Texaco/Havoline Team Finishes 23rd at Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Ind. (August 6, 2006) --- Casey Mears and Chip Ganassi have a strong tie to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and both were hoping for a solid run at the famed track. Unfortunately, a tight-handling Texaco/Havoline Dodge had other plans, and Mears had to settle for a 23rd-place finish in The Brickyard 400.
“The Texaco/Havoline Dodge was a little tight at the start of the race, but we were able to make up ground on the track,” said Mears. “At the end, the valance got bent in and the contact I made with the No. 7 car on pit road caused more damage than we thought. During the last two runs the car was just really, really tight. The guys did a good job in the pits today, it’s just a shame we couldn’t get a better finish out of it today.”
Mears started in the 39th position after his qualifying effort on Saturday. The team had a late qualifying draw, which gave the track time to heat up before they had time to make its two laps. The team made progress during the final practice sessions on Saturday before taking the green flag on Sunday for the Brickyard 400.
Two early cautions waved before NASCAR threw a competition caution on lap 15 to check for tire wear. Mears had already gained 14 positions on the track, but the car was running hot due to debris on the grill of the No. 42 Dodge Charger. Crew chief Donnie Wingo called Mears down pit road for four fresh tires and to clean off the front grill. When racing resumed on lap 19, the Texaco/Havoline Dodge was 27th.
Mears continued his march through the field and was up to the 20th position on lap 31 of the 160-lap event. He told Wingo the car was still a little tight, but was still gaining positions on the track. In fact, Mears was sitting 16th when the caution flag waved on lap 39. The Texaco/Havoline crew jumped the wall after making a slight air pressure adjustment to fit the car with fresh tires and pack it full of fuel. The team’s quick stop kept Mears in 16th for the restart on lap 44.
The Texaco/Havoline team would continue to run around the 15th position over the next 40 laps. He told the team the car was loose in, but it was the tight condition that he needed help with on the next stop. The caution was displayed on lap 88 for debris on the track, so Mears drove the No. 42 Dodge down pit road for tires, an air pressure adjustment and fuel. The seven-man crew performed a 13-second stop and gained four spots on pit road. Mears was now 11th for the restart on lap 89.
It took Mears just two laps to break into the top 10 for the first time. He maintained the position until green-flag pit stops began on lap 124. Wingo called Mears down pit road on lap 125 for tires, fuel and to have the valance pulled out on the left side that had been bent up from Mears running so low on the track.
After that, the track seemed to tighten up quite a bit, as Mears was struggling on this set of tires. He slipped back to 16th before the next caution waved for debris on lap 141.
Wingo called Mears down pit road for four tires and a chassis adjustment on lap 143. With several cars electing to remain on the track, a few other two-tire stops and contact with the No. 7 car leaving pit road put Mears back in 26th for the restart on lap 146. Over the closing 14 laps, with one final caution, Mears was able to gain three spots to finish 23rd.
Mears’ Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates teammates David Stremme and Reed Sorenson finished 18th and 28th respectively. The Texaco/Havoline team remains 15th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings with 15 races remaining in the 2006 season including next week’s road course race at Watkins Glen International.
Back to Race Results
|
