In a rain shortened Indy 500 Matt Kenseth won his second race in as many starts in 2009, but got his first ever win in “The Great American Race”. It had all the components of the premiere race in America, good drama, a good run, and a major wreck that involved big name drivers, but what it didn’t have is the finality that a big race, and NASCAR needed. The rain shortened 500 didn’t produce what the sport needed to battle a bad economy in recession and battered auto industry. With sponsorship drying up, NASCAR really was counting on it’s showcase event showing fans why they should pay ticket prices and sponsors that the sport is still a great medium to reach audiences. The weather also hurt TV advertising as well as Sunday's event on Fox drew a preliminary national rating of 9.2 and a 19 share, the network said Tuesday. The last rain-shortened Daytona 500 earned a 9.8/21 in 2003. Last year's full race drew a 10.2/20. The drama of the day came when Jr., already a lap down due to a couple of pit mistakes, tried to make up the ground and got tangled up with Brian Vickers causing fray involving nine-cars. After the race Earndardt took responsibility for the pile up by stating "I take full responsibility for what happened on pit road," he said. "It's unfortunate how everything happened. I feel bad for everybody that was swept up in that wreck. But at the same time, it's the Daytona 500. The rain was coming and you have to take risks." Is the “Great American Race” on par with other premiere American sports finals such as the World Series, Super Bowl, and NBA finals? If not, what is missing? Did this year’s Indy live up to expectations? Let us know here and in the NASCAR chat rooms.