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Notebook NASCAR won't stop Daytona 500 to ensure green-flag finishPosted: Saturday February 15, 2003 6:58 PMDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- If a caution slows the Daytona 500 late in the race, NASCAR likely won't stop it to ensure a green-flag finish. Previously, the sanctioning body didn't have any rules regarding when to display the red flag, choosing instead to make the decision on a race-by-race basis. A change expected to be announced in the drivers' meeting before the race would disallow a stoppage in the final five laps. A similar rule was in place for the Koolerz 300 Saturday. "As with any new procedure, NASCAR will evaluate its use and effectiveness and decide how best to implement it in the future," NASCAR spokesman Mike Zizzo said Saturday. Last year's Daytona 500 was stopped with five laps left after a crash near the finish line. The next week at Rockingham, NASCAR allowed the race to finish under caution. A handful of other series have a rule requiring a green-flag finish, including the Craftsman Truck series. The season-opening event Friday went an extra six laps before Rick Crawford won in dramatic fashion, edging Travis Kvapil and Robert Pressley in a three-wide battle.
Mears to back-up carRookie Casey Mears had an accident during the final Winston Cup practice session, forcing him to a backup car for the 500. Mears' Dodge blew a right-front tire on the backstretch, forcing him into the outside wall. "I was going down the straightaway, and I'm not sure if we ran over something or what happened," Mears said. "The tire just blew apart. There was no warning or vibration or anything. When it blew out, I couldn't turn." After making a final-lap charge into the top 15 of his qualifying race and earning the 29th starting spot, Mears will have to drop the rear of the 43-car field for using his backup. "It's a shame," he said. "We finally got that car dialed in and it takes a while. We don't have that option now going into the race."
Wallace reactionOther teams reacted to the penalty assessed to Rusty Wallace for using an illegal carburetor in a qualifying race, and not surprisingly, it mostly was negative. Wallace was disqualified and moved to the bottom of the finishing order -- he'll start 38th in the 500 -- but the infraction didn't cost him any points. "I don't know what the infraction was, but the thing that's been consistent with NASCAR penalties is that they're inconsistent," car owner Jack Roush said. "This is no different." Last season, NASCAR took 25 points away from several teams caught with illegal parts, but no one has any points yet since the season hasn't begun. "I don't know if we want to dip into the world of starting somebody out in negative points," Winston Cup director John Darby said Friday.
Spark plugsAfter his Busch Series victory, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he wouldn't pay for free beer if he wins the Daytona 500. Miller Lite has promised a free six-pack for adults fans if driver Rusty Wallace wins his first 500. ... NASCAR wasn't pleased when a fire extinguisher failed when the emergency medical team reached Keller's car after the wreck. "That was noted," NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said. "The response was fine, but the fact that the fire extinguisher did not work is not fine. We've got to improve."
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