2008 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

This year's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard was absolutely anything but an action-packed, normal NASCAR race. I've been a NASCAR fan since I was two years old and I've never seen anything like that in my life.

Now, as a NASCAR fan, I was not very amused with the "racing" that happened on the track. However, as an avid supporter of NASCAR in anything and everything they do, I applaud them for the way they handled this race...once they waved the green flag.

Although Goodyear did test there this year, the tire test always disappoints them at the Brickyard. Usually (as most of you know) the track eventually rubbers up and the teams are able to run full stops by halfway.

This year, for some reason, that just didn't happen. This can be blamed on multiple things. First of all, NASCAR chose not to have an open test there this year. It was the first year they have done this...and probably the last as well).

Secondly, the COT (less turn-abilty, more pressure on the tires). You may even be able to throw in there that Goodyear didn't do their homework on the tire (even though it was the same tire they ran here last year).

And last, but certainly not least, the track surface. Diamond Grinding is the most unique and ingenious track surface ever created. It is designed so that cars can carry a greater speed through the turns, but it also eats tires for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

So as a NASCAR fan, I was disappointed about the race while at the same time happy that NASCAR handled the situation in the best way possible and kept it safe.

However, if I were NASCAR, I would admit my mistakes, go back to Charlotte, drink some sweet tea, and call Indianapolis Motor Speedway to schedule a three-day test session for the third week in July of 2009. If I were Goodyear, I would do whatever NASCAR told me to do.

So looking back on the weekend, I....well...um....ON TO POCONO!