RHR spun and wrecked the left side of his car in testing. That's probably a good sign the cars aren't super glued to the racetrack in the corners!

The Kiwi suffered an engine failure seven laps into his first run, but managed to set the sixth-fastest speed--a 213.3 mph lap in 90-degree weather--before things went silent.

Pack racing: never again.

The Firestone Firehawk tire spec selected for Auto Club Speedway is identical to the spec used for the Firestone 550 at Texas Motor Speedway in June.

pack racing was both horrendously dangerous (and it took to Vegas for officials to work that out) and also the racing wasn't very exciting at most tracks except Chicagoland

I like watching a pack of cars racing if they have the ability to overtake each other. CART races at Fontana are a great example (I don't think it was popular with the drivers back in those days as well), or maybe some of the early races at Chicagoland. Sadly it reached a point where the slipstream barely had any effect, and you could only get alongside and then stall, and run side by side for infinity laps. Trying to get a tiny little side draft, or locking wheels... It was scary to be honest. Thinking of Franchitti flying at Michigan, I believe Wheldon said they were driving as close together as possible, for the sake of finding the slightest bit of speed. Not good.

I thought the Indy package was good, but I won't complain if they're not flat out. My only worry is that the cars will be a handful, and the dirty air will make the handling even worse. I want them to be able to follow each other in the corners, but I guess all questions will soon be answered. Can't wait.