Catchfence

DRIVERS: Scott Speed (No. 82) / Reed Sorenson (No. 83)
EVENT: Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 (Sprint Cup)
DATES: Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010
TRACK: Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.
RESULTS: Scott Speed (start 27/finish 26), Reed Sorenson (start 31/finish 32)

+ LOST IN THE POCONO TRIANGLE

• What’s often labeled as the longest, most agonizing race on the Sprint Cup circuit only turned out to be 3 hours, 46 minutes and 51 seconds. But that timeframe at Pocono Raceway stretched throughout an entire Sunday afternoon and into the early evening, which gave us time to absorb this information:

• Pocono Raceway is like the Death Star when it comes to rain. There’s some sort of triangular tractor beam that seems to suck in ominous clouds.

• Scott Speed and Reed Sorenson both redefined the word “snappy.” That’s the word they often used to describe the handling condition of their Red Bull Toyotas throughout the weekend.

• It’s not a good idea to careen into an earthen embankment. (Elliott Sadler was OK, though, and that’s a credit to the men that build these cars.)

• For a car that had no laps on it prior to the race — Speed kissed the wall late in Saturday’s final practice — the No. 82 Red Bull Toyota performed admirably. Speed finished 26th.

• It’s highly recommended that you have an “XPRESS NASCAR” pass to get out of this behemoth of a race track.

• Can you say 400 miles?

• Entering turn one, after running down the longest straightaway in NASCAR, it’s almost like cars are going to drive over the river, through the woods and to grandmother’s house. Truly a massive place.

• Northeast Pennsylvania is nothing close to Las Vegas, but there is an unusually large amount of casinos in the area. + Debris in the radiator was the culprit that killed Sorenson’s No. 83 Red Bull Toyota after 171 laps. Sorenson finished 32nd.

• None of us wrecked in the tunnel turn. In it. Or under it. + Anyone see the Hungarian Grand Prix? F1 knows drama.

• The timing between pre-race festivities and the fly-over was about 60 seconds off. A gigantic plane passed by in the middle of the National Anthem.

• The Chelsea Clinton wedding was only three hours away in Rhinebeck, N.Y. Maybe you heard about that.

+ UP NEXT

Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen, Sunday, Aug. 8, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.

- Red Bull Racing Team, Press Release