3M Performance 400 at MIS

(08/17/2008)

2:08	Which racing team will have the winning driver in today's race? Hendrick Motorsports ( 25% ) Roush Fenway Racing ( 50% ) Joe Gibbs Racing ( 25% ) A different team ( 0% ) Sunday August 17, 2008 2:08

2:11

Chris Iott:

Welcome to the second attempt at a live blog from Michigan International Speedway. Chime in with some comments.

Who do you think will win the race today?

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:11 Chris Iott

2:14

Chris Iott:

We got started a little late today. One of the highlights of being at the race is the flyover. It's a can't-miss event. The flyover in June wasn't great, but today's was good.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:14 Chris Iott

2:15

Chris Iott:

The food in the pressroom is the best it's ever been. Fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Yum. And the best thing that ever happened at MIS is the change the track made from Pepsi to Coke this summer. Cooler full of Diet Coke for me … and everyone else, I guess.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:15 Chris Iott

2:16

[Comment From Little ELittle E: ]

How about Junior again ... who do you think will win?

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:16 Little E

2:16

Chris Iott:

Junior has a shot. I said he didn't in June, and then he went and won the race. It would make for a great summer of racing at MIS if he pulled off the double. Fans would go nuts if the most popular guy in racing wins again.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:16 Chris Iott

2:18

[Comment From ILoveKyleBuschILoveKyleBusch: ]

Who do you think will win today?

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:18 ILoveKyleBusch

2:18

Chris Iott:

The Roush guys are always great here, but I'm going to take a wild card and take Brian Vickers. I don't know if the guy on the pole can be a sleeper pick, but he's not exactly the winningest driver of all time. He always seems to be fast here, and he led a ton of laps in the June race.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:18 Chris Iott

2:19

Chris Iott:

It is a beautiful day at the track. Hey, there's the green flag. We're off.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:19 Chris Iott

2:20

Chris Iott:

Jimmie Johnson leads after one lap.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:20 Chris Iott

2:21

Chris Iott:

By the way, I'm here to help, but I'm not giving lap-by-lap updates.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:21 Chris Iott

2:21

Chris Iott:

By the way, Little E, Mike Pryson is sitting right next to me, and he says Junior will win.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:21 Chris Iott

2:22

Chris Iott:

Matt Markey of the Blade in Toledo is taking Mark Martin.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:22 Chris Iott

2:24

Chris Iott:

Jimmie Johnson, Junior and Brian Vickers are fast. Junior's going to lead soon.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:24 Chris Iott

2:24

Chris Iott:

And he leads now.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:24 Chris Iott

2:25

[Comment From BarczyBarczy: ]

so how's attendance this time, last time there were about 25,000 empty seats

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:25 Barczy

2:26

Chris Iott:

There are quite a few more people here. Still a lot of empty seats, but nowhere as bad as in June. The August race always sells better. The MIS people told me in June they had more seats sold for August in June than they had at the June race.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:26 Chris Iott

2:26

Chris Iott:

Dang. Don't know if that last sentence made any sense. I understand it though.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:26 Chris Iott

2:28

[Comment From BarczyBarczy: ]

I think the June race suffers a little because it's always on Fathers Day. They need to see about getting away from that.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:28 Barczy

2:28

Chris Iott:

That might hurt it a bit, but I'm not sure. Some families come here every year as a Father's Day tradition.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:28 Chris Iott

2:28	Will fuel mileage strategy play a major role in today's race? Yes ( 67% ) No ( 33% ) Sunday August 17, 2008 2:28

2:31

Chris Iott:

I see that Elliott Sadler's sponsors will give $1 million to charity if Sadler wins today. I want to join them in their charitable ways. I will give $1 million to each and every person who sends in a question during this live chat …

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:31 Chris Iott

2:32

Chris Iott:

if Brad Coleman wins.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:32 Chris Iott

2:32

Chris Iott:

First caution.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:32 Chris Iott

2:34

Chris Iott:

Marcos Ambrose is being pushed into the garage. Engine blew up.

As the great Dale Earnhardt said about his car once, "It done broke."

