Pocono is not really know for its great racing, but for its long green flag runs and fuel economy races, but this past weekend's Pocono 500 was a different story with a little of everything.
Not ever turning a lap until Friday's first practice session except for logging many virtual laps on the computer, the impressive rookie Denny Hamlin not only grabbed the pole, but had an impressive showing in the race his first time out. With starting on the pole and leading laps early on, the #11 car blow out a left rear tire going into the tunnel turn (turn 2), one of hardest turns in NASCAR as described by many and spun to the inside hitting only the curbing. After his team fixed the damage left rear, on the restart, he started in the back (40th or so), Hamlin's car began to return back to the way it was before the spin...perfect.
Its rare for anyone, let along a rookie to have a perfect car anywhere, but at Pocono, his car was just that..by 40 laps to go in the race, Hamlin was a little over 10 seconds behind the leader Greg Biffle (who had brake problems early on and battled his way back) and was faster by 4/10th of a second a lap, thats about 25 laps to to catch the leader and with a couple of cautions and a lightning fast car, he did just that.
Hamlin blow by Biffle in the late stages of the race and despite a late race caution, he pulled away on the restart yet again to pickup his 1st career NASCAR Nextel Cup Series victory.
The best car won this race, hands down and that was a team effort all the way.
Final Thought: The last caution that brought out the red flag came out when Jeff Gordon lost his front brakes going into turn 1, lost control hitting the grass first, then going up and hitting the outside wall on the drivers side...he walked away, thank god, a testimate to the safety, from the roll cage to the hans device to the safer walls, all needed to keep drivers safe and mandated by NASCAR.
Next week is Michigan for the Nextel Cup and the 24 hours of LeMan's that's live on SPEED starting Saturday morning.
