Saturday, May 28, 2011
Dodge Motorsports PR
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Coca-Cola 600
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Keys for Success: Coca-Cola 600
CONCORD, N.C. (May 28, 2011) – Each race weekend, selected Dodge Motorsports engineers, Penske Racing crew chiefs, drivers or engine specialists give their insight on the ‘Keys for Success’ for the upcoming race. This week, the green flag drops on the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway (Race 12 of 36 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series)
Race: Coca-Cola 600 (400 laps/600 miles)
Trivia Question: How many North Carolina tracks have hosted Sprint Cup events since 1949? (Answer Below)
HOWARD COMSTOCK (Dodge Motorsports Engineering)
Fuel Mileage: “Six-hundred miles at Charlotte tomorrow night will not be dictated by fuel economy as to who wins the race. In this 600-mile race, so much happens and the scenarios are so vast. The race is about track position, running in clean air, keeping the car clean and making moves at the end of the race. I would be very surprised if after 600-miles the outcome is a result of fuel strategy”
Good Start: “You have to get off to a good start. We’ve seen in the past that the early part of this race will run caution-free. If you start in the back of the field and don’t have the setup to keep you competitive, you will get lapped fairly quickly. Getting behind early is really tough and the last thing you want is to be chasing your setup for 600 miles.”
Night Moves: “We start the race at six o’clock. It’s going to be a hot day and there will be a lot of sun load on the track. This is one of the races that will get faster as the race progresses. Lap times are fast and you better have your car dialed-in at the end of the race to have a shot a winning.”
Answer to trivia question: 28
