Kenny Bruce: Indy qualifying was right call, now show us some speed
Officials work to dry the track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last weekend so that qualifying could be held. // David Griffin, NASCAR Scene
COMMENTARY
LONG POND, Pa. – There were a lot of folks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last weekend wondering why NASCAR didn’t pull the plug on qualifying when showers hit the track Saturday morning.
It was quite an early-morning downpour, and it was obvious that it would impact the day’s schedule. The only question was, to what degree?
With qualifying and two rounds of practice on tap for the day, many believed the rain would result in qualifying getting the ax and teams being given ample practice time to ensure that there were not lingering tire problems for this year’s Allstate 400.
Besides, there were only 46 teams on the entry list, meaning only three would be going home, whether qualifying was held or not.
But word in the garage was that NASCAR would not cancel qualifying, and in the end, the rain eventually moved on and qualifying and both practice sessions were completed.
I don’t know why officials held out and insisted on qualifying – they’ve pulled the plug at other tracks much sooner – but I do know that it was the right move. Regardless of whether the series is at Indy, or Phoenix or Watkins Glen or Martinsville, any team not inside the top 35 in owner points, and thus guaranteed a starting spot in that weekend’s race, deserves the opportunity to attempt to make the show.
It’s no less of a financial burden for smaller teams to field a car for a race, and to send them home without allowing them a chance to make the show isn’t fair and it isn’t right.
The excuse of “Well, the guys that got sent home when qualifying was rained out wouldn’t have made the show anyway” doesn’t fly.
With barely enough cars to make a full field entered for this weekend’s race here at Pocono Raceway (there are 44 on the pre-entry list), NASCAR needs every team owner in the sport, whether part-time, single-car or head of a multicar operation, to feel like they’re getting a fair shake and equal opportunities on the track.
Not much has been said lately about short fields, but it’s obvious that some teams have cut back. Prior to this week’s race, only one other event, this year’s June event at Michigan, featured fewer than 45 teams attempting to qualify. Given the condition of the economy, car counts are likely to get worse before they get better.
It will be interesting to see how the qualifying situation is handled this weekend at Pocono, where weather forecasters are calling for an 80 percent chance of rain today. Do officials hold out and do everything they can to eventually send just one team home?
That’s what should happen. Whether it will or not …
As glad as I was to see NASCAR get in qualifying at Indy, I can’t give the sanctioning body a pass on this whole pit-road speed issue. As technologically advanced as the sport has become today, with all the information that’s generated on every single lap of each race, I don’t understand why pit-road speeds can’t be displayed during the course of a race.
That teams are now able to obtain the information for speeding penalties after the race is a plus. But race fans, whether at the track or watching at home on television, as well as the individual teams should be able to see if and when a driver is exceeding the speed limit when it occurs.
Leaving it up to NASCAR officials to make the call without providing proof at the time of the infraction does nothing but reinforce the belief that penalties are being meted out at NASCAR’s discretion.
No, I don’t believe NASCAR “has it in” for any particular driver or team. And I have no doubt that the pit-road speed readings are on the up and up. But I do believe that it would be highly beneficial for the sport if the team’s pit-road speeds were publicized.
It sounds trite, but it’s true – races today are won and lost on pit road. And the more information the sanctioning body can provide for fans concerning what goes on there the better.
