Stewart was less than pleased with Helton’s response.
“For Goodyear to say they were satisfied with that … if they truly believe they were satisfied with the way the race went I’m more disappointed than ever,” Stewart said. “And I can’t believe that NASCAR is truly, honestly, happy with the results.
“Mike’s opinion is, I’m overreacting. My opinion is I don’t feel I’m overreacting at all. I feel very strongly. And others voiced their opinions about it. I made mine clearer than everybody else, obviously.”
Stewart said he invited Goodyear officials to his show to voice their response to his complaints but he said that Goodyear declined. After Sunday’s race Goodyear issued a statement saying that the company was pleased with the product that it took to Atlanta.
Toyota Sprint Cup manager Andy Graves asked Goodyear to be included in the test at Darlington, but the tire company refused.
Why should Goodyear go on Stewart’s show or allow Toyota, the manufacturer Stewart drives for, into a tire test? Because being the sole supplier to NASCAR it’s their ball so to speak.
After all it’s not like teams can go out a purchase another brand of tire should they disapprove of Goodyear.
Maybe it’s time teams had a choice.
Having only one tire supplier to the sport is like having only one brand of car racing on Sunday; a 43-car Chevy, Ford or Dodge field.
NASCAR and fans wouldn’t stand for that and why the practice of allowing only one tire supplier continues is a mystery.
Hoosier tire came into the sport in the 1980’s. In fact Hoosier won 9 events in 1988 and the 1989 Daytona 500.
After withdrawing from the series for a couple of years, Hoosier reentered in 1991 (in the then Busch Series). In 1994 they came back to the Cup Series, won 4 races and sat on the pole at the inaugural Brickyard 400.
It was also in 1994 however, that Hoosier made the decision to withdrawal from NASCAR again. This time citing costs after officials instituted a ‘tire count’ system. Some said then that Goodyear was behind the practice and that NASCAR bowed to pressure from them.
Whether the ‘tire count’ was spurred from Goodyear or not is open to speculation. What’s for certain is that Hoosier went on to enjoy success in other forms of motorsports, the NHRA, Sliver Crown Series and ARCA to name a few. A success they enjoy today.
Hoosier could prove to be the balance that Stewart and others are looking for in the NASCAR garage. It could help ignite a tire war that would bring a better tire from both Hoosier and Goodyear.
The complaint last Sunday was that the tires Goodyear brought actually slowed drivers down because of lack of grip. Better tires would make for better racing; allowing drivers the ability to race side by side and run faster through the corners.
One of NASCAR’s reasons for the new car is ‘cost containment’. That’s been a buzzword among officials for a while now. Lower costs for teams equates to more teams being able to compete. But how can you have ‘cost containment’ if you have one supplier for the product all teams need? Being the only kid on the block Goodyear can charge whatever they want for tires. What’s a team going to do, buy tires from someone else?
It’s time to carry NASCAR’s spirit of competition underneath the cars. Chevy versus Dodge or Toyota or Ford, Goodyear versus Hoosier or Firestone or Michelin. That works for me and it could work for NASCAR as well.
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