FedEx Racing Express Facts - Pocono
RACE INFO:
Event: Pocono 500
Date/Time: June 8, 2008/ 1:30 p.m. EST
Length: 2.5 miles
Shape: Tri-Oval
Banking: 14 / 8 / 6 degrees
Distance: 200 laps/500 miles
2007 winner: Jeff Gordon
2007 pole winner: Ryan Newman
EXPRESS NOTES:
Hamlin, FedEx Cut Short at Dover: Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing team knew they had their work cut out for them starting 33rd at Dover International on Sunday afternoon. To go from back to front at any track is a challenge, doing it on the high banks of Dover multiplies the degree of difficulty. Unfortunately, the concerns became a reality on lap 16 as a pileup off of turn two had cars covering the track from the top to bottom. As Hamlin received word from his spotter to stop, he went to the brakes but the amount of the speed the cars carry off that turn combined with the task of stopping 3400 pounds meant Hamlin had nowhere to go but into the mess where he sustained heavy damage to the front and rear of the #11. Crew Chief Mike Ford surveyed the carnage and found the car too badly beat up to continue. For Hamlin and the #11 team, the early exit marked the first DNF since August of 2007 (Bristol) and drops Hamlin from fourth to ninth in the Sprint Cup standings.
Hamlin at Pocono: A trip to Pocono Raceway may be the perfect tonic for the #11 team as they look to put Dover and Charlotte behind them. Hamlin's record at the three-turned track speaks for itself, having won both 2006 races at the track from the pole as a rookie and doing so in dominating fashion. However, Hamlin’s first Pocono experience was also marked by an incredible recovery from a lap 50 cut tire that forced Hamlin to spin the car on purpose before entering the tunnel turn. Facing substantial damage, the #11 FedEx crew took advantage of the long caution laps to make major repairs on pit road before sending Hamlin to work his way from 40th place all the way to the front to take the checkered flag. 2007 offered some drama also as a rain shortened June race forced the teams to gamble and guess on fuel and, though he might have had the best car, Hamlin wasn't able to race for the lead and finished sixth. In the July edition Hamlin suffered through some early brake trouble but still managed to finish a very good third.
FedEx Express Facts: Through four starts Hamlin has led 283 of a possible 706 laps (40%) at Pocono. His average finishing position is 2.8.
Pocono Chassis JGR 196 and 162: Chassis 196 will be the primary this weekend at Pocono. Hamlin last drove this car to a seventh-place finish at Darlington in May. Prior to that run, it last raced at California in February of this year when it sustained heavy damage as Hamlin hit water on the rain-soaked two-mile track and then hit hard against the turn two wall. Chassis 162 will serve as back up.
HAMLIN CONVERSATION - POCONO RACEWAY:
On to Pocono, a place where you had some head-turning success as a rookie and have posted solid results since. What is it about this track and this team?: "I think that's something we have been trying to figure out since that first season there when we had so much success. Pocono is really unlike any other track. The turns all have their own characteristics but they are all relatively flat and those are the kinds of corners that I feel I am the best on. But Pocono is also tricky because it's easy to overlook how complex the track is and how fast you are moving. We had our spin there in that first race and it could have easily ended our race with just a little more damage and each year it seems like someone has a big hit so you can't take anything for granted at Pocono. I've also had the opportunity to drive some great cars here. This #11 team under Mike (Ford) has brought some awesome cars to Pocono and it's been a pleasure to drive them. Of course, we'll be in the new car this time out but we tested there last week and it didn’t feel a lot different in the new car versus the old car. Everyone is running up on the new asphalt in turn three because the track is so old on the bottom that everyone was running next to the wall to get grip. It’s going to be really interesting to see all those cars trying to fight for that one patch of new asphalt. It’s going to be exciting off of turn three going to the start-finish line with some guys that run the bottom and some that run the top. It’s definitely going to make for some good side-by-side racing.”
You are heading to Eldora for the Prelude this week. Is it fun for you to get out on the dirt against that field?: "It's a great event and that's why it attracts so many drivers and so much interest. I didn't race Late Models on dirt growing up so my learning curve was a little larger than a lot of these guys but I love racing and the chance to go race at Eldora and raise a bunch of money for Victory Junction is the best of both worlds. Each year Tony gets more and more guys to make the trip and that lends a lot to the event. Last year, when Jeff (Gordon) came back to race on dirt for the first time in a long time it was cool to see just how fast he got back into it. I feel like I am ready to give those guys a good run this year."