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:34 Chris Iott

2:34

Chris Iott:

Ambrose's car is leaking more oil than Mike Pryson's 1997 Dodge Caravan.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:34 Chris Iott

2:35

Chris Iott:

Which doesn't have air conditioning. Which explains why I drove today.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:35 Chris Iott

2:35	Is this live chat a good idea? Yes ( 50% ) No ( 50% ) Sunday August 17, 2008 2:35

2:41

Chris Iott:

Brian Vickers moved up two spots into first on the pit stop.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:41 Chris Iott

2:42	Which statement best describes Dale Earnhardt Jr.? He is a god. ( 0% ) He is the best driver ever. ( 0% ) He's pretty good. ( 0% ) He's overrated. ( 50% ) He's rich and cute. ( 50% ) He's the son of Dale Earnhardt Sr. ( 0% ) Sunday August 17, 2008 2:42

2:44

Chris Iott:

Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brian Vickers clearly have had the fastest cars during the first 25 laps of the race.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:44 Chris Iott

2:44

Chris Iott:

I guess that explains why they're up front.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:44 Chris Iott

2:45

Chris Iott:

Jeff Gordon just told his crew they had a "sorry" pit stop.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:45 Chris Iott

2:45

Chris Iott:

Here comes Kyle Busch.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:45 Chris Iott

2:46

Chris Iott:

Junior is flying. Just retook the lead.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:46 Chris Iott

2:48

Chris Iott:

Kyle Busch is now contending for the race lead with Junior.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:48 Chris Iott

2:50

Chris Iott:

Carl Edwards just moved into fourth place after starting 27th.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:50 Chris Iott

2:51

Chris Iott:

It's Junior, Kyle Busch, Brian Vickers, Carl Edwards up front right now.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:51 Chris Iott

2:53

[Comment From racefan48racefan48: ]

Could Michael Phelps win a Sprint Cup Series race?

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:53 racefan48

2:53

Chris Iott:

He'd have a better chance at winning a NASCAR race than Ryan Newman would at winning the 200 freestyle.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:53 Chris Iott

2:56

Chris Iott:

Initial media estimates put the crowd at about 135,000 fans, which is 10,000 more than MIS had in June.

Sunday August 17, 2008 2:56 Chris Iott

3:03

Chris Iott:

Today's race has been pretty typical for MIS. No crashes. Few cautions. Not a ton of action. Most races here seem to be pretty uneventful for the first 150 laps, but the last 50 laps or so often end up to be pretty exciting.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:03 Chris Iott

3:04

Chris Iott:

Can't remember the last time a race here wasn't interrupted by rain or threatened by rain. Rain fell right after the checkered flag flew in June, and the August race last year was a disaster. Seems like rain threatened or delayed the IRL race last year, too, but my brain doesn't work well enough to remember back that far.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:04 Chris Iott

3:05

Chris Iott:

Is this thing on? Just posted something that disappeared.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:05 Chris Iott

3:05

Chris Iott:

There it goes.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:05 Chris Iott

3:06

Chris Iott:

Now we're rolling.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:06 Chris Iott

3:11

Chris Iott:

Carl Edwards just tossed something out his window on the backstretch. I think it was a water bottle or a McDonald's bag or a small puppy or something. Didn't think you could just fire stuff out your window, but I guess that's NASCAR's problem.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:11 Chris Iott

3:13

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

is kevin harvick still loose

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:13 Guest

3:13

Chris Iott:

His car seems to be coming around a bit. He's moved up in the field from his starting spot. They didn't appear to make huge adjustments to his car during the last pit stop.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:13 Chris Iott

3:14

[Comment From garland cornwellgarland cornwell: ]

how is kevin harvick fuel mileage

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:14 garland cornwell

3:14

Chris Iott:

I think too much is made of who gets the best fuel mileage. Often fuel mileage races are determined by a handful of cars getting out of synch with fuel stops and then pushing it to make it to the end.

It's really hard to tell how drivers are doing on fuel mileage until they run out of fuel. Or don't.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:14 Chris Iott

3:25

Chris Iott:

Had to take time out for another piece of chicken. Any comments or questions from Inernet land?

