4LT GS RoadsterDamaged tires piled up at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27, 2008.
It was a monumental disaster for NASCAR.
And it required a monumental effort to fix it.
On Friday, we'll get the first indication if the tire chaos that wreaked havoc on last season's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will make a repeat performance as Sprint Cup Series cars take to the track for two afternoon practice sessions.
After seven test sessions totaling over 13,000 miles since last season's race, all signs indicate Goodyear Tire officials have come up with a tire that will remain durable for a fuel run in this year's race.
Last season, NASCAR was forced to throw competition cautions every 10 to 12 laps because of excessive wear, allowing teams to pit for fresh tires rather than risk blowing them out on the track.
In the past month, former series champions Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, NASCAR, Goodyear and IMS officials have proclaimed the problem solved.
"This is going to be a race here," Gordon said during the seventh test at the track. "It might come down to a lot of different factors, but it's not going to come down to a 10-lap shootout on whose tires can last.
"I can promise all the fans out there that if they want to come to the Brickyard and see a great race, (they) can be confident tires are not going to be an issue. You can trust me. I hope that's enough for them."
IMS officials said there had been a significant increase in tickets purchased following the final test and Gordon's assertions, so it appears a once-skeptical public remains interested in Sunday's race.
Even Stewart, who has never shied away from criticizing NASCAR's official tire supplier, had nothing but kudos for Goodyear's efforts in this case.
"I've gained a lot of respect for Goodyear over just the process of working on the tire for Indianapolis," said Stewart. "The dedication that they've shown to making sure that that doesn't happen again.
"We were able to run almost 30 laps and still not even be down to the cords," Stewart said after the final test.
Greg Stucker, director of race tire sales for Goodyear, said there was a commitment from his organization to ensure the tire was right for this year's race.
"When we left Indianapolis last year, there was one thing we were very clear about: We were going to get it right," Stucker said. "We are very confident that we have done exactly that.
"It's been a very deliberate process over the last 11 months. It has involved not only the Goodyear racing division but really the entire corporation. A lot of people have been involved, doing a lot of different things in order to make sure we have a good recommendation for this year's race."
The biggest test will be Sunday. If NASCAR has to throw cautions because of excessive wear again, it undoubtedly would wear thin on race fans still frustrated from last season.
"The last two tests, Goodyear really honed in on different constructions, different tire compounds and things that would add life to the tire but also add a lot of grip," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition. "It's tough to get both, and I think they've done a great job in doing just that.
"It's amazing to see what's been accomplished."
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