Lap-by-Lap: Atlanta
NASCAR.COM
March 19, 2006
02:42 PM EST (19:42 GMT)
2:40 p.m. -- Track dryers continue to circle the surface despite the mist as several poncho-clad fans wait patiently.
2:10 p.m. -- NASCAR officials send drivers back to their motorhomes, and FOX diverts to video of the 2005 Golden Corral 500.
1:55 p.m. -- Weather radar shows green, green, green (translation: rain), and an in-car shot of Greg Biffle shows him snoozing.
1:52 p.m. -- The 4,628th time (again, see below).
1:47 p.m. -- The 4,627th time (see below).
1:38 p.m. -- The 4,626th video clip of Carl Edwards beating JimmieJohnson to the line in last year's race is shown.
1:37 p.m. -- Darrell Waltrip takes his ride with Jeff Hammond around AMS and says, "You gotta get a lotta wheel." Hmmm.
1:35 p.m. -- Drivers are in their cars, but sprinkles continue to fall and the covers remain on the machines.
1:25 p.m. -- FOX shows Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s ride in with the Navy's Blue Angels -- just another ride for Junior.
1:15 p.m. -- National anthem
1:14 p.m. -- Invocation
1:04 p.m. -- FOX's coverage from the damp Atlanta Motor Speedway is on the air, and the first interview is with Bill Lester. It's reported more than 300 stories have been written about him this weekend.
12:56 p.m. -- It's 51 degrees in Hampton, Ga., with overcast skies. Rain has fallen most of the morning, but crews have been called to their cars on pit road.
