I think race fans know those two can still win races,

I don't think the track will be in the form it currently is the next time we race here (in May). I'm satisfied with what we have for Saturday night, but we'll make some changes before the teams come back next year.

[He predicts that fans will return regardless, a projection based on experience with the first gas crisis 30 years ago, wars and recessions.] People will take just so much black and white in this world, ... After a while, they want some Technicolor. If they have to chop something else out, they will. If they want to go to the races, they will.

On the other hand, it let Tony Stewart move into new prominence and establish his name. He has probably picked up more popularity this year than any driver that we've had in a long time. He's at the point right now where he's knocking on the door that had been reserved for Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon. I've followed Stewart since he was 18 years old, through his success at Indy, and he has a lot of appeal to women.

Since the price of gas is on everyone's mind, let's compare how the price of gas and the prize money for he UAW-GM have changed since the first race in 1960,

I don't think there's anything wrong with the track. I think there's just an unfortunate set of circumstances that begot this. You can't hang it on Goodyear. I think there's probably been some experimenting down on the pit road.