Shootout finish prompts consideration
By David Newton
ESPN.com
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR is considering adding for all three series multiple green-white-checkered restarts if the first attempt doesn't make it through the first lap without a caution, an official said on Wednesday.
Event director David Hoots said it will be tried at Thursday's two 150 qualifying races that will determine the starting lineup after the front row for Sunday's Daytona 500.
He said if it works well there, then it would be added for the 500 and then the entire schedule.
NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said the move is to make sure more races finish under green. Hoots said NASCAR is looking at implementing the rule for the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck series.
Adding a restart was spawned by complaints following Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout in which Kevin Harvick won under caution after a wreck on the green-white-checkered attempt. It was discussed Wednesday morning in a safety meeting.
"We're constantly looking to improve this for the fans," Hoots said.
Four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon is all for the move, but would like to see a green-checkered attempt instead of green-white-checkered, noting a green-checkered attempt would allow drivers to race to the finish line.
"They could do 10 green-white-checkereds and we're still not going to make it to the checkered," Gordon said. "You give us two laps, we're going to find a way to wreck. You go green-checkered there wouldn't be a caution.
"I'm merely only saying if they do a green-white-checkered and you don't make it back around for the checkered under green you do a green-checkered and call it good."
Mark Martin expressed concerns about the sport's integrity.
"It can get a little like a circus, but I certainly would expect to see what you're saying," he said.
