ESPN

Ryan McGee

  (1:31 PM)

What's up my crankcase sludge-covered brothers and sisters? The Internet's Biggest and Baddest Monday Afternoon Motorsports Block Party is coming at you a little early and a little shorter this week. I'm at the ESPN Mothership getting ready to do NASCAR Now tonight at 5 PM ET. But now it's time to talk Brickyard, so crank up your favorite Jim Nabors album and let's get after it.

Aron (Las Colinas, Tx)

Ryan, are you ready for a Classic Johnson-Stewart dual this fall? This will be the first time the Chase really delivers. If you have to choose one, who ya got?

Ryan McGee

  (1:33 PM)

I am ready...but this won't be the first time the Chase really delivers, dude...how soon you forget 2004. I know Kurt Busch won, but the '04 season finale was one of the top ten greatest races ever run. If you're making me choose between JJ and Smoke I'll take JJ. He's Three-Time and I have to think that Hendrick won't be giving Tony all their secrets when its time to make the money this fall. (BTW, my actual Cup pick is Jeff Gordon, has been all season.)

Rich (Buffalo)

While Danica told Jim Rome last Thursday she was intrigued by Nascar, if the choice comes down to driving for Stewart-Haas only or Chip's IRL and Cup teams, that would kill your intrigue, wouldn't it?

Ryan McGee

  (1:36 PM)

We just had a pre-show rundown meeting for tonight's NASCAR Now and talked about this very topic. To me, if she's going to make the NASCAR move, she has to go with a team that can also put her in the Indy 500. That would mean Ganassi or Penske. But I wouldn't rule out Stewart-Haas simply I truly believe that when the Indy 500 time is adjusted (and many are already lobbying for that to happen for the centennial event in 2011), SHR will be fielding an open wheel car for the boss.

Ryan McGee

  (1:37 PM)

The good news is that when Danica talks about moving to stock cars she is talking about taking it slow and ramping up on an ABC (ARCA-Busch-Cup) plan. She has to do that if she really wants this to work.

Rich (Buffalo)

By the way, those were a couple of intreresting outfits she wore last week on Rome and Kimmel's shows, only Danica could attempt to pull that off.

Ryan McGee

  (1:38 PM)

Yeah, I re-Twittered the backstage photo that she posted from Kimmel. Was that a dress or a napkin?

Jack (Brooklyn, NY)

I've come into possession of a Dale Jr/Danica Patrick celebrity sex tape. Which Greek island should I buy?

Ryan McGee

  (1:38 PM)

You should buy ESPN.

Ed (Fort Worth)

When the Brickyard first came to be, it seems like Nascar needed the track more than the other way around. Now it seems to be the exact opposite, the track needs Nascar more, even if it is considered one of the "crown jewel" races. Your thoughts?

Ryan McGee

  (1:40 PM)

Agreed, though the old school Indy Car folks don't like to admit that. The success of the Brickyard...er, Allstate 400...has provided the cash that IMS needed to get projects like forming the IRL and bringing in F1 and Superbikes. Again, we'll be talking about this on NASCAR Now tonight...did you guys get a copy of our show rundown or something?

John (Nashville)

Ryan, are you as tired as I am about hearing about Jeremy Mayfield? Whether he did it or not he will not race again. Thanks for the time.

Ryan McGee

  (1:42 PM)

John, you don't even know...but it sure isn't going anywhere anytime soon. And even he now admits (between calling his stepmom names) that his racing career is over. Quite honestly, it already was one foot in the grave before all of this started. My man Marty Smith was right as usual, when he called the whole mess a sad, sorry situation.

Glen (Fla)

Ryan. man I cant tell you how happy I am that we have a race this weekend, if it was up to me they would run 52 weeks a year with no off weeks. my question is whats you're over/under on how many laps the tires can run under green this week at Indy

Ryan McGee

  (1:44 PM)

I hear you Glen, though if we ran anymore races my wife would pack what's left of my stuff and leave it on the porch. Over/under is 35 laps. That's how long guys said they were running at the last couple of tire tests. I'll believe it when I see it. I'll be wincing as soon as we hit lap 10, which is when tires started popping like cheap balloon animals last year.

Jason (ETN)

Surely I'm not the only one that has completely tuned out the Nationwide series? I love the thought of young guys with nothing to lose and a Cup ride to gain throwing everything but the kitchen sink at each other. But watching Kyle/Karl/Kevin win every week has finally made me stop wasting DVR space.

