A bad day for some big names

The bottom fell out of it," Harvick said. "We never blow motors. It just let loose. It's just one of those things that happens."

Harvick, the regular-season points leader last year, begins 2011 tied for 36th place. Harvick was already back home in North Carolina before the race ended.

Before he left, a reporter in the garage asked him if he was worried about his points situation.

"You don't come very much do you," Harvick said to the reporter. "This is the first race."

NASCAR has one of the longest seasons in sports with 36 races that count toward the title. There's plenty of time to climb up the standings.

However, a bad day in 2011 is a much bigger hit than it was in 2010. The new simplified points system, known as the 43/1 plan, is easier to understand for everyone. It's also more difficult to make up for a bad finish.

The winner now can receive 47 or 48 times as many points (including bonus points) than the last-place finisher. In the old system it was about 5½ times as much.

So a finish near the back is a big ouch for championship contenders. But this race has one bit of good news for the bad finishers.

Bayne scored zero points. Under new rules, he does not earn Cup points after declaring he would run for the Nationwide Series title.

Edwards, a likely title contender, earned 42 points for finishing second. He called it the most painful second place of his career, but he sees the big picture in the new system.

"Right now it's going to be a long night for me," Edwards said. "I will think of 100 things I could have done to win this. But when we roll into Phoenix next weekend I'll think, 'Hey, this is OK.'

"There is a very bright side to our day today. Considering the chaos out there today, it's really nice to get out of here with a good points day."

The race had a record 16 cautions for 60 laps. Some of the best racers in the sport couldn't avoid the carnage.

Five-time champion Johnson finished 27th and four-time Cup champ Gordon was right behind him in 28th.

Both drivers were involved in the big wreck on Lap 29, and both teams did a good job of repairing the cars to get back on the track and salvage something from a tough day.

Gordon was frustrated about drivers pairing up toward the back of the field so early in the race.

"I totally get the two-car draft," Gordon said. "What I don't understand is why they are doing it three-wide for 28th [place]. They need to let it thin out a little bit and be more harm-free instead of pushing and shoving up the middle and down the back straightaway. What are they doing?"