NASCAR will have a competition caution at lap 10 today because of concerns about tire wear. Robin Pemberton, NASCAR VP of Competition, also said that there likely will be multiple competition cautions in the event.

NASCAR also has had Goodyear bring 800 Pocono tires _ scheduled to be used there next week _ as a backup plan in case teams run out of their Indy tires. Depending on how many sets of tires teams didn't use from practice, teams likely will have about 12 sets of Indy tires for today's race. After that, NASCAR might need to make the switch to Pocono tires.

If the switch needs to be done to Pocono tires, NASCAR will call a caution and have all teams switch to Pocono tires at the same time.

The problem is that Indianapolis Motor Speedway's track is so abrasive. Instead of small marbles peeling off the tires (as is normal), these tires are being grounded and only dust is coming off. That makes it more difficult to get rubber on the track.

This is not a new problem at this track. What's different this time is that this is a new car and that creates greater loads on the right-side tires and causes these problems. One tire specialist for a top team told me that the right rear tire has been wearing out more than the right front. Teams are seeing the tires wear down to the cords about 10 laps into a run.

With the start of today's race, having 43 cars on the track at the same time should help put rubber down on the track. The question is how long will it take and who will suffer a blown tire and wreck?

Also, Pemberton was asked if it would have made sense to have had a test session here this year. The only test session was a Goodyear tire test in the spring with three teams. Recall, NASCAR selected what tracks to have an open test at this season based on suggestions from crew chiefs. Indianapolis was not chosen. Pemberton said NASCAR's new testing policy should be ready in about 60 days. That's expected to allow teams to test about 25 days at Cup tracks.

Another question was why can't another series run at this track this weekend to help put rubber down on the track. Both the Nationwide and Truck series race in the Indianapolis area but at nearby O'Reilly Raceway Park. Joie Chitwood, track president, said there are no plans at this point to add a support series for next year's Cup race weekend.

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