Restarts will be challenging at narrow Infineon

SONOMA, Calif.

Jeff Burton doesn't know what to expect. Juan Pablo Montoya does and is worried. Tony Stewart isn't concerned.

They're all referring to double-file restarts.

Since NASCAR mandated double-file restarts three weeks ago, there have been few problems. Of course, the NASCAR Sprint Cup series has raced at wide tracks at Pocono and Michigan since the rule change.

Today, the series is at the narrow, twisting road course of Infineon Raceway. Just what might happen with these restarts, especially late in the race with the lead-lap cars together, is uncertain.

"My strategy is going to be survive," Burton said. "I don't know what's going to happen. I'd watch closely because I think it's going to be pretty interesting."

Montoya is more concerned.

"They're going to suck," he said of the restarts. "There is always somebody that wants to prove a point. Hopefully, that guy is not around you."

Stewart sees no reason to panic.

"We're all pretty used to it, so I don't think it's going to be that big of a drama," he said. "I think it's actually going to make it pretty fun. We've got 43 professionals in this series. That's why they got to this level because they are able to handle that."

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TOYOTA OR NOT?

Red Bull is in its last year of a three-year contract with Toyota, and that's led to a report the team might switch to Chevrolet and receive equipment from Hendrick Motorsports as Stewart-Haas Racing does.

The team fields cars for Brian Vickers, who is starting on the pole for today's race, and rookie Scott Speed.

"We're going through lots of different scenarios right now," said Jay Frye, the team's general manager. "It's possible they won't want us to come back.

"It's possible. Or it's possible that they want us to come back but they can't for some reason do that. Anything is possible at this point. They've been a great partner. We'll see here shortly what's the next step."

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NEW ENGINE

Ford executive Doug Hervey says the company will debut its new engine this season.

The engine is expected to first be used by Ford teams not in Chase contention, said Hervey, who oversees Ford's North American Racing Operations.

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TOUGH DAY

Marcos Ambrose, who was scheduled to start third, will start at the rear of the field after blowing an engine in practice Saturday.

He had posted the fastest lap in practice before the incident.

Also starting at the rear will be David Gilliland, who finished second in this race a year ago.

He'll be in a backup car after crashing on pit road during practice.

Gilliland was flipping switches in his car and didn't notice John Andretti had stopped at the end of pit road awaiting an opening to begin practice.

Gilliland, who drives for underfunded TRG motorsports, plowed into the back of Andretti's car.

The team has struggled at times, even parking early in races to save equipment, but has put forth a major effort this weekend in hopes of attracting a fulltime sponsor.

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PIT STOPS

AJ Allmendinger was the fastest in Saturday's final practice session with a lap of 92.525 mph.

He was followed by Ron Fellows (92.481 mph), Robby Gordon (92.348), Juan Pablo Montoya (92.307) and Kasey Kahne (92.220.).