RACE INFO:
Event: Coca-Cola 600
Date/Time: May 25, 2008/ 5 p.m. EST
Length: 1.5 miles
Shape: Quad-OvalBanking: 24 degrees
Distance: 400 laps/600 miles
2007 winner: Casey Mears
2007 pole winner: Scott Riggs
EXPRESS NOTES:
All-Star Race Ends in Engine Failure for Hamlin, FedEx Racing:
Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing team suffered a blown engine on lap 86 of the 100-lap Sprint All-Star race on Saturday night and were forced to join their teammate Kyle Busch, who experienced a similar failure, in the garage before the checkered flag flew. Both of the Gibbs teams led the race at different points before being struck by engine trouble, but both were also quick to point to the decision to run an "experimental" engine package as the culprit.
Hamlin was anything but concerned following his premature exit from the All-Star event:
“This is definitely experimental ‘All-Star only’ racing. We came out here with our guns loaded and unfortunately our gun went off a little bit before the end of the race. It just wasn’t enough. We knew this engine wasn’t going to go 500 miles. It was built for just a few more laps past 100 and it just didn’t make it. This is the race to try some things like this, to let the guys in the engine shop pull out some new stuff and see how it runs. They are the best in the business and we've seen how good the engines have been this season. I know we'll be fine next weekend and I look forward to it."
Hamlin at Charlotte:
The Coca-Cola 600 will mark Hamlin's sixth Cup start at Lowe's Motor Speedway and 91st career Cup start. In two previous Coca-Cola 600 starts, Hamlin has qualified and finished in the top-ten on both occasions and led at least one lap in each race. Hamlin debuted at Lowe's at the end of the 2005 season during one of his limited starts that season and recorded an eighth-place finish.
Coca-Cola 600 Chassis 208 & 204:
This will be the first start of the season for chassis JGR 208. It took part in the Charlotte test earlier this month but has yet to start a competitive race. JGR 204 also will be on the truck this weekend. It finished ninth at Las Vegas earlier this season.
HAMLIN CONVERSATION - COCA-COLA 600:
600 Miles at LMS is the longest race of the season. Is it more challenging physically or mentally?:
“It's a combination of both, really. This is a fast track that has been made faster over the past couple of years so there are no laps off - no taking it easy. You can get into trouble in a hurry if you lose concentration here so in that sense 600 miles can be pretty grueling. In the same way that 600 miles takes a lot out of you physically. I noticed a huge change last year in this race when I came into it in much better shape. I feel even better this year so I don't expect it to be an issue. The biggest challenge of going 600 miles is on the crew to prepare a car that can last the duration while dealing with the change in conditions over the course of the race. You have to build a lot of adjustability into the car or you’ll end up chasing the track and that can make a long day even that much longer. This FedEx team has always been really good at making sure we have room to work on the car and that’s the way you need to approach this race maybe more so than any other race during the season."
Over the past month you've had a good amount of time on this track. Has it helped to prepare you for this race?:
"It always helps to get track time and I feel like I have spent a ton of time at this track lately. Between the Cup test, the Nationwide test and then All-Star practice I would like to think I have a pretty good feel for the place but it's not the same as race experience. To be honest, after being out there in the All-Star race and seeing just how hard it was to pass it's going to be interesting to see how 600 miles goes on Sunday."
The FedEx Racing "Slow Things" Charity Auction" keeps rolling along - What's up for auction this week?:
"This week it's an autographed jar of molasses and bids are already coming in. I am not sure it can beat the rocking chair that sold recently for over $300 though. This auction has been a great way to play off the FedEx Racing commercials and raise some money for a great cause in St. Jude. Each week we are putting up a "slow" item and throwing in a die-cast model of the #11, too. All of the money raised goes to the St. Jude and the fans get to collect some pretty unique items. There are more really cool items coming up over the course of the season so be sure to check the site (www.fedexracing.com) for the latest auctions."
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