Goodyear throws wrench in race plans

Associated Press

BRISTOL, Tenn.

Carl Edwards had every reason to believe he had one of the best cars at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Then Goodyear called for a rare tire change in the middle of a race weekend, sending every team back to square one in their preparations for today’s race.

“The tire is a lot slower and it’s going to be a little more difficult to drive,” said Edwards, who is on the pole. “It’s a challenge for everybody.”

Goodyear learned there was a problem Friday when the tires did not lay enough rubber on the track surface. The right-side tires were subjected to considerable wear and lasted only about 30 laps before they began to disintegrate into a powdery substance.

So Goodyear called for nearly 1,300 right-side tires to be shipped to Bristol from North Carolina. Teams were given only one set to use over the two practice sessions.

“It’s not an optimal situation for anybody,” four-time series champion Jeff Gordon said. “I feel like Goodyear is responding quickly and has created a safer environment for us. But anytime you change the tire the second day into the weekend, it’s going to be a pretty major change. And it has been. The car balance is completely different, the grip level is completely different.”

The tire now being used was raced at California and Kansas last year, and has the same outer tread as the tire raced at Bristol last August. But there was no testing data on the tires for use at Bristol, and teams need that information to properly set the handling of the car.

How were teams preparing?

“A lot of reading and a little bit of guessing,” said Greg Erwin, crew chief for Greg Biffle. “The car doesn’t drive anything like it did most of the day (Friday).”

Biffle qualified his Ford second behind his Roush Fenway Racing teammate, but didn’t get much work in Saturday because of a flat in one of the new right-side tires. Since teams had only one set to use, he wasn’t able to finish the practice.