Tires at Lowes

M

Mopardh9

Guest
Is it just me or are the tire issues at Lowes just as bad as they ever were??? It seemed last night that on a restart, being on the inside was almost a guarantee that you would get loose, either wreck or almost wreck. The tires took 4-5 laps to "come in", but even then without warning cars were breaking traction all over the place. I thought this was a horible race, i think the drivers were treading on thin ice all race. I'm not just saying this just because Kasey took out 6 drivers that possibly could of won along with himself either! Mark Martin said Kasey could of lifted, well if he did he would of got run over anyway, so what was he supposed to do? You were seeing it in turn 4 , the normal place for wrecks at Charlotte( notice i said Charlotte), turn 1 and exiting turn 2. The tires would grip then they wouldn't. I can only imagine what the 600 will look like when the sun is out and the track is skicker!! Personally i feel that GoodYear is not at fault , they brought what Nascar dictated to them to bring for a tire compound. I think it is way too hard, Nascar should of gone with a softer tire along with the smaller fuel cells. That way the tires would have been wearing out about the same time the gas was gone. According to all the analysts the tires would way out last the fuel. But what is the point if you still can't drive your car!!??? :( :mad: Oh and a side note for something for you all to ponder.....Johnson seemed to have none of these problems because once again his car was the class of the field. Before all you JJ fans jump down my throat, i just wonder why his car lately seems to be so much better than everyone else at Charlotte? Do all the other teams not have a clue anymore how to race at this track? Or is there something else? Just food for thought as i sip my first coffee of the morning. :beerbang:
 
Some people have a handle on Lowe's. Evernham had three cars in the challenge for a reason and always knew how to run there in his Hendrick days.

I have noticed that Johnson almost always seem to get better at the end of races...I guess the crew chiefs save their best adjustments for late in the race.

On another note, I don't think Stewart and Home Depot will be redecorating Kenseth's house anytime soon. However, if Stewart's racing career ever falls through, he may have another career to fall back on.
 
Yeh Tony was upset that , so he says , Mat came down on his line. Tough to tell by the replay, but Tony sure and heck didn't let up after Mat made contact. All in the heat of the moment i guess being that there is a lot of $$$ on the line. I still think Nascar needs to figure out the tire issue before the 600 is run.
 
" I still think Nascar needs to figure out the tire issue before the 600 is run. "

You got that right. It'll take 10 hours to run the race.
 
maybe it's a tire temp thing- the 600 will be in the daytime and hopefully it wont have rained right before the race, so that the tires temps are hotter. And rememeber the track was still halfway green during the first segment, 30 laps on those hard tires doesn't really put that much rubber on the track.
 
I don't know, usually it's the "heat" in the tires that cause the problems. The 600 could be a real mess.
 
I'm still wondering why there wasn't more testing allowed on the new surface before last night's race. CTS guys had issues too.
The track surface is just too new (IMO) and each raindrop is washing the track clean. I voiced concerns when the resurfacing was announced about the possibe problems that might be encountered and I guess my concern was justified.
I can't fault Goodyear for doing their best to bring a different tire to a "green" track.
 
It is Not Good Year that is fault, it is Nascar with mandating the harder compound. They were afraid of blowouts with a softer compound, also Nascar figured the speed would be too fast with the new pavement. Your right kat, the track hasn't had enough time to "cure". The 600 usually ends under darkness, especially if there is a rain delay, so crew chiefs will have to chase the changing track conditions with a tire they don't trust!
 
that's true. Lowes is in a bad schedule position, with the dates being at the far ends of the schedule, no true off season for the track to cure.
 
I'm glad over here ppl can see the issue with the track!

I mentioned on another message board that if the 600 was anything like last nights race, it'll be very long adn very boring.

and pretty much was told I didn't watch the same race the other person did.

LOL
 
Mark could have lifted and not taken out the 26 and 10. He didn't say anything about that in his interview. The 600 should be fine. They learned a few things last night. The more they run the better it will get.
 
I think think it will be a mess, the restarts are going to be the most treacherous part. Last night we had 20 cars, when there is twice that amount it is really going to be ugly. I don't know what the solution is at this point, Nascar can't go to GoodYear and say give us a softer compound for the 600. The teams wouldn't have enough time IMO to pepare for the race. The forecast for next weekend is low to mid 80s with thunderstorms possible. A nice hot slick track should be really fun with a hard compound tire. I guess the point i'm trying to make here is Nascar really didn't think this out too well. Did they even try last years' tire?
 
