Can-Am Duel
| Venue: | Daytona International Speedway |
| Main sponsor: | Can-Am |
| First race: | 1959 |
| Distance: | 150 miles (241 km) |
| Number of laps: | 60 |
| Former names: |
100 Mile Qualifying Races (1959–1967)
125 Mile Qualifying Races (1969–1980) UNO Twin 125 Qualifiers (1981–1984) 7-Eleven Twins (1985-1987) Twin 125 Qualifiers (1988–1989) Gatorade Twin 125 Qualifiers (1991-1993) Gatorade Twin 125s (1994-1996) Gatorade 125s (1997-2004) Gatorade Duel (2005-2012) Budweiser Duel (2012-2015) Can-Am Duel (from 2016) |
The Can-Am Duels (formerly also known as Budweiser Duels and Gatorade Duels ) are the qualifying races for the Daytona 500 , which the NASCAR Sprint Cup takes place in February at Daytona International Speedway . There are two 150 mile races (251 kilometers) whose finish lines determine the starting order of the Daytona 500.
history
With the first official Daytona 500 in 1959, the starting order was determined by two short races, each 100 miles (40 laps) long. At that time, these races were still part of the normal point races and were therefore decisive for the outcome of the championship. However, rewards were given separately from the Daytona 500 rewards. It was not until 1972 that the regulations were changed so that there were races for which there were no points. However, the awards were still given separately.
In 1968 the races were to be extended to 125 laps, but had to be canceled due to rain. In 1969 the first race with a length of 125 miles (50 laps) was driven. This changed the pit strategy, as refueling stops were now necessary.
In the early 1980s, the US television station CBS began broadcasting the duels on television. They were broadcast edited the day before the Daytona 500.
When the restrictor plates , which were supposed to reduce speeds, were introduced in 1988 , it was again possible for drivers to finish a race without a pit stop. In the period from 1988 to 2004, the last year in which the distance of 125 miles was driven, nine duels went to an end without a caution period and each time the winner did not make a pit stop.
From 2001 the races were broadcast live on television. The channels FOX and NBC alternated annually.
In 2005 the races were extended to 150 miles, which meant that every driver had to come back into the pits. The format was also slightly changed and the duels were given the name "Gatorade Duels".
2007
In 2007 the Gatorade Duels, which were broadcast for the first time on the Speed TV channel, were marked by scandals.
In pole qualifying, which took place on the Sunday before the Daytona 500, it was noticed that prohibited changes had been made to the cars of Scott Riggs (# 10) and Elliott Sadler (# 19). Both lost 25 points in the driver and owner points classification. In addition, the crew chiefs were fined $ 25,000 and banned from two races. Kasey Kahne , Riggs and Sadler's teammate, and Matt Kenseth were also fined for illegal modifications. Since it was a harder case, they lost 50 points in the driver and owner points classification. In addition, the crew chiefs were fined $ 50,000 and banned from four races.
Three days after the pole qualifying, on February 14, 2007, David Hyder, the crew chief of Michael Waltrip (# 55) and Bobby Kennedy, who as “Competition Director” for all vehicles of the team (# 00, # 44 , # 55) was sent off the track by NASCAR officials. NASCAR justified this by saying that a prohibited substance was found in Waltrip's gasoline. That same day, NASCAR officially announced that Hyder and Kennedy would be banned indefinitely.
Michael Waltrip (# 55) lost 100 points in the driver and owner points classification. He also had to compete in the Gatorade Duel with the replacement car, but still managed to qualify. Hyder had to pay a fine of $ 100,000. Due to the fact that this happened at the beginning of the season, Waltrip was only the second driver to have a negative score. It wasn't until June 4, 2007 that he was able to qualify for a race again and bring his number of points into positive territory.
The first Gatorade Duel went to Tony Stewart (# 20), who led a total of 37 laps. Second was Dale Earnhardt junior (# 8) ahead of Jeff Burton (# 31), David Gilliland (# 38) , who started from pole, and Denny Hamlin (# 11).
