By Dustin Long

Archives Reprint

   The Roanoke Times

    NASCAR is looking at ways to finish races under green, but nothing is expected to change until next season at the earliest, a series official said Monday.

    Three of the past six Nextel Cup races have ended under caution.

    "I think long-term, we've got to do everything we can to figure out how to finish races under green," said Jim Hunter, NASCAR vice president.

    Hunter said he doesn't anticipate a change this year.

    One option is to guarantee that the race's final two laps are run under green, as is done in the Craftsman Truck Series.

    Sunday's race at Pocono ended with cars crossing the finish line behind winner Jimmie Johnson at about 65 mph instead of 185 mph because of oil on the track from a blown engine. Also, Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth made contact, spinning Kenseth into the turn3 grass. Kenseth's car knocked debris, dirt and grass on the track when it returned.

    "It wasn't safe to start the race," runner-up Jeremy Mayfield said. "There was no way they could."

    The Coca-Cola 600 ended under caution two weeks ago when there was a crash as the leaders were halfway through the final lap, allowing Johnson to win. Jeff Gordon won at Talladega in April when officials didn't restart the race with one lap to go, following an unofficial policy they've had for years at Talladega and Daytona.

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