BUSCH: Goodyear Racing preview

GOODYEAR TIRE NOTES

NASCAR Nextel Cup Series -- Race No. 12 -- Coca-Cola 600
NASCAR Busch Series -- Race No. 13 -- Carquest Auto Parts 300 Lowe's

Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval) -- Concord, N.C.

Fast Facts for May 25-28, 2006

Tire: Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials

Number of Tires:
Nextel Cup: Left-side -- 1,700, Right-side -- 1,700;
Busch Series: Left-side -- 625, Right-side -- 625

Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4020; Right-side -- D-4022

Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.4 in. Right-side -- 88.7 in.

Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi;
Right Front -- 48 psi; Right Rear -- 45 psi

Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front -- 25 psi; Left Rear -- 22 psi;
Right Front -- 45 psi; Right Rear -- 42 psi

Estimated Pit Window:
Nextel Cup -- Every 36-40 laps, based on fuel mileage;
Busch Series -- Every 60-65 laps, based on fuel mileage

Notes: This is the first time Goodyear has brought this combination of left- and right-side tires to the track . . . both the NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series teams will run the same tire set-up this weekend . . . this is the only track at which NASCAR teams will run this tire set-up in 2006 . . . as on all ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Charlotte . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.

Goodyear Quote -- Greg Stucker, director of race tire sales and marketing: "Lowe's is a very fast track with new pavement that will generate a lot of grip and a lot of heat. We felt we had to select a very conservative tire to accommodate that. Lap times, however, are on par with those of last year. On the first day of testing, Jeff Burton, for example, made a 35-lap run and his fastest lap was the 34th. We are very pleased with tire appearance and treadwear. All indications are that going a full gas stop with either the traditional full-size fuel tank, like the Busch cars will use, or the smaller mandated tank for the Coca-Cola 600 would be no problem.

"Yes, the tire is different and may require adjustment by teams and drivers from what they've run at Lowe's in the most recent past. We came with a completely redesigned right side tire. It utilizes a new mold shape to address the tremendous loads that we measured at our test last fall. This, combined with the harder tread compound, gives the conservative setup. It reduces grip, but it resists heat and treadwear. It is absolutely the right choice."

-goodyear