Fuel mileage the focus as Cup series heads to Michigan

By Jared Turner - SceneDaily Staff Writer
Thursday, August 14, 2008
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Rea White

As Sprint Cup Series drivers and teams prepare to take on Michigan International Speedway for Sunday’s 3M Performance 400, the quest to achieve better fuel mileage is weighing heavily on many minds.

In the most recent race at Michigan, on June 15, Dale Earnhardt Jr. took his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to victory lane after stretching his last tank of fuel the final 55 laps.

Other frontrunners, meanwhile, saw their hopes of a strong finish ruined when they were forced to come to pit road for a late splash.
 
And it wasn't the first time fuel mileage has played a role in the outcome at Michigan. Fuel economy has a history of shaping results at the 2-mile track.

Will spectators witness another fuel-mileage race on Sunday?

Maybe not. But don’t rule it out, some of the participants say.

“It could turn into a fuel-mileage race at any time, so you really have to be on your toes and be aware of what could happen,” said Tony Eury Jr., the crew chief on Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 car.

While Eury and Earnhardt Jr. got the better end of the fuel-mileage deal in June, others were left to wonder what might have been if only they had had just a little more left in the tank.

“We were pretty good there in the spring race but came up short on the fuel mileage at the end,” Dale Earnhardt Inc.’s Mark Martin said. “It cost us a certain top-five finish. We should be able to take what we learned back there and have another strong run. Hopefully, this time we won't get burned on the fuel mileage.”

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch likewise got the short end of the fuel-mileage stick when the series last convened at Michigan and he was forced to pit late. He’s hoping for a different turn of events this time around.

“For me, coming to Michigan, I tend to run well here, for whatever reason, and the biggest deal is trying to finish and finish up front,” said Busch, who is seeking his ninth win of the season. “We ran toward the front there in June, but we ended up making a late pit stop, and with all the fuel mileage strategy that was going on, we ended up getting shuffled back.

“We’ve had some great runs with the car that we are bringing this weekend, so I’m hoping we can improve on our June finish.”

Whether Sunday’s outcome is determined by fuel economy or not, one matter is certain: Horsepower will factor heavily into the equation at the high-speed track, as always.

Finding a balance between conserving fuel and going fast is part of the challenge that drivers and teams face.

“Michigan is one of those places that you need the entire package to compete for the win,” Richard Childress Racing’s Kevin Harvick said. “Being successful has a lot do with the horsepower that is under the hood.”

Finding a racing groove that best suits a car’s handling characteristics and yields the fastest laps is also important.

“Michigan is actually a lot like Atlanta, where I’ve usually run well,” said DEI’s Paul Menard. “The track has a very wide racing surface where you can really search around and find a place that your car likes and will work at.”

Mentioned Drivers: Mark Martin

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2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings

Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500

1 Jimmie Johnson 6248
2 Mark Martin -184
3 Jeff Gordon -192
4 Juan Pablo Montoya -239
5 Tony Stewart -279
6 Kurt Busch -312
7 Greg Biffle -340
8 Ryan Newman -402
9 Kasey Kahne -414
10 Carl Edwards -437
11 Denny Hamlin -448
12 Brian Vickers -556

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