The following participants in the first duel did not qualify for the Daytona 500 2007 : Ward Burton (# 4), Stanton Barrett (# 30), Jeremy Mayfield (# 36), Bill Elliott (# 37), Mike Bliss (# 49), James Hylton (# 58), Brandon Whitt (# 72), Kenny Wallace (# 78), AJ Allmendinger (# 84).
The second Gatorade Duel was won by Jeff Gordon (# 24), but he was moved back to 42nd place on the grid after the race because the car was too low. However, there were no point or fines. Kurt Busch (# 2) was second in front of David Stremme (# 40), who surprisingly landed in 3rd place. Kyle Busch (# 5) and Matt Kenseth (# 17) followed in 4th and 5th place . Rookie Juan Pablo Montoya (# 42) led the race for 18 laps, but then had to retire with a suspension problem.
The following participants in the second duel did not qualify for the Daytona 500 2007: Eric McClure (# 04), Paul Menard (# 15), Mike Skinner (# 23), Kirk Shelmerdine (# 27), Kevin Lepage (# 34), Regan Smith (# 39), Frank Kimmel (# 71), Derrike Cope (# 74), Brian Vickers (# 83).
format
Pole qualifying takes place before the Gatorade Duels. Each car can drive two laps in this qualifying, of which the fastest counts. The fastest driver is automatically set for the race and can start from pole position. The second fastest driver is also set. He starts in the “Outside Pole” and is therefore the first vehicle in the outer line. All other drivers must qualify through the Gatorade Duels. The two directly qualified drivers are also allowed to start in the Gatorade Duels, so that they have just as much time on the track and are not disadvantaged.
Expiry of the duels until 2005
- The 14 best placed drivers from each duel were set for the Daytona 500. The top 14 of the first duel started on the inner line in rows 2-15, the top 14 of the second duel on the outer line in rows 2-15. In the front row were the two fastest of the pole qualifying.
- The division of starting positions 30 to 43 has changed several times. By 1995, positions 31 to 40 were occupied by the fastest remaining drivers in pole qualifying. From 1995 to 1997 positions 31 to 38 and from 1998 to 2003 positions 31 to 36. In 2004, positions 31 to 38 were reset.
- The remaining positions were filled by the best-placed cars in the owner points classification of the previous year. Until 1994 these were positions 41 and 42, from 1995 to 1997 positions 39 to 42 and from 1998 to 2003 positions 37 to 42.
- The 43rd place on the grid was reserved for an unqualified former Winston Cup champion. If there was no former champion outside the seeded field, this position went to the next best pilot who was not qualified.
Course of the duels since 2005
- In the Gatorade Duels, the cars are set up according to the “owner points” of the previous season. These are the points that a certain car number scored in the previous season. First, the cars that had a position in the top 35 are placed. The top 35 teams are sure to be set for the race. All cars with an odd position start in the first Gatorade Duel, all cars with an even position in the second Gatorade Duel.
- The other cars that are not in the top 35 owner points are then divided into duels using the same system.
- The starting order results from the qualification times in "Pole Qualifying"
- The fastest in pole qualifying is on pole position in the first duel, the second fastest is in pole position in the second duel.
- The top 35 of the preseason are certainly qualified for the Daytona 500 regardless of the outcome of the race. For them it's all about the starting position.
- The two best non-top 35 drivers from each duel are definitely qualified for the Daytona 500. The drivers of the first duel start on the inner line, those of the second duel on the outer line.
- The remaining positions are occupied by the fastest non-qualified non-top 35 drivers of the pole qualifying. This is to prevent a driver from failing to qualify due to an accident in which he was possibly not even guilty.
All Can-Am Duels winners
Individual evidence
- ↑ Pete Fink: New in Daytona: The Budweiser Duels. In: motorsport-total.com. February 24, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012 .