[media-credit name=”Dan Sanger” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]The NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Brickyard is something to talk about – for all the wrong reasons.

The NASCAR “Super” weekend at Indy will lead to a “Super” discussion after two controversial calls were made by the sanctioning body during the inaugural Indiana 250 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

To describe Saturday’s controversy in simple terms: two different calls were made in what seemed to be the same – or fairly close – scenarios.

With the original start of the race producing a lead change before the cars even made their way to the start/finish line, where Kyle Busch passed pole sitter Kasey Kahne before reaching the line, no penalty was given.

NASCAR’s explanation was that Kahne did not advance in time, allowing Kyle Busch to take advantage within the confines of the rules.

In a late race restart, a very similar incident occurred.

This time, with Brad Keselowski leading and Elliott Sadler in second place, it was Sadler who passed the leader before the line after Keselowski spun his tires.

This time, NASCAR handed down a black flag, taking away a potential victory for Sadler, the Nationwide Series points leader going into the event.

Under these scenarios and NASCAR’s original explanation made during the race after the first issue, what was the difference?

Keselowski seemed to spin his tires and did not advance, just as Kahne did not advance earlier in the event.

Why did the calls not match and which call is right and which is wrong?

Unfortunately, as frustrating as it is, this is not something that can be simply understood.

NASCAR perhaps may have made the right call Saturday due to all the possible scenarios that exist in restart rules. While this may be hard to believe, one thing can be agreed upon – these restart rules can be confusing.

This leads to a very interesting question: is it time to make the restart rules simpler?

Perhaps the days have come where it doesn’t matter who gets to the line first, who changes lanes or who spins tires.

Perhaps when the flag drops, it is just time to go.

Forget the rest. When the green flag drops, everyone can go.

This idea itself may be controversial, but it sure would end a lot of confusion – for fans, drivers and even NASCAR officials.

[media-credit name=”Dan Sanger” align=”alignright” width=”216″][/media-credit]The NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that was held on July 28th proved to be a memorable one for Brad Keselowski.  The 100 lap race around the 2.5 mile track in Speedway, Indiana was the inaugural event for the Nationwide Series.

Keselowski brought the #22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger into victory lane ahead of his Penske Racing teammate of Sam Hornish Jr. The one-two finish is another great feat accomplished by Penske organization and is more notable for being the first victory Penske has earned in a stock car at the most famous track in the world.

“Everybody knows how special Indy is and any win you can have here, whether it’s the 500 in May or the Brickyard 400 here tomorrow, and now the first nationwide race. Any victory here is special and I’m glad to be able to do it for Roger.”  Keselowski says in his post race interview with ESPN.

“It wasn’t easy, Kyle Busch was really fast, he had a great car today and I think he was just a little bit stronger than us and it was going to come down to who got through traffic better.”  Brad states of his fellow competitor.

Kyle Busch restarted in 26th position with 18 laps to go after spinning on the previous restart and finished the day in 22nd position.

Elliot Sadler looked to be en route to victory but got black flagged for jumping the restart with 18 laps to go.  Sadler stated how he got pushed on the restart by Austin Dillon and ignored the black flags lap after lap while his crew chief discussed the issue with NASCAR officials.

“NASCAR just taking the championship right from me” Sadler said on the radio after being told by his crew chief that he must pit.

Sadler finished his first Nationwide race at Indianapolis in 15th position.

On lap 39, Danica Patrick made contact with the #98 car of Reed Sorenson.  After the contact, Sorenson’s car began to lose control and Patrick got collected in the spin that she created.

“It’s just unfortunate for our day, it’s a big race, it’s a big weekend and it’s a track I would have loved to have done well at.”  Danica says after being released from the infield care center.

Danica was hung back in the middle of the pack for most of her day, throughout the race she had been dialing her car in and attempting to move forward when the contact with Sorenson occurred, she explains to ESPN.

“You know, we were just trying to pick them off one by one and Tony (Eury, Jr.) made the car better on that second run and we just got shuffled back on that restart there, just picked the wrong line and got shuffled back…I don’t know what happened,  I got into the center of the corner and got pretty close. I might have tapped him, I’m not sure, he was slowing it down quite a bit I didn’t mean to take him out.”

Racing at Indianapolis was a small homecoming for Patrick and she had high hopes for her first race at the speedway in a stock car.

“It’s just a bummer, there was plenty of racing left to try and work with…I feel bad, everybody works real hard and we just haven’t been able to get the finishes for the team that they deserve, so hopefully I can start doing that.”

The NASCAR Nationwide Series returns to action on August 5th in Iowa for the U.S. Cellular 250 presented by the Enlist Weed Control System.

[media-credit name=”Credit: Nick Laham/Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”alignright” width=”227″][/media-credit]Brad Keselowski wins the inaugural NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Penske Racing gets a 1-2 finish.  This win also gives Penske his first at Indianapolis and its 100th in NASCAR.

Sam Hornish Jr. was second, followed by Ty Dillon, Denny Hamlin and Austin Dillon. The Dillon brothers are the grandsons of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress; Ty was making only his second career NNS start.

Danica Patrick’s day ended early after she collided with Reed Sorenson on lap 39.  Patrick appeared to tap Sorenson’s back bumper going into turn-1, causing the back end of Sorenson’s car to slide sideways. Sorenson nearly saved it, but his left-front wheel got into the infield grass, causing him to spin out. Patrick then hit Sorenson’s car, causing heavy damage.  “I got pretty close and I might have tapped him. I’m not sure.” Patrick said.

Kyle Busch dominated the first half of the race, but got shuffled back in the field during a round of pit stops on lap 63 and Hornish took the lead.

Keselowski then passed Hornish for the lead with 29 laps to go, and a caution came out shortly afterward. Busch was fourth on the subsequent restart but spun out right after the race went green. He managed to avoid major damage but lost his shot at the win.

Elliot Sadler got the black flag for a restart mistake after the final restart of the race.  With his crew pleading with NASCAR officials, Sadler stayed on the track instead of coming into the pits to serve the penalty.  Sadler finally came in with 12 laps to go, fuming over the radio to his crew as he gave up the race lead and handed it back to Keselowski.  Sadler finished 15th.

It was the first-ever NNS race at the historic oval, part of an effort by officials to drum up interest and boost sagging attendance at the Brickyard 400. Indianapolis also added a Grand Am Series sports car race on the track’s infield road course on Friday.