Ryan McGee

  (1:46 PM)

You're not alone, Jason. When I talk to fans now they don't even know that the Nationwide Series is still running. The series needs its own identity. There was serious talk a couple of years ago about fielding Pony cars in NNS - Mustangs, Camaros, etc. That, plus limiting the # of races a Cup regular could enter, was the perfect solution to me. But I think the economy has put that idea in mothballs.

Big Cat (Awesomeville)

Do you remember the good ole days when Dave Marcus couldnt qualify? Also, do you think they will ever go back to the second day of qualifying again for positions 26-43?

Ryan McGee

  (1:47 PM)

Yo Big Cat...my Dad used to be Dave's gas can man when he first started coming south to run Cup races in the Carolinas. Wingtip shoes, baby. Old school.

devin (whitmore lake)

ryan who your dark house indy i am going kurt if he coundts

Trevor (Clemson, SC)

Huge Kurt Busch fan here...do you think he can get an Indy Win in NASCAR for the Captain this weekend?

Ryan McGee

  (1:49 PM)

Kurt is a great pick, y'all. It's funny to me how he's kind of hovered there in the top five in points all year and we haven't talked about him at all...at least not until he started calling out Jimmie. And don't be surprised if Clint Bowyer or Jeff Burton sneak in there as well.

Bill (Boston)

Ryan: do you think David Ruetimann will make the chase?

Andy (Dallas)

Which big name driver do you think will not make the chase?

Ryan McGee

  (1:51 PM)

I think The Reut and Kyle Busch will both be left standing when the music stops. I judge Chase chances based on a driver's worst days. And both of these guys have unfortunately offset their great days with really, really bad ones.

EyrishEyes (NY)

Hi Ryan! So, are Junior's chances of making the chase better or worse than Paula's chances of returning to Idol?

Ryan McGee

  (1:53 PM)

According to her agent, his chances are better. To me, Idol without the crazy little dancing judge will feel as empty as the Chase without NASCAR's biggest star. So does that make Montoya NASCAR's Kara Dio-whatshername?

Rick (Rochester, NY)

Any updates on Red Bull - Vickers contract? Switch to Chevy? Speed's future?

Ryan McGee

  (1:55 PM)

Everything at RB is on hold until we know the result of the team GM's recent trip to Eruope to try and convince his bosses to do a Stewart-ish satellite deal with Hendrick Motorsports. Whether that would make Vickers stay or go I have no idea. Problem is, where's he going to go? If I'm a driver with a ride in this volatile market I am staying right where I am. That includes Kevin Harvick.

Tyler (Snohomish,Wa)

Do you think Biffle and Kenseth will both make the chase?

Ryan McGee

  (1:55 PM)

Matt yes, Greg no.

Mike (Detroit)

Does Roush-Fenway have anything for the 14 and 48 leading into the Chase, then once they get into the Chase or are they just too far behind?

Ryan McGee

  (1:57 PM)

I would never rule them out, but I think they have clearly been hurt by the testing ban. Same for RCR. In years past when they got behind they could just test like crazy until they got caught up. Now they can't do that and computer simulations can only get you so far.

Eric (Harrisonburg, VA)

OUCH! I was just about to ask you if Montoya was going to keep "movin' on up!" If Kara is more talented than Paula, does that make 42 more talented than 88?

Ryan McGee

  (1:58 PM)

See, at least you got my Jeffersons theme song reference in the Power Rankings. I can't believe how many people have been like, "Jeffer-what?" I guess I'm just old. Have you people not seen "Tropic Thunder"? And I'm not going there with anymore Kara and Paula or this chat will officially be in the wall.

Schme Boyard (Greenland)

Ryan, I feel like I'm the only Wood Brothers fan left (or the only one online, at least)...Who do you think will fill their seat next year? Some ambitious names could be Sadler, Petty, Riggs...

Ryan McGee

  (1:59 PM)

You're not the only one. Even an old school Petty fan like me loves the Woods. I'd keep an eye on Riggs...but Kyle in the 21 for one last go-round would rock.

Craig G. (Fairfield, California)

Hey Ryan, you're my favorite NASCAR analyst. Do you think the top 3 in the standings are head and shoulders above the other drivers? Thanks!

Ryan McGee

  (2:01 PM)

And you Craig are my new best friend. I think they are. And if Hamlin and and Busch run as well as I think they can at Indy we might have a Tour de France style five-car breakaway.

Ryan McGee

  (2:02 PM)

Alright folks...I gotta go. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I have to go put makeup on. Check out my spray-baked face on NASCAR Now, ESPN2 at 5 PM ET. Enjoy Marty Smith and take it easy on the boy. Between a newborn baby at home and Jeremy Mayfield, he's tuckered out.