New surface at Pocono means higher race speeds

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

LONG POND, Pa.

For an eloquent explanation of the difference new pavement at Pocono makes, just ask five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion and two-time Pocono winner Jimmie Johnson.

The new asphalt has made a dramatic difference in speed at Pocono Raceway, which in turn has changed the way Johnson and his fellow drivers negotiate the 2.5-mile triangular track.

“You’re in the gas a long time,” Johnson said. “I’d say the corner that is most apparent for that is Turn 3. You’re in the throttle well before you ever see any part of the straightaway, and you make up time on throttle around here.”

Despite the increased speed, though, Johnson said a lap at Pocono isn’t uncomfortable.

“Even though we’re going so much faster, the comfort is there in the cars, and that’s why we’re able to lay down these laps,” Johnson said. “Then the tire is holding up, so then again, I think it speaks to the tire-asphalt combination and how important that really is that those two materials agree with one another.”

Johnson was fourth fastest in the first Cup practice at 178.678 mph.

During two days of testing Wednesday and Thursday at Pocono, the quickest drivers posted lap speeds of nearly 180 mph. Mark Martin’s best lap (50.142 seconds) was more than two seconds faster than the track qualifying record set by Kasey Kahne in 2004 (52.164 seconds).

So, given the increase in speed, what will it take to win the pole for Sunday’s Pocono 400? Clint Bowyer didn’t have a specific number, but he had a definite idea.

“I don’t know — something the size of grapefruits, I’d say,” he said.