Mopardh9 said:
I think think it will be a mess, the restarts are going to be the most treacherous part. Last night we had 20 cars, when there is twice that amount it is really going to be ugly. I don't know what the solution is at this point, Nascar can't go to GoodYear and say give us a softer compound for the 600. The teams wouldn't have enough time IMO to pepare for the race. The forecast for next weekend is low to mid 80s with thunderstorms possible. A nice hot slick track should be really fun with a hard compound tire. I guess the point i'm trying to make here is Nascar really didn't think this out too well. Did they even try last years' tire?
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yes they did, and the result was about 10 laps and they were on cords.
 
Why is NASCAR mandating tire rules? Safety is supposed to be the main concern, but when the Nascar mavens try to dictate to the manufacturers and it's different almost every race, who can one point a finger at?
 
Goodyear selects the tire, not NASCAR.

Goodyear Racing LMS tire test notes
Racing series NASCAR-CUP
Date 2006-05-04

GOODYEAR CITES STRONG TIRE PERFORMANCE DURING NASCAR NEXTEL CUP OPEN TEST AT LOWE'S

AKRON, Ohio, May 4, 2006 -- Comments by Greg Stucker, Goodyear director of race tire sales and marketing:

"We saw exactly what we expected from our Goodyear Eagle tires on the first day of NASCAR's open test for Nextel Cup cars at Lowe's Motor Speedway, and we are very pleased with the results.

Our choice of tire for this NASCAR-sanctioned open test is the tire picked during our recent tire tests at Lowe's and, based on data and driver input, it also will be used during the two weekends of racing later in May at the newly paved track.

Comments by some people at the open test indicate concern that our tire recommendation is conservative. They're right! We were very conservative in our choice and that was intentional.

Lowe's is a very fast track with new pavement that will generate a lot of grip and a lot of heat. We felt we had to select a very conservative tire to accommodate that. Lap times, however, are on par with those of last year.

On the first day of testing, Jeff Burton, for example, made a 35-lap run and his fastest lap was the 34th.

We are very pleased with tire appearance and treadwear. All indications are that going a full gas stop with either the traditional full-size fuel tank, like the Busch cars will use, or the smaller mandated tank for the Coca-Cola 600 would be no problem.

Yes, the tire is different and may require adjustment by teams and drivers from what they've run at Lowe's in the most recent past. We came with a completely redesigned right side tire. It utilizes a new mold shape to address the tremendous loads that we measured at our test last fall. This, combined with the harder tread compound, gives the conservative setup. It reduces grip, but it resists heat and treadwear. It is absolutely the right choice.

-goodyear-




More Tire Testing at Indy: Goodyear will bring #20-Tony Stewart, #9-Kasey Kahne and #38-Elliott Sadler back to Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, May 30 for one more day of testing a new tire compound to be used in the Nextel Cup Allstate 400 in August. Those three drivers tested tires for Goodyear at the track earlier this month. "We're just going to do a confirmation test and make sure what we selected there for that race is going to be good, and we'll be ready to go," Goodyear marketing and tire sales director Greg Stucker said Saturday night.(SceneDaiy.com)(5-22-2006)
 
Tabasco said:
Mark could have lifted and not taken out the 26 and 10. He didn't say anything about that in his interview.
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As for the wreck caused by Khane, Martin was in the unenviable position of being damned if he stayed in the gas or damned if he lifted. The end result was going to be a wreck either way, and there is no need for anyone to explain during an interview what they could or could not have done as the end result was going to be the same.
 
I don't think Tabasco was refering to the Martin/Kahne inncident, but to the 2 previous and seperate inncidents that it appears Mark could have avoided.
 
Eagle1 said:
I don't think Tabasco was refering to the Martin/Kahne inncident, but to the 2 previous and seperate inncidents that it appears Mark could have avoided.
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Sure looks like he could have avoided both...but, since it was Martin I guess those were just "veteran" moves. I like Mark, but lately he seems to thing that no one should race him hard and they should just move out of the way. I guess now he'll just move them out the way himself.
:rolleyes:
 
Mark was saying that Kasey should have lifted in turn 2, but how the hell was he going to lift and not get run over? That is my point ......the tire combined with the other factors, the new surface and the aero loose/push, was the reason this accident happened and a lot of other ones during the All Star Race. Almost all the quotes in the post race/accident interviews pointed to the fact that the tire took over 5 laps to come in after a restart. How can this be anything but a very bad thing? You have a hard compound tire that does not generate enough grip to allow for safe racing, i use that term loosely, for 4 or 5 laps to me is insane. It looked like those guys were skating on ice at times.
 
