2009 Daytona 500 Pics

XLjedi · 02-17-09, 09:43 AM

My family and I attended the 2009 Daytona 500

Was kind of an anti-climactic ending being red-flagged after 152 laps... but we had a good time anyway.

View of the main grandstands from our seats on the backstretch.

F-15 flyover before start

The Chevy Camaro pace car was driven by Tom Cruise

Pace lap coming around turn 2

My son posing with cars rounding turn 2 and heading down the back "superstretch"

Daytona is a 2.5 mile track so they do 200 laps for the 500 mile race. Most people don't have an appreciation for just how big the track is when they only see it on TV.

The back superstretch with turn 3 and 4 in the background

moving slow under caution

Syxx_Killer · 02-17-09, 11:16 AM

Great pics. I didn't get to see the race. I got home just in time to see them red flag it and declare Kenseth the winner. I really only wanted to see the Camaro pace car, anyway.

XLjedi · 02-17-09, 12:07 PM

Kenseth started the race in 39th position (makes history as worst starting position to ever win Daytona) and managed to find himself leading the race after a few mishaps that took out several of the top contenders. I think he may have actually been in that first position for just a few seconds before the caution flag came out.

I wasn't too impressed with Dale Jr's effort. Makes a couple pitting mistakes, puts himself down a lap and then he causes a 9-car pile up in front of the entire field battling with Vickers for nothing. Sure were a lot of Jr fans at the track though. That wreck took out Kyle Busch who had previously led the race for 88 laps.

Kapt Z · 02-17-09, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronblood

I wasn't too impressed with Dale Jr's effort. Makes a couple pitting mistakes, puts himself down a lap and then he causes a 9-car pile up in front of the entire field battling with Vickers for nothing. Sure were a lot of Jr fans at the track though. That wreck took out Kyle Busch who had previously led the race for 88 laps.

Yes, what was up with Jr???

I'm a F1 fan, but I keep my hand in with NASCAR and Indycar and I couldn't figure out why Jr was making rookie mistakes and especially 'pitting' Vickers when they were both a lap down.

longam · 02-17-09, 02:49 PM

Yea Jr was pissed because of mistakes he made... but you can watch a recap of the race over at Nascar.com, has all the good stuff compacted into 15 mins.

Great pics, I want to go to Michigan this year. its closer and wouldn't have to fly.

XLjedi · 02-17-09, 03:41 PM

One thing I learned from the experience though...

Before every NASCAR race I'll be checking the weather forecast now. If there's a 50% chance of rain or better it's a whole different kind of race. In fact, the crew chiefs have weather radar in the pits and if they see an approaching weather cell the drivers get real aggressive. Everyone wants to be that lead car when the rain starts.

The teams were keenly aware of the fact that the race was very likely going to end with a rainout; the forecast called for 60% chance of showers. So you can't just completely discount Kenseths victory, they were all gunnin for it pretty hard. In fact Sadler (the guy who was leading just before Kenseth took over) even made the comment to his crew chief over the radio that it was raining on the radar but not on the track.

02-17-09, 09:43 AM	#1
XLjedi Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 1,243 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 8	2009 Daytona 500 Pics My family and I attended the 2009 Daytona 500 Was kind of an anti-climactic ending being red-flagged after 152 laps... but we had a good time anyway. View of the main grandstands from our seats on the backstretch. F-15 flyover before start The Chevy Camaro pace car was driven by Tom Cruise Pace lap coming around turn 2 My son posing with cars rounding turn 2 and heading down the back "superstretch" Daytona is a 2.5 mile track so they do 200 laps for the 500 mile race. Most people don't have an appreciation for just how big the track is when they only see it on TV. The back superstretch with turn 3 and 4 in the background moving slow under caution __________________

02-17-09, 12:07 PM	#3
XLjedi Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 1,243 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 8	Kenseth started the race in 39th position (makes history as worst starting position to ever win Daytona) and managed to find himself leading the race after a few mishaps that took out several of the top contenders. I think he may have actually been in that first position for just a few seconds before the caution flag came out. I wasn't too impressed with Dale Jr's effort. Makes a couple pitting mistakes, puts himself down a lap and then he causes a 9-car pile up in front of the entire field battling with Vickers for nothing. Sure were a lot of Jr fans at the track though. That wreck took out Kyle Busch who had previously led the race for 88 laps. __________________

02-17-09, 03:41 PM	#6
XLjedi Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 1,243 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 8	One thing I learned from the experience though... Before every NASCAR race I'll be checking the weather forecast now. If there's a 50% chance of rain or better it's a whole different kind of race. In fact, the crew chiefs have weather radar in the pits and if they see an approaching weather cell the drivers get real aggressive. Everyone wants to be that lead car when the rain starts. The teams were keenly aware of the fact that the race was very likely going to end with a rainout; the forecast called for 60% chance of showers. So you can't just completely discount Kenseths victory, they were all gunnin for it pretty hard. In fact Sadler (the guy who was leading just before Kenseth took over) even made the comment to his crew chief over the radio that it was raining on the radar but not on the track. __________________

02-17-09, 11:16 AM	#2
Syxx_Killer Admiral Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 2,387 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	Great pics. I didn't get to see the race. I got home just in time to see them red flag it and declare Kenseth the winner. I really only wanted to see the Camaro pace car, anyway.

02-17-09, 02:49 PM	#5
longam Admiral Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,014 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	Yea Jr was pissed because of mistakes he made... but you can watch a recap of the race over at Nascar.com, has all the good stuff compacted into 15 mins. Great pics, I want to go to Michigan this year. its closer and wouldn't have to fly.