring race have won three of those four - Gordon at Indianapolis and Daytona and Earnhardt at Phoenix.

NASCAR competition director John Darby said reticence was expected because drivers grumble about most changes.

"It was something new, that was the biggest deal," he said. "We've had numerous green/white/checkereds since it's been employed, and we've had very little problem. It accomplishes what it's designed to accomplish and the end of the race is a lot happier ending."

But it has not been tried at Talladega. Just because it worked at Daytona means nothing, drivers said. Late-race restarts have caused havoc at the tracks in the past, notably the 1997 Pepsi 400. Officials went from caution to green-flag racing on the last lap, and an eight-car pileup ensued in Turns 3 and 4. "I think that everybody thinks that the green/white/checkered rule overall is a good thing," said Joe Nemechek, who was involved in a crash with four laps left at the 1997 Daytona 500. "Here at Talladega and at Daytona, it's not a good thing. How many wrecks have we seen with one to go or two to go?"

Said Gordon: "It just hasn't materialized into a big wreck yet - but it will."

STILL THE ONE: Darby said he thinks Dale Earnhardt Inc. retains its advantage in restrictor plate racing because the team has gotten on board with NASCAR's direction since 2003.

"It's all about coming to the racetrack and practicing and preparing for the race instead of worrying about qualifying," Darby said. "Their cars are in the top 35 (in owner points), so they've got a starting spot. So why not focus on the race instead of all the hoopla that goes into two laps (Friday)? I think you will see that (today) in the race. I don't think it will take a real long time for those two cars to come back to the front."

Earnhardt qualified 36th and Michael Waltrip 38th. Earnhardt started 38th in the Talladega 2003 fall race and finished second. DEI has won 11 of 17 restrictor-plate races since 2001.

SPARK PLUGS: Sadler didn't flinch when asked if he'd like to race with the horsepower-stifling restrictor plates off the cars, which would allow them to travel in excess of 220 mph. "That's cool," Sadler said. "Tell the fans to back up." ... Overnight rains and afternoon drizzle wiped out both Nextel Cup practice sessions Saturday. ... Kerry Earnhardt (31st) starts ahead of his brother for the first time.

[Last modified April 30, 2005, 23:59:18]