Concrete strip in Turn 3 could add to the difficulty
Thursday, Jun. 04, 2009
AP
NASCAR driver Kurt Busch, left, leads Dale Earnhardt Jr. through turn 3 of the NASCAR Pennsylvania 500 auto race at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007. Kurt Busch dominated from the opening lap and raced his way back into championship contention, cruising to his first victory in 51 races Sunday at Pocono Raceway. (AP Photo/Russ Hamilton Jr.)
AP
NASCAR driver Kurt Busch celebrates with his team after the NASCAR Pennsylvania 500 auto race at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
US PRESSWIRE
May 28, 2008; Long Pond, PA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Matt Kenseth watches his crew members work on his car during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car of tomorrow testing at Pocono Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Chris Gardner-US PRESSWIRE
US PRESSWIRE
August 1, 2008; Long Pond, PA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch fits his ear plugs into his ear during practice for the Pennsylvania 500 at the Pocono Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Chris Gardner-US PRESSWIRE
Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon says a strip of concrete added to Pocono Raceway's third turn last year has made the unique track even more difficult than it was before.
"Pocono has always been a challenge because of the three very different corners," said Gordon, second to Tony Stewart in the season points going into Sunday's Pocono 500. "We were always concerned with setup changes and how the adjustments might help you in one corner but hurt you in another. But the strip of pavement in Turn 3 has taken it to another level."
Gordon, who has four wins, 15 top-fives and 22 top-10 finishes in 32 starts at Pocono, said the preferred line in the third turn was around the bottom until the strip of concrete was added.
"Now we're running three grooves up in that corner on the newer pavement," he said. "That area is smooth with more grip compared to the rest of the track, which is pretty bumpy with less grip. When you already have three unique corners and you throw that into the mix, it makes it a real challenge to set the car up."
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