did anyone see the press conference after today's race in Hotlanta? Smoke and Dale Jr. were not too happy, to say the least, with the tires Nascar is using. Complained no one could race side by side and made the race very boring. Im not exactly sure what about the tires they don't like, but there needs to be some changes according to them. Smoke finished second and said you couldn't pay him enough money to run that race again. Only 12/13 cars finished on the lead lap. Jr. also said don't bring them tires to Darlington or its gonna get ugly. With two of the biggest names in Nascar crackin on Goodyear, im sure the powers that be are pissin their pants right now. Interesting to see what happens.
I heard what Smoke had to say, and it pretty much mirrored what he said before the race, except for the (I'm sure if you let firestone or anyone else have a shot they could do better) blast. I didn't hear what Jr said. In any case, I doubt that goodyear is worried beings they have been in this thing since forever. I think it may have them working harder to bring a better tire. I have been watching NASCAR for quite some time and there is always at least a few races every year where the drivers are really unhappy with the rubber. I don't think I can remember where it has been with such consistiency as it has been already this season beings we are only on the 4th race. Not much any of us can do about it but watch and enjoy. :thumb:
Every time a track resurfaces Goodyear does this same thing. Just like this was the first time the COT ran on this track (i think) they bring a "conservative" tire that is hard as hell. The harder they are the less grip they have making it harder for drivers to make their moves around the track. Smoke is just being smoke. I was suprised by him saying Goodyear was gonna end up running themselves out of the sport. Can't wait to hear what NASCAR is going to have to say about Smoke's remarks. Jr's comments would probably do more good than Smoke, since Smoke is always complaining anyway.
COOPER tires!!! I agree that Goodyear is probably not too worried. As over rated as they are, they are still THE name in tires.
I'm still under the impression that it's the new car, or at least part of it... I can't stand those new cars. TO go along with what Smoke and Jr. said, that was litterally the first Atlanta race that I've seen where you'd go two wide in the turns with at least a car and half width between each car, not like with the old cars where you'd have 2 wide with about 2 feet of width between them going 150+ through the turns. Back to my original statement, DW said something about when they changed cars back in the day (to the version they just left) that it took the teams about 2 years to fully understand those cars... I don't know man, the racing was just better two years ago. I still think the car has more to do with the tire problems that the actual tire does.
Here's a link to a good article on the tire issue on the NASCAR site. It's a little lengthy but I found it informative. http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/hea...wart.dearnhardtjr.jgordon.goodyear/index.html
I caught TWIN last night right before I went to sleep and when they played the press conferenece from Smoke and Jr. Chad Knauss said, "We don't have a tire issue, we have a car issue..." He said that this car has 30% to 35% less downforce than the old car and that Goodyear really didn't change the tire, they just had a slightly harder compound and that had they run this tire on last years car, no one would have complained. He said he wants to see a lower center of gravity and more downforce on the cars. Waltrip said that the only way he'd see that is in the old car and that ain't happenin'... I knew it! Stupid splitters and wings...
