Auto Club 500 - Our Report Card - Another C+

We have told you before that Fantasy Auto Racing is almost impossible to predict. We seem to prove that to ourselves each week. None the less, we are bound and determined to figure out a way. Each week we add more information to our databases, and refine our calculation routines. We made some significant changes to our Daytona 500 equations and tested them on this week's Auto Club 500. The results?

Of our predicted top 20, 11 drivers actually finished there. Four more did not finish the race (T. Labonte, Nemechek, Riggs, and Kahne). that leaves five more that did'n make in the top 20. The biggest disapointment was Jeremy Mayfield who looked to have the statistical talent to win this race. Mayfield finished 28th. The other 3, Kenseth (Predicted 4th / finished 26th), Vickers (7th / 21st), Kyle Busch (11th / 23rd) and Mike Wallace (20th / a not to far off at 25th).

Our most accurate picks: Jimmie Johnson (2nd / 2nd), Jamie McMurray (8th / 4th), and Sterling Marlin (18th / 15th).

As for the Crew Chief, well, she didn't repeat last weeks feat of naming the top three, but she still did pretty good. Four of her top ten picks finished there (Johnson - Predicted 2nd / Actual 2nd, Martin 5th / 7th, Kurt Busch 7th / 3rd, and Harvick 10th / 6th). Two more, Kahne and Waltrip, did not finish the race, and another, Jeff Gordon, was near the top of the pack until mechanical problems late in the race.

Her biggest dissapointments Stewart (1st / 17th) and Earnhardt Jr. (3rd / 32nd).

So it's back to the drawing board and overtime for Rocket Man as we work to bring you the best predictions possible. By the way, our coverage of the UAW Daimler Chrysler 500 from Las Vegas begins tomorrow.