Lenox Industrial Tools 301 - Loudon Thread

mattcat · 27 Jun 2008, 17:09 (Ref:2238869)

Thought it was about time to get a thread going on this since the cars are on the track! Interesting practice times so far. Montoya, Franchitti, Hornish all in the top 10. And Busch back in the high 30's.

VilleneuveTracy · 27 Jun 2008, 17:36 (Ref:2238877)

1st practice results

1) Harvick
2) Johnson
3) Montoya
4) Bowyer
5) Kahne
6) Sorenson
7) Sadler
8) J. Gordon
9) Ku. Busch
10) Stewart

Notables

12) Earnhardt Jr.
13) Franchitti
18) Ky. Busch
24) Burton
32) Kenseth
36) Edwards
43) Ambrose

Interestingly the Dodges are doing extremely well with 6 Dodges in the top 11 and 7 in the top 13. At the other end of the spectrum is Ford. The fastest Ford was 22nd (McMurray). Is this a fluke or have the Ganassi and Penske teams finally caught up and discovered whatever the Gillet Evernham team discovered about a month ago? The Dodges have lagged well behind all year, aside from Kahne's recent surge. Hopefully this will no longer be the case.

ThePenguin · 27 Jun 2008, 17:49 (Ref:2238881)

It was just first practice.

VilleneuveTracy · 27 Jun 2008, 19:59 (Ref:2238961)

Sorenson on the provisional pole after 24 qualifiers. JPM continued his qualifying struggles and is 17th, although he should be strong in the race because it seems Ganassi has a good package for NH. However, rain has begun falling and the field may be set by points. That would be a shame. It would be a great boost for Ganassi, especially the #41 team, to win a pole. Kyle Busch is only 16th right now.

VilleneuveTracy · 27 Jun 2008, 22:30 (Ref:2239023)

Wow, a surprise pole winner: Carpentier! Sorenson evidently was hurt by the rain. Roughly half of the drivers qualified before the rain yet 9 out of the top 10 qualifiers made their runs after the rain delay. This makes sense because the track would be cooler due to the rain and the natural decrease in temperature over the 1 1/2 hour delay. Still, a good day for Ganassi with Sorenson 6th and Franchitti in 7th, and obviously a monumental day for Carpentier who was thought to be on the hot seat. Hopefully they can all translate their good starting positions into good finishes.

**gomick** · 27 Jun 2008, 23:22 (Ref:2239033)

and no Ambrose - which i think doesnt really suprise anyone...

great result for patrick carpentier - think he may have won here in Champcar

Hazard · 28 Jun 2008, 10:24 (Ref:2239206)

Topsy turvy series, Franchitti out last week, 7th here - Ambrose 7th last week, out this.

And Patrick on pole. Wow.

bigted · 28 Jun 2008, 11:02 (Ref:2239220)

I just wonder how much the Go or go home teams are running the engines on the limit to qualify, minimum grade oil, maximum tape etc. because Carpientiers crew chief told him to cool it as soon as he stuck in in the race!

Knowlesy · 28 Jun 2008, 13:51 (Ref:2239269)

Watch for a lot of guys slipping back like they're driving backwards then!

Excellent for Franchitti, just the perfect response to missing out at Infineon.

VilleneuveTracy · 28 Jun 2008, 16:06 (Ref:2239305)

The end is near: Ganassi 1-2-3 in the first Saturday practice (JPM 1st)!

VilleneuveTracy · 28 Jun 2008, 16:57 (Ref:2239324)

Final practice results

1) Montoya
2) Johnson
3) Sorenson
4) Harvick
5) Biffle
6) J. Gordon
7) Earnhardt Jr.
8) Newman
9) Kahne
10) Franchitti

Fastest average times

1) Harvick
2) Montoya
3) Johnson
4) Earnhardt Jr.
4) Sorenson
6) J. Gordon

It looks like Ganassi may finally getting a handle on the 08' COT. Montoya was fastest in both practices today and Ganassi was 1-2-3 in the first Saturday practice and 1-3-10 in the second.

Knowlesy · 28 Jun 2008, 21:12 (Ref:2239421)

J-C · 28 Jun 2008, 23:52 (Ref:2239471)

Loving the practice times but what on earth are Chip's lot doing differently this weekend? Whatever it is it's about time!

**gomick** · 28 Jun 2008, 23:58 (Ref:2239474)

Tony Stewart won the Nationwide race from Denny Hamlin & Kyle Busch - Ambrose 14th behind 10 Cup regulars...

Nationwide Points...

1. Clint Bowyer 2649
2. David Reutimann 2467
3. Carl Edwards 2461
4. Brad Keselowski 2452
5. David Ragan 2351
6. Mike Bliss 2334
7. Kyle Busch 2263
8. Mike Wallace 2171
9. David Stremme 2089
10. Jason Keller 2048

13. Marcos Ambrose 1945

VilleneuveTracy · 29 Jun 2008, 01:37 (Ref:2239500)

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-C

Loving the practice times but what on earth are Chip's lot doing differently this weekend? Whatever it is it's about time!

Steve Hmiel's comments credit this to the recent test at Milwaukee, a track that is similar to NH. His comments imply that this might be a one-off thing that translates only to NH, and probably also Martinsville since Martinsville is really just a smaller version of New Hampshire (perhaps also to Phoenix, another flat 1 mile track). I think Hmiel is being pessimistic. Merely having a car that handles well isn't enough to run up front if the car lags behind in horsepower and other areas like aerodynamics (see JPM's 12th at Dover where he said they just needed more raw speed). I believe, and I will concede I tend to be an optimist so , that they found something with the COT that has improved their performance. Do I think they will run this well at Chicago? No. What I do hope is that they won't be in their usual pattern of JPM running 15th-20th, Sorenson 30th, and Franchitti 35th there. Keep in mind all the Dodge teams have struggled this year. The exception is the Gillet Evernham cars who suddenly took a big leap forward about a two months ago. Hopefully Ganassi has figured out whatever GEM discovered.

Great run by Ambrose. It is a shame the cup regulars are ruining the NNS series. Do you see Alex Rodriquez playing a full season in minor league baseball or Peyton Manning playing in the Arena football league? Only in NASCAR are their athletes from the top tier who are running full-time at the minor league level.

**gomick** · 29 Jun 2008, 04:06 (Ref:2239523)

I didnt see Joey Logano's name mentioned anywhere either

Axeman444 · 29 Jun 2008, 06:41 (Ref:2239540)

I think, as much as I like Ambrose, that the Cup runners in NW actually show the level that the non Cup runners are at, and if Ambrose is still in NW next year, he should be mixing it with the Cup runners at the front of the NW field more regularly if he is to be considered to be good enough to make it in Cup.

**FIRE** · 29 Jun 2008, 09:02 (Ref:2239583)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomick

I didnt see Joey Logano's name mentioned anywhere either

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68664

Matt · 29 Jun 2008, 15:46 (Ref:2239759)

First time I haven't gone to this race in about 10 or so years, due to family issues, what a shame it would be to miss!

**FIRE** · 29 Jun 2008, 17:48 (Ref:2239831)

Green flag in around 15 minutes?

Knowlesy · 29 Jun 2008, 17:57 (Ref:2239838)

Yes, it's due after this hour.

ss_collins · 29 Jun 2008, 17:58 (Ref:2239840)

I thought green was at half past?

**FIRE** · 29 Jun 2008, 18:03 (Ref:2239847)

According nascar.com it's 15 past

ss_collins · 29 Jun 2008, 18:05 (Ref:2239854)

Starting order is a bit unusual...

**FIRE** · 29 Jun 2008, 18:05 (Ref:2239855)

Anyone having also difficulties with TNT Racebuddy? Or is there another video stream?

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