Do you work for a government agency? Are you looking for a way to convey an important bit of news to the country at large? What better way than by advertising via America's favorite sport, NASCAR? Such was the impetus behind FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's decision to spend $350,000 promoting the national conversion from analog to digital TV on a car in three races.

No one can blame pundits for pointing out the fact that the idea quite literally crashed and burned--twice. The car was involved in not one, but two crashes--the second causing a nine-car pileup on the track.

"Except for the cars that win the races, the cars that are in wrecks get a lot of attention," Martin told Reuters after the first crash.

The federal government sure has a way of maintaining public confidence, doesn't it?