Controversy continues as race finishes under caution
Ryan Newman -- what a lucky dog.
Newman won the DHL 400 on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway thanks in part to a NASCAR stipulation that is known derisively in the garage as the "lucky dog" rule. A last-lap caution flag that froze the field with Kasey Kahne breathing down his neck also aided Newman in his second straight victory at MIS.
The Nextel Cup series has dealt with its share of problems in the past few weeks. Misunderstood rules changes, problems during caution periods and pit-stop confusion have given the series fits this month.
The series has been snakebit, and it took two more fangs to the neck when P.J. Jones crashed in Turn 2 on the final lap, bringing out a caution flag that froze the field in place with the lead cars less than a mile from the finish line. Newman slowed and took the checkered flag under caution instead of being forced to hold off a charging Kahne.
Kahne said he likely would have finished behind Newman anyway, but everyone in attendance wanted to see a race to the finish, especially since the crash that brought out the yellow happened well behind the lead pack. Newman and Kahne had clear sailing to the line.
In past seasons, drivers raced to the finish line when a yellow flag came out, but NASCAR changed the rules this year in an attempt to keep drivers and rescue workers safe. The field is now frozen immediately whenever a yellow flag comes out.
Kahne took the high road and refused to pour fuel onto NASCAR's roaring fire, but he agreed that it would have been nice to race until the end.
"It would have been more fun to run back to the checkered flag and at least throw it into Turn 3 and see if we could catch him," Kahne said. "But I think we still would have run second. I don't think it mattered today."
Kahne wasn't as fortunate as Newman, but both of them were "lucky dogs."
With rare exceptions -- like yellows that wave behind the leaders on the final lap -- the rule that freezes the field is a good one. But for some reason, NASCAR believes that the rule would penalize the first car that is a lap down at the time by preventing that driver from racing to the line in an attempt to get back on the lead lap.
Of course, the second-place car is not allowed an opportunity to pass the leader when the yellow flag waves. And the third-place car is prevented from taking a shot at second, and so on. But NASCAR isn't worried about them.
NASCAR is concerned, for some reason, with the driver who is the best of those who are at least a lap behind. When a caution flag flies, that driver is waved past the leaders and back onto the lead lap.
Why should we dwell on this? Because Newman and Kahne both dropped back a lap in the race before being given a gift by NASCAR. Both were allowed to pass the leaders during separate caution periods. Each capitalized on his opportunity by racing to the front. And one of them won.
Dale Jarrett finished third -- in front of everyone in the field who didn't benefit from the "lucky dog" rule.
"I'm sure somewhere along the way, I have or will benefit from that 'lucky dog' -- or whatever they call that stupid rule," Jarrett said, "but I just don't agree with giving people laps back.
"Both of the guys that beat me were a lap down at one time."
NASCAR almost got through a weekend without controversy. Almost.
Some more tweaking of the rules is needed. Find a way to let the leaders race to the finish line on the final lap. Stop rewarding guys who are a lap down. And get rid of all rules named after canines. Auto racing doesn't need any more controversy.
One more black eye, and NASCAR is going to need a new face.
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