Spectators watch the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 through the infield fence at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday. The race set track records for most leaders (16) and most lead changes (28). Photo by Sara Tramiel/Rweview-Journal

Who could have imagined a NASCAR race where you could get a pedicure, then walk about a hundred feet to watch The Temptations perform live?

Or that Blue Man Group members would walk with typically blank stares past reporters working in a track's media center?

Those were a few surreal moments during NASCAR weekend at the renovated Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The Nextel Cup and Busch races provided excitement and controversy, the new Neon Garage infield area offered an experience like no other in sports, and the weather was perfect.

Following is a breakdown of a few aspects of the weekend:

• RACING SURFACE -- The higher-banked 1.5-mile asphalt circuit shows signs of producing better racing, and things should improve as the sun and heat age it and more tire rubber gets worked into the asphalt.

True, it was a treacherous ride for all, but drivers aren't working for minimum wage.

Tony Stewart was adamant even after finishing third in Saturday's Sam's Town 300 Busch race that tracks should be repaved only when they begin to crumble.

But, Tony, tracks aren't sacred ground. In a year or two, you might love the speedway. Change can be good, and that will be the case with the big track at the speedway.

The best descriptions of what it was like to drive on it ranged from being on black ice to racing on the edge of a razor blade.

That was true, but don't blame Speedway Motorsports, which owns the facility. Blame the people responsible for providing tires. Which means ...

• BLAME GOODYEAR -- This track was used in its current configuration by the Craftsman Truck Series in September. Two Cup teams were brought back in December by Goodyear for two days of testing. That's when Greg Biffle crashed after a right front tire failed.

All Cup and Busch teams were back in January, and despite a few having tire failures, it was evident that speed records would be broken.

Goodyear, almost certainly at the urging of NASCAR, determined a harder tire would slow speeds.

There might have been one or two blowouts over the weekend, but inadequate traction contributed to about 20 crashes during qualifying and the races.

It's evident that Goodyear is more concerned with tire failure on national television than providing quality tires that will allow drivers to race.

If Goodyear can't react by having a tire to fit specific tracks, then it shouldn't be the exclusive supplier of NASCAR's tires that sell for about $400 apiece.

• MORE ACTION -- The UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 broke track Cup records for most leaders (16) and most lead changes (28). NASCAR statistics also showed 1,123 green-flag passes, compared with 898 a year ago.

A factor in those stats might be the last-minute switch to a smaller, 13-gallon fuel cell that forced more pit stops than in the past.

Also, no one who started in the top 10 finished in the top 10. That hadn't happened in the series since July 4, 1965.

Too much of the race was single-file parades spread out around the track, but that will get better in time.

• NEON GARAGE -- The new infield area hit a grand slam.

Everyone raved about views into the team garages. There were places to sit and even some shade.

And the near nonstop entertainment spanned pop, country and soul music.

• ON THE TUBE -- Sunday's race was the first of the three Cup telecasts this year to show a viewership increase, according to Nielsen Media Research. The Las Vegas race drew a 6.3 rating and 13 share (10.5 million) nationally and was the weekend's most watched sports event. That's 2 percent better than last year.

Nielsen data provided by KVVU-TV, the local Fox affiliate that aired the race, showed a 17 percent increase over the 2006 audience.

• VOLUNTEERS -- Those who offer their time to help during a race weekend often don't receive credit.

But a salute goes to Las Vegan Perry Godzisz. He took three days off from his job in the convention industry to help in the media center.

During his three-day "holiday," he loaded around 6,500 bottles of soda and water into media center coolers.

He might have been the only one of nearly 300,000 at the speedway over the weekend who did not enjoy the warm weather.

Jeff Wolf's motor sports column is published Friday. He can be reached at 383-0247 or jwolf@reviewjournal.com.