Mopardh9 said:
Mark was saying that Kasey should have lifted in turn 2, but how the hell was he going to lift and not get run over? That is my point ......the tire combined with the other factors, the new surface and the aero loose/push, was the reason this accident happened and a lot of other ones during the All Star Race. Almost all the quotes in the post race/accident interviews pointed to the fact that the tire took over 5 laps to come in after a restart. How can this be anything but a very bad thing? You have a hard compound tire that does not generate enough grip to allow for safe racing, i use that term loosely, for 4 or 5 laps to me is insane. It looked like those guys were skating on ice at times.
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Don't be so ridiculas! You KNOW Kasey should have lifted and not raced Mark so hard while trying to hold the lead!!
It was perfectly understandable for the second place car to race the leader so hard, pinching him down tight, (knowing what had been the result of that all evening and at most races) to see who gave first then being PO'd because the other guy didn't give.
HOW DARE HE!!
 
Eagle1 said:
I don't think Tabasco was refering to the Martin/Kahne inncident, but to the 2 previous and seperate inncidents that it appears Mark could have avoided.
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Ah yes !!!!!!!

After re-reading the post by Tabasco and subsequent explanation of the post from Tabasco by Eagle 1, must say to myself, ........ "pull head out of butt" !!!! :) and then reflect on the old adage, "there is no fool like an old fool". ;)

I agree with Tabasco's observation, and even at the time, from my track side seat in front of the television set in Wake Forest, it seemed Mark could or at least should have avoided those two incidents. :)
 
Eagle how could he lift and not get run over by the rest of the field? Kasey had no choice but to keep his foot in it.
 
Sure looks like he could have avoided both...but, since it was Martin I guess those were just "veteran" moves. I like Mark, but lately he seems to thing that no one should race him hard and they should just move out of the way. I guess now he'll just move them out the way himself.
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I couldnt agree more! I seen when they interviewed Mark he said it was a rookie mistake and he would of never made that mistake running down low. :rolleyes: I actually thought Mark was going to be cool about the deal and not jump all over kasey when they asked him what happned. At first he said he didnt know what happened then let loose on blamming Kasey.

Oh and sorry if I got off the subject!
 
It won't be a sprint race in the 600, sat. night was a short race for a bunch of cash. The drivers should ues their heads more for sun. The track will have more rubber put down too.
Mark couldn't have done anything to avoid Kasey, but the other 2 were in his hands.
 
Tabasco said:
It won't be a sprint race in the 600, sat. night was a short race for a bunch of cash. The drivers should ues their heads more for sun. The track will have more rubber put down too.
Mark couldn't have done anything to avoid Kasey, but the other 2 were in his hands.
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You really believe that?
As a very experienced veteran driver you don't think he realized he was pinching Kasey awfully tight and Kasey being as young as he is and leader of the race at the time would try and keep his position? If Mark expexts all these other drivers to think why is it beyound him to do the same thing instead of just expecting everyone to layover for him? He knew who he was racing and for what position, why didn't he think to let off and come back in another lap or 2? Had Mark used his "experienced, veteran" head, he would've let off just a little and it's possible Kasey would've shot out past, up the hill and into the wall all by himself. But no, in Marks stubbornesss that everyone has to give way to him he stayed with it and contributed to taking out half the field.
 
I agree with ya 100% !!

The guys on the panel of Inside Nextel cup came up with a good observation on how it's funny that you know exactly who's to blame when you get wrecked, but when you wreck someone you have no idea what happened.

Looks like Martin forgot about the two spins he caused and can only remember that he was wrecked!! If he raced the way he talked he would have backed off!
 
Well this won't be real popular but then when have I ever let that stop me. :)
Mark started racing Cup in '81. This is his last year(???). And, he has how many Cup Championships? For that matter his 35 wins isn't all that great either. Maybe, just maybe, he sees time running out and if he's going to write his history he has to do it now. So we see an attitude change. Which I don't have a real big problem with...
 
Good observation! He wants a championship, this is his last year, so being a little bit more aggressive might get him that. Then again it might get him some more wall, only time will tell.
 
Well I'll be. I don't think that I've seen this much negative thoughts towards Marky in a very long time. Maybe he is just getting old and as has been said, knows that his time is running out.
 
Normally i wouldn't post anything bad about him, but after hearing his post race interview it kind of changed my mind. I always liked him , thought he deserved to win a championship....so i'll reserve judgement on him completely until the end of the season. I'll cut him some slack this time, it was probably a heat of the moment reaction, although it seemed out of character for him.
 
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