Can Dale Earnhardt, Jr. repeat the magic of 2004...when he won everything at Daytona but the keys to the NASCAR offices? Sure would seem so...even when the team had to start from the back (thanks to the vigilant Hendrick engine builders who saw something funky in some of the valve lifters and called "time out" to fix the problem). He clawed his way to the front to win the first Duel at Daytona...and added to his legend here at the "World Center of Racing".
Denny Hamlin made Toyota Racing Development history, by becoming the first TRD driver to take a win in the Toyota Camry in NASCAR's top division. Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Tony Stewart finished the second Duel at Daytona 1-2. The 2006 Rookie of the year will start the 500th in 4th. Roger Penske's move to give Sam Hornish the owner's points from the #2 Dodge paid off...Kurt Busch took the past champion's provisional thanks to mechanical problems...Kurt starts 43rd. As for Sam Hornish...He'll start mid pack in 19th. There will be three Indianapolis 500 winners in the field for Sunday's NASCAR classic...besides Hornish, Juan Pablo Montoya goes from 15th...Dario Franchitti from 40th. Jacques Villeneuve (1995 winner) didn't qualify. Two past Daytona winners will get to watch the festivities from the sidelines...Bill Elliott and Sterling Marlin.
We know nothing more than Mr. Anton H. "Tony" George made his return from Japan, and that rumors are still flying concerning the reunification/blending of the two American based open wheel racing series. This may be good for the process, because both sides are not saying much...which may (repeat MAY) indicate that talks are reaching a critical stage, or (as some cynics might assert) that NO talks are going on. The truth (as in many cases) likely lies somewhere between the two extremes. We would like to see something happen quickly...but would prefer that all the i's be dotted and t's crossed, so this reunification can get legs to consume its fair share of racing oxygen, and that all who have a financial stake will find some satisfaction. The open wheel cars share more technology with production cars than do the full-fendered, common template, late 20th century NASCAR cars and trucks. The short version is that the NASCAR cars and trucks are the best 20th century technology that 21st century money can buy. They are entertaining, to a fault. But they do little to nothing to inspire progress--the kind that our society needs to squeeze the most out of the resources we have, so those resources can last longer and we can use them more efficiently. Racing has always been about people and machines bumping up against limits so they may improve. We need healthy open wheel racing for that precise reason.
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