Talladega, Ala. ? The pressure of the closest championship chase in Winston Cup history could shift from the drivers to the pit crews today at Talladega Superspeedway.

A rule change by NASCAR could make the action on pit road the deciding factor in what shapes up to be an unusual race.

In an effort to separate the best cars from the weaker ones on the 2.66-mile, high-banked oval, NASCAR is requiring that cars use a 1212-gallon gas tank just over half the usual 22-gallon fuel cell for the EA Sports 500.

“We may get bit by it tomorrow,” said James Ince, crew chief for Johnny Benson. “There are going to be people that are hurt by it, having to pit a whole lot, because any time you go on pit road things can go wrong.”

The effects of the smaller gas tanks will be felt on long green-flag runs in the 188-lap race.

In that case, the drivers will not only have to pit nearly twice as many times about every 25 laps, instead of 40 the crews will be hard-pressed to change more than two tires on a stop before the cars are gassed and ready to go.

Veteran crew chief Frankie Stoddard, working his first race with Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton after being fired by Jeff Burton, said, “You have to have some luck on your side. Not every call (in the pits) is a great call. A lot of them, something has to happen just right for it to go that way.”

Steve Hmiel, director of motorsports and technical operations for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., fields cars for Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael Waltrip and Steve Park in the 43-car field.

The former crew chief pointed out the added stops mean there are more chances for drivers to be penalized for exceeding the pit road speed limit of 55 mph.

“It puts the onus on the driver for getting the car to pit road as quick as possible,” Hmiel said. “Then we have to use good strategy two tires, four tires, no tires. … If you look at it optimistically, it’s a chance to do better two or three more times. If you look at it pessimistically, it’s a chance to mess up two or three more times.”

Earnhardt, who has won the last two races here, and Waltrip, winner of two races in Daytona since the start of 2001, are considered the drivers to beat in any race at NASCAR’s two biggest and fastest tracks.

Those are also the only tracks where NASCAR requires carburetor restrictor plates to reduce horsepower and keep the cars under 200 mph.

Thanks to those plates, the start and restarts following cautions will be business as usual today.

That means huge packs of cars running two- and three-wide, nearly touching at speeds close to 200 mph a recipe for disaster and exactly why NASCAR is hoping for long green-flag runs and lots of pit stops.

After rain Friday canceled qualifying, the field was set by season points. That puts the drivers involved in the tense title chase up front, with leader Jimmie Johnson on the pole, and Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman separated by only 154 points right behind.

Kyle Petty, who will start 22nd, said that gives those drivers no real advantage at this track.

“If this was New Hampshire, then track position would be critical,” Petty said. “If you’ve got a good car here and start 42nd or 43rd, you’re not in that big trouble. You can adjust yourself.”