Dancing Partners Do The Pocono Shuffle

The last time both Red Bull Racing Toyotas competed together at a track they’re visiting for the second time was in June at Pocono Raceway, and the tricky triangle is where the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series heads this weekend for the Pennsylvania 500. Pocono is widely considered one of the most difficult tracks to figure out. It has three distinct turns — each with its own set of characteristics. It has three distinct straightaways, too — one of which is the longest in all of NASCAR (3,740 feet, to be exact). Despite the splitting headache Pocono causes crew chiefs and race engineers, Red Bull Racing ingested enough Advil to put both cars in the show the first time around. Brian Vickers, in the No. 83, had his strongest qualifying effort of the season. He rolled off ninth. AJ Allmendinger’s No. 84, timed in 28th in his first trip there. A lack of straightaway speed, however, translated into disappointing finishes, as Vickers was running 35th and Allmendinger 39th when the rains came. Still, there is reason for optimism, as Vickers’ Pocono record is quite impressive.