With the Indy 500 in the books and the quick turn around, it was time for the Nextel Cup Series longest race, the Coca-Cola 600 from Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, how would it play out with the harder tires, the 13.5 gallon fuel cell and the must needed racetrack repaving..

The 600 was a longer version of the All-Star race, and I would describe as frustrating from the first caution flag coming out on lap one when R. Gordon's bone-headed move going into turn three that took out Jarrett, to the endless pitstops, I lost track how many times they pited and for what, the pitstrategy was interesting with just fuel or fuel and either two or four tires, but having to pit every 18 mins or so was outragis and seeing that clock come up every now and then and once it come up, something would happen on the track to bring out yet another caution flag.

The did however like the race once the sun finally went down and the race was finally under the night sky, by that time, you know what you had, the last 100 laps was interesting, they got down to racing.

There were a couple of positive things about the race and one big surprise to me, first, I agreed with Jeff Gordon in what he said during his interview about the harder tires, the racetrack and that they could have put on a better show, second, good side-by-side racing for the remainder of the last 100 laps, third, no more "this is my house" from Jimmie Johnson, sorry Jimmie its not funny anymore and finally, that Kasey Kahne not only survived, but won the Coca-Cola 600.

The 600 was just what DW commented "the race will be more getting on and off to pit road than on the track.", well put.

Final thoughts on Memorial Day Weekend racing from Saturday to Monday..
The Craftsmen Truck race from Ohio had its moments with good side-by-side racing, and seeing Ron Hornaday Jr. win, capped off a good Saturday. The Busch Series race "or Cup Lites" was a shorter version of the 600 with 24 buschwackers in the field, enought said..the 90th running of the Indy 500, described as "the Greatest spectacle in racing" lived up to its name creating the 2nd closest finishing of all time with a first time winner, Sam Hornish Jr. over a very impressive Marco Andretti. The Coca-Cola 600 was simply frustrating...and finally a interesting GT race from Lime rock. Great weekend, don't forget to support our troops.

From my desk at home, this is Brian saying See Yeah Next Week..its Dover and Watkins Glen.

Yesterday's 90th running of the Indianapolis 500, described as the Greatest spectacle in racing lived up to its name creating the 2nd closest finishing of all time.

Just after 1 p.m., the green flag was in the air, the 500 played out early on with the two strongest teams of the 2006 season and the fastest all month long at the brickyard leading the way, third-fourth place Ganassi drivers Wheldon and Dixon jumped out to the lead over the two Penske racing boys and domanating throughout, after a couple of caution flags including one for Helio crashing and hitting the wall and anyother with a refueling problem on pitroad involving Sam Hornish Jr.'s crew resulting in a fuel spliling and IRL sending Hornish to the back for leaving to soon, the race would came down to pitstrategy and who would have enough fuel to make it to the end and who would have to do a splash for gas.

Michael Andretti and Sam Hornish Jr. both topped off after a caution flag and could go to the end without another stop, the final caution of the day came out with just under 10 laps to go with Michael Andretti staying out to take the lead and several other drivers pitting for either fuel or fuel and four-tires.. would it be a Andretti finish...with Michael staying out front on the final restart, it would be an Andretti trying for the victory, but it was the rookie Marco Andretti passing his father Michael going down the backstrentch and taking the lead with Sam Hornish Jr. quickly running him down, on the last lap with Marco leading down the frontstrentch, Hornish slipped screened to the inside and by less than 0.7 seconds, Sam Hornish Jr. edged out Marco for the victory.

What a finish and congrads to Sam Hornish Jr. for picking up his first Indianapolis 500 victory and what a race for the young rookie Marco Andretti who just got edged out at the end.

One thing cames to mind after hearing the WindTunnel question of the week,
Is the Indianapolis 500 still 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing'?

In my opinion, the Indianapolis 500 is one of the greatest spectacles in racing, but not "the greatest", simply there isn't one great anything really. There are a few greatest specticles in racing including the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and maybe even the Grand Prix of Monaco because Monte Carlo is the superbowl of Formula 1, but the Indianapolis is still at the top of the list.

Most people (non-racing fans) know what or have heard of the Indianapolis 500.

See Yeah!
By Brian from Racedriven.com

Welcome to one of the biggest weekends in Motorsports today with over four different racing series in action from Saturday to Monday night.

