USAC does have a RR tire rule. They stamp the tire you qualify on and that is the tire with which you must start the feature. The problem is that many USAC teams (me included) bring two sets (RR, LR and RF) and hot lap on both. The faster set you qualify and run the feature on and the other set you run the Heat and Semi if necessary. That way you start the feature with two less heat cycles on you tires and have more speed at the beginning of the race.

If a sanctioning body were to limit you to one set per night I would be very happy since everyone would be on the same number of heat cycles. The downside is that every once in a while you get a set of brand new tires that absolutely won't work. What do you do about that?

Rob Hoffman