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:25 Chris Iott

3:26

Chris Iott:

Someone is sliding along the wall backwards on the backstretch.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:26 Chris Iott

3:28

Chris Iott:

Dave Blaney made contact with Ryan Newman's car. Scary crash. Ryan Newman got loose and got clipped by Paul Menard. Newman then made contact with Blaney and sent his car against the wall and into the air.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:28 Chris Iott

3:28

Chris Iott:

Everyone is pitting.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:28 Chris Iott

3:28

Chris Iott:

Looks like Wildwood Avenue after a Lumen Christi football game.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:28 Chris Iott

3:35

Chris Iott:

Jimmie Johnson has smoke rolling from his car.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:35 Chris Iott

3:35

Chris Iott:

He's pitting.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:35 Chris Iott

3:36

Chris Iott:

Jimmie Johnson got pinched between Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:36 Chris Iott

3:36

Chris Iott:

Jammed a fender against his tire.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:36 Chris Iott

3:39

Chris Iott:

Jeff Gordon has a flat now, too.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:39 Chris Iott

3:40

Chris Iott:

He's going to the garage.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:40 Chris Iott

3:41

Chris Iott:

He cut a tire, probably when he and Jimmie Johnson hit each other. He hit the wall pretty hard, and his car is a mess.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:41 Chris Iott

3:53

Chris Iott:

Jeff Gordon will fall several spots in the standings now that he's out of the race. He's going to have to get going if he's going to make the Chase.

Sunday August 17, 2008 3:53 Chris Iott

3:56	What word best describes this race? Thrilling ( 33% ) Exciting ( 0% ) Average ( 0% ) Monotonous ( 33% ) Boring ( 33% ) Sunday August 17, 2008 3:56

4:08

Chris Iott:

Carl Edwards is dominating right now.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:08 Chris Iott

4:08

Chris Iott:

Looks like he might have engine trouble.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:08 Chris Iott

4:09

Chris Iott:

I will bet three units that Kasey Kahne doesn't finish this race.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:09 Chris Iott

4:10

Chris Iott:

I might bet three units that he doesn't finish five more laps.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:10 Chris Iott

4:11

Chris Iott:

And Kasey Kahne is now in the garage.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:11 Chris Iott

4:32

Chris Iott:

Sorry about the lack of activity. We've been having major technical difficulties.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:32 Chris Iott

4:32

Chris Iott:

There are 35 laps to go. Kyle Busch has been running away from the field for quite a while now.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:32 Chris Iott

4:34

Chris Iott:

Barring an unforeseen caution, everyone is pitting for the final time.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:34 Chris Iott

4:42

Chris Iott:

Brian Vickers took two tires to get out front after the caution, and Kyle Busch absolutely pummeled him, moving back into first before they even got out of Turn 2.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:42 Chris Iott

4:46

Chris Iott:

Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards are leading by a mile. Busch has a tire problem, but there's no point in him pitting unless he feels like he's in a dangerous situation. The only thing he's racing for is first and the bonus points he would get for winning.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:46 Chris Iott

4:46

Chris Iott:

Caution is out.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:46 Chris Iott

4:47

Chris Iott:

Debris on the track. Kyle Busch has a tough decision about whether to pit.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:47 Chris Iott

4:47

Chris Iott:

He's coming in.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:47 Chris Iott

4:47

Chris Iott:

David Ragan and Dale Earnhardt Jr. stayed out and will lead on the restart.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:47 Chris Iott

4:50

Chris Iott:

David Ragan and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will lead the restart, while Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch are close behind.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:50 Chris Iott

4:56

Chris Iott:

Another late caution just tightened up the race. Carl Edwards had a huge lead, but this will tighten things up with second-place David Ragan and third-place Kurt Busch.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:56 Chris Iott

4:59

Chris Iott:

Ten laps to go on restart.

Sunday August 17, 2008 4:59 Chris Iott

5:02

Chris Iott:

Carl Edwards is still way in front.

Sunday August 17, 2008 5:02 Chris Iott

5:03

Chris Iott:

Another caution. Denny Hamlin blew up. That will bring Edwards back to the field for the restart.