THE INDIANAPOLIS 500
IRL Indy Cars: For this years running of the 90th Indianapolis 500, Penske Racing and Ganassi Racing are the front runners leading up to the green flag with polesitter Sam Hornish Jr. and his teammate Helio Castroneves in the middle and Ganassi's Dan Wheldon on the outside of the frontrow. Last years Rookie of Indy, Danica Patrick will roll off inside row 4 (10th). Green flag just after 1 p.m. EDT on ABC.

COCA-COLA 600
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series: Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte will play host to Sunday night's Nextel Cup's long race, the 600...if the All-Star race last Saturday night was any sign including the 13.5 gallon fuel cell and harder tires, the race well (As DW commented "the race will be more getting on and off to pit road than on the track). The frontrunners will be of course Jimmie Johnson, who owns this track in victories, "Smoke" Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin and anyother driver who doesn't make a mistake. No predictions here on who will win...the green flag sometime after 5 p.m. on FOX. One thing: 35-38 laps fuel window.

Grand Prix of Monaco
Formula 1: Monte Carlo, I don't know why, but I love watching this Grand Prix, Monaco is a sight to see and a very tight street course. Saturday holds qualifying, but this season has been a battle or who can top who season between last years champion Fernando Alonso and 7-time champion Michael Schumacher, but don't count out those McLaren-Mercedes cars for the victory in this race, anything can happen and the polesitter will have a huge advantage. CBS's race coverage (Taped Delayed ofcourse) at 12:30 p.m., yes Indy 500 time.

One Note: SPEED should always have live coverage of all Formula 1 race, I hate Tape Delayed, if CBS wants to reair, so do it, but show the race at 8 a.m. live and again at 12:30 p.m. taped.

Grand American Rolex Series
A Monday live race from Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT, Road Racing, live on SPEED 2:30 p.m.. This will be a first for me.


Don't forget NASCAR's Craftsmen Truck race from Ohio and the Busch Series 300 from Charlotte both on Saturday.

See Yeah after the races...
By Brian from Racedriven

With last nights or early this mornings NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge in the books for yet another year, the racing last night was anything but boring, the new pavement, harder tires and 13 gallon fuel cells all played a part in last nights carnage of aggressive driving...turn 4 was the biggest problem all night showing great saves and off the wall spins and wrecks.

After the Nextel Open were Scott Riggs domainated with taking the lead on lap 2 and never looking back, it was on to the main event, the Nextel All-Star Challenge, the introductions were mixed, polesitter Kasey Kahne getting a great responce while Kyle & Kurt Busch getting the worsest reponses I have heard yet. Kyle Petty was voted in for the fan voting, most people including myself voted for him because if he got in, Victory Junction would get a large donation, so why not...

The Nextel All-Star Challenge has 3 segments, in segment 1, mandatory green flag pit stops had to happen and after a caution period, the next lap would be the first of pit stops with a hole pack of cars coming down with Jimmie Johnson making his pit stop and sparking off a spin...the next two laps would give others there chance to pit under green, when it was all over, segment 1 ended with Kyle Busch picking up $75,000 leading at the end.

Segment 2 included an invert of the top 10...During segment 2, the big one happened just off of two 2 with two cars hard into the outside wall and a huge chain reaction taking out a good chunk of the field. Kevin Harvick survivied leading at the end.

Segment 3 (the finale) Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth got together going into turn 1 taking them both into the wall and out of the race, I will leave the comments aftermath out...after the restart, it was single file to the end with Jimmie Johnson winning in his house...and 1 million dollars.

Thoughts: If this is a preview of what might happen next week in the 600, all I can say is for fans and drivers, be ready for anything...as for the all-star races, I didn't know what to expect going in, even after I enjoyed Friday night's trucks, but I don't know about the All-Star race, I had had enough after the big one in segment 2...

See Yeah!
By Brian from Racedriven 

Everyweek I try to watch Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain and this week was no different, one thing that I watch for is the question of the week after Dave has his Take on that subject and now its the fans turn to have there say, so the question of the week was:

Should NASCAR have a podium to honor the top three finishers?

Simple put, a podium is more for the road racing series than for oval racing, the idea of putting the top three finishers up on a podium is the wrong way to go, most drivers would agree that they would not want to be the second or third place finisher and then be on display. The way Ken Schrader put it was that second place is the first loser.

For NASCAR and oval racing, its not the way to go at all, oval racing honors only the winner of the race and thats the way it should stay. If anything, the winner expecially in NASCAR should have more honor awarded to them.

One Note: Let's call it the "ultimate survivor", winning a NASCAR Nextel Cup race takes just about a perfect day and a great car, team and pit stops.