LONG POND - It is not a question of if, but when and who.
During today's Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway, someone will attempt to cut the corner in Turn 2 where the curbing was removed and replaced with 15 feet of pavement.
After all, they've done it at Phoenix International Raceway ever since a portion of that track was widened.
But pole-sitter Denny Hamlin has a word of advice for those thinking about trying such a move at Pocono.
Don't.
"I'd like to think all the Cup drivers are smarter than that," Hamlin said. "You can't use it like Phoenix. At Phoenix, you're running 120 mph. Here, you're running 190 mph going into that corner."
Drivers were glad to hear that Pocono removed the curbing during the offseason. Carl Edwards said he was the master at hitting it.
"The tunnel turn now, there is less of a penalty for getting in there and misjudging the apex, which is nice because I do that a lot," Edwards said. "I notice now that if I cross over that line, it is a little more forgiving."
Brad Keselowski added cars that get squeezed down there going through Turn 2, particularly on restarts, now have somewhere to go whereas in the past they didn't and found trouble.
"That curb before was kind of a race killer if you hit and damaged the splitter," Keselowski said. "It could really end your day and not necessarily be your fault. So I thought it was a great change."
However, Turn 2 at Pocono - aka the Tunnel Turn because it is the portion of the track that goes over the infield access tunnel - is one of the most challenging in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Drivers might want to curb their enthusiasm and resist the temptation to
attempt the move, at least intentionally.
"I've got an idea of a handful of guys who might try to do that, cut the race track," Hamlin said. "It probably would not be good for them. It's a cool idea, but the new asphalt is like two inches higher than the old asphalt. It's not a smooth transition, so you're going to rip your spoiler and literally tear your whole front end right off the front of your car.
"Someone is going to get forced down there at some point, so I'm interested to see how the outcome is of that."
Kevin Harvick, who will start fourth today, was the fastest during Saturday's practice for the Pocono 400. He ran 177.291 mph in the first session, then went 175.606 mph in the final session despite thinking he had an engine problem. It turned out to just be a leak in the transmission, which his team changed.
"Our car is really fast. We've just got to put a whole day together," Harvick told Fox Sports. "Right now we're running really good. I'm looking forward to (today)."
Kurt Busch, who will start alongside Hamlin on the front row, was second in the final practice at 175.545 mph. Jimmie Johnson, who has won the last two weeks, was third at 175.452. Tony Stewart (175.370) and Ryan Newman (175.145) rounded out the top five.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was sixth in the final practice at 175.073 mph. He, too, swapped out his transmission after reporting a vibration in his car. He will start eighth in today's race.
Keselowski, who starts third, was seventh in final practice at 174.808 mph. Matt Kenseth was eighth at 174.618 mph, Jeff Gordon, who starts fifth, was ninth at 174.388 mph and Hamlin 10th at 174.304 mph.
The only other casualty during final practice was Aric Almirola, who suffered a blown motor. He qualified 22nd, but will have to start today's race at the rear of the field due to an engine change.
"I would rather that it happen (Saturday) than five laps into the race (today)," Almirola said. "If it was going to happen, I'm glad it happened in Happy Hour. We can get a new motor put in it and get ready for 400 miles of Pocono (today)."
Of the top 10 starters in today's race, nine of them have at least one victory this season. Ninth-place starter Brian Vickers is still looking for his first win of 2014.
Also, six of the top-10 starters own wins at Pocono. Vickers, Harvick, Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch do not.
The Pocono 400 is scheduled to get the green flag today at 1 p.m.