This past weekend, the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series was back in action after a weekend off, with all of the talk and hype in odds before the race of who would win the 400 with either Roush or Hendrick winner, those were good odds. The odds paid off with an interesting race with some side-by side racing and passing. Most of the 400 was the same as years past with the lead streeching it out, but cautions flags graced the field along with blown right front tires.. In the end, the green-white-checkered would play a huge roll in deciding the outcome of this race, before the last caution came out it was between Jimmie Johnson in Hendrick and Matt Kenseth who was leading in Roush, when the field went back green, it was't until the white flag lap going into turn 3 were Johnson drove deep into turn 3 on the outside of Kenseth and down the frontstraight with Jimmie Johnson repeating once again in taking the victory in the 400.
That was the same headline I wrote last year, "Jimmie Johnson wins in Vegas", but one twist, without Chad Knaus..What is up with this team, 2 victories and a 2nd place finish with the points lead in the first three races, we have seen this before, can he keep it up, ask me again in September at Richmond.
"My Take" Should Las Vegas Motor Speedway get a second cup date? Should they also resurface/upgrade the Speedway including adding 20 degrees of banking?
Second Cup date: No, if it means taking it away from a track like Bristol, Martinsville or someother good race track. Smith would have to take it from one of his other tracks, California Speedway would be one in my opinion. That region with California Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Phoenix (PIR) are within 2 - 3 hours apart from each other and don't need another Cup date, try other series.
Rebuilding the speedway with new fan zone and 20 degrees of banking including a closer pitroad: In this fans opinion, go for it, but whats the racing going to be like on a new surface...
One thing: Did anyone caught the Formula One race from Bahrain, damn, there was passing, lots of passing thoughout the field and what a fight for the victory between Alonso and Schumacher & during the hole fight, Raikkonen, who started dead last on the field was on a one stop plan coming up though the field to finish 3rd. What a great race for Formula One and Great job to Alonso picking up were he leftoff in winning the race and Ferrari is back.
This Formula One season is going to be interesting with all new rules including new tire rule and qualifing process.
See Yeah!
(Writen on March 15, 2006)