during Newman’s press conference, he was asked: “WILL YOU START ON THE OUTSIDE? [at the start of Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600] “Do I have that option? I’ll have to think about that. I’ve got two or three days. That’s a good one.”(Dodge/Clear!Blue PR), yes he has the option, the pole sitter can start on the inside or outside line, if the driver chooses the outside, only the outside pole sitter [in this case #24-Jeff Gordon] changes, moving to the ‘pole’ or inside. And yes, this is an option the pole sitter has for every race.(5-27-2005)
UPDATE – Yep: Ryan Newman’s Penske Racing outfit has exercised the option to start on the outside of the front row in the Coca-Cola 600, crew chief Matt Borland confirmed Saturday. Yep, we’re going to do it,” Borland said. “The bottom of Turns 1 and 2 isn’t real good, so we’re going to start on the outside tomorrow.” Per the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series rulebook, the pole-winning team has the option to flip-flop starting positions with the second-place qualifier and start in the outside line if they so desire. Though rare, this has happened before, and in fact happened just last weekend in the Nextel Open when pole-winner Mike Bliss chose the outside line over the traditional pole position, leaving second-place qualifier Kyle Busch to start in the typical pole slot. Jeff Gordon will start in the traditional pole position in the Coca-Cola 600.(NASCAR.com)(5-28-2005)
