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 Photos: Autostock |
INDY RACE REPORT
McDOWELL 34TH
McD-#00 Champion Mortgage Toyota Camry Team Tried to Make Best of Tire Situation at The Brickyard
INDIANAPOLIS (July 28, 2008) – Michael McDowell and his Michael Waltrip Racing team finished 34th as they tried to save their #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota from potentially blowing a tire as tires disintegrated during the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard Sunday afternoon. NASCAR was forced to have six competition cautions at intervals of approximately 11 laps and each time race teams changed tires that were rubbed down to the bare cords.
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"We knew the race might end up that way because cords were showing in about seven to eight laps during practice. We tried to save our tires during the race by not pushing the car too hard until the end. We couldn't afford to blow a tire and wreck our car because we need all the points we can get."
-Michael McDowell
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"We were fortunate not to tear up our race car like Matt Kenseth and a few others," McDowell said. "We got as much as we could out of our Champion Mortgage Toyota, but we had to take it easy. We knew the race might end up that way because cords were showing in about seven to eight laps during practice. We tried to save our tires during the race by not pushing the car too hard until the end. We couldn't afford to blow a tire and wreck our car because we need all the points we can get."
McDowell ran just outside the top-25 the first half of the 160-lap event. At Lap 81 during a competition yellow, crew chief Peter Sospenzo directed McDowell to stay out an extra lap as the field came down pit road. McDowell was credited with leading Lap 83.
As the 23-year-old entered pit road, Sospenzo called for right-side tires only. The decision gained McDowell valuable track position placing him back out on track in 14th-place. As McDowell fought hard to stay in the top-15, his car became extremely loose.
"After we ran a few laps we were so loose," McDowell said. "I was just trying to keep from wrecking the car because it was so free."
McDowell slid outside the top-25 on Lap 119 while the team anxiously waited for the next caution to continue to change tires every chance available.
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"We were loose everywhere," McDowell said. "We were loose in and off and we didn't really get a chance to work on it because the tire ordeal. Also, I've never been there before and I needed track time. I wasn't able to have that luxury and practice the full time allotted. We were trying to save our tires like everybody else. We did the best we could with the situation at hand. The guys just kept changing tires till the end."
The #00 Champion Mortgage team crossed the finish line 34th and is now 36th in the owner points standings leading into the race at Pocono Raceway.
"We've got to qualify in on time this weekend, but I'm confident we will," McDowell said. "We've pretty much been able to do that all year, but fortunately we've had the luxury of being locked in the top-35 up until now. We've just not been in this position before. We'll be fine. I'm glad we are finally going to a track I've been to before. Then we have Watkins Glen and hopefully we can pick up a lot of points there. We've had some bad luck too and that's hurt us."
MWR BRICKYARD 400 UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
Indianapolis Motor Speedway; July 27, 2008
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| FIN |
STR |
CAR |
DRIVER |
LAPS |
STATUS |
| 30 |
33 |
44 |
David Reutimann |
160 |
Running |
| 34 |
30 |
00 |
Michael McDowel |
160 |
Running |
| 34 |
43 |
55 |
Michael Waltrip |
91 |
Out |
Live coverage of Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 on ESPN will begin at 1 p.m. ET and MRN at 1:15 p.m. |
INDY QUALIFYING
McD STARTS 30TH
Leads MWR squads on grid at Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (July 26, 2008) – Michael McDowell will start the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard from 30th. Teammates David Reutimann and Michael Waltrip will start 33rd and 34th respectively
"My qualifying lap was good, but just a little bit free and we lost a litte time in Turn 1," McDowell said. "This place is a tough place to qualify at. We picked up kind of like everybody else did when we went out. That's kind of where we were in practice. We picked up four-tenths there. It seems to be pretty much the average here. We'll just work on our car in the next two practices and make it better." |
Peter Sospenzo is leading the charge for the #00 Champion Mortgage Camry and has quickly adapted to his new crew chief position at Michael Waltrip Racing.
"He's doing a great job and he will only get better," McDowell said. "He's a veteran crew chief. Bill (Pappas) also did a great job. We were just having to learn together and it was hard on us equally because it was both our first year in Cup."
For McDowell, he will always remember this weekend.
"For me, growing up an open-wheel guy, Indianapolis is it," McDowell said. "To be able to come here and be a part of it is a huge accomplishment and it's very rewarding.” |
MWR BRICKYARD 400 FINAL PRACTICE
Indianapolis Motor Speedway; July 26, 2008
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| POS |
CAR |
DRIVER |
SPEED |
TIME |
BEHIND |
| 17 |
44 |
David Reutimann |
172.692 |
52.116 |
-0.539 |
| 33 |
55 |
Michael Waltrip |
171.487 |
52.482 |
-0.905 |
| 39 |
00 |
Michael McDowell |
170.345 |
52.834 |
-1.257 |
MWR BRICKYARD 400 STARTING POSITIONS
Indianapolis Motor Speedway; July 26, 2008
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| POS |
CAR |
DRIVER |
SPEED |
TIME |
BEHIND |
| 30 |
00 |
Michael McDowell |
177.592 |
50.678 |
-1.163 |
| 33 |
44 |
David Reutimann |
177.343 |
50.749 |
-1.234 |
| 34 |
55 |
Michael Waltrip |
177.270 |
50.770 |
-1.255 |
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INDY PRACTICE
McDOWELL SEES PROGRESS THROUGH PRACTICES
INDIANAPOLIS (July 25, 2008) – Michael McDowell saw a marked improvement in his practice times in the #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
MWR BRICKYARD 400 PRACTICE 1
Indianapolis Motor Speedway; July 25, 2008
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| POS |
CAR |
DRIVER |
SPEED |
TIME |
BEHIND |
| 23 |
44 |
David Reutimann |
173.541 |
51.861 |
-1.635 |
| 27 |
55 |
Michael Waltrip |
172.911 |
52.050 |
-1.824 |
| 41 |
00 |
Michael McDowell |
171.389 |
52.512 |
-2.286 |
MWR BRICKYARD 400 PRACTICE 2
Indianapolis Motor Speedway; July 25, 2008
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| POS |
CAR |
DRIVER |
SPEED |
TIME |
BEHIND |
| 31 |
00 |
Michael McDowell* |
176.436 |
51.010 |
-1.023 |
| 38 |
55 |
Michael Waltrip |
176.067 |
51.117 |
-1.130 |
| 40 |
44 |
David Reutimann |
175.953 |
51.150 |
-1.163 |
Qualifying for the race is set for 10 a.m. ET, Saturday, followed by Final Practice at 2 p.m.. The green flag will drop Sunday at 1 p.m. |
McD trains with local law enforcement at high speeds
NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Michael McDowell trained with law enforcement on a high-speed course and spoke about NASCAR safety at Metro Community College's Blue River campus on Thursday.
McDowell, driver of the #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing, drove a police car in a simulated high-speed chase behind another law enforcement official. He also drove the car on a skid course covered with water.
"The pursuit was the highlight for me. It felt like I was in a race – maybe a little too much. They said I wasn't allowed to beat and bang on them like I was," McDowell said. "It's just like a race in a sense. Your adrenaline gets going and you get kinda pumped so you're in the zone, and the officers have to deal with that all the time"
McDowell spoke about the safety innovations in NASCAR, including the new car and SAFER barrier at Kansas Speedway. He demonstrated the helmet and HANS device that drivers wear for head and neck support by placing them on a fan in the crowd.
"Our sport is not only for entertainment, it's to help manufacturers develop street cars and make them safer everyday. It's fun to be a part of that development," McDowell said. "Unfortunately, I was the crash test dummy at Texas this year - I pretty much put everything to the limit."
Earlier this year, McDowell was involved in a hard crash during qualifying at Texas and walked away with only a few bruises.
McDowell will race at Kansas Speedway as a rookie in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kansas 400 on September 28. He raced at Kansas Speedway in 2007 in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and finished 11th, completing the 2007 season 2nd in the points standings.
"Coming back to race in a Cup race is pretty special. I love racing on these mile-and-a-half tracks," McDowell said. "I like Kansas because there's a lot to do right around the track as well – great restaurants and all kinds of good entertainment."
McDowell returns to Kansas City for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kansas 400 and NASCAR Nationwide Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on September 27 – 28, 2008. For tickets call 866.460.RACE or visit kansasspeedway.com. |
RACE PREVIEW
DREAMS COME TRUE
McDowell's Tour of The Brickyard Left Lasting Impression
INDIANAPOLIS (July 23, 2008) – Michael McDowell vividly remembers a trip to Indianapolis Motor Speedway when he was 12 years old and now he will turn his first laps at The Brickyard 11 years later in his #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota this weekend. |
"I took a tour there when as a kid and I remember how big the facility was," McDowell said. "We had a weekend off from racing