Not meaning to be critical here, as we got to see a very entertaining feature. But USAC's invert format needs to be tweaked when they have relatively short fields like they had last night. I don't want to suggest that anyone was gaming the system, but it sure seemed like a number of drivers were taking it kind of easy in their heats or the semi, knowing they would get their times back. The semi was a total formality, and one could tell most of the drivers weren't taking any chances, knowing they would get their times back. And why spend the better part of a half-hour debating whether or not to run the semi? You only had 26 cars sign in, just go ahead and start everyone. I know they wanted to give Hendrick and Gulick time to get their cars put together after their flips. Fine, but rather than tick off the fans in the stands by making them wait 30 minutes wondering why the !@#$ the semi still isn't in the push off chute, go ahead and announce to everyone that's the plan, and have the announcer fill some time.

One more thing about the format: They really need to do a better job of explaining to casual fans about the invert and giving times back. I understand the setup, but I've got to think there's a lot of casual fans wondering how drivers who run near the back of their heat race start up near the front of the semi, and drivers who come out of the semi start the feature ahead of ones who transferred out of the heats.

Now, all that said, we ultimately got to see a pretty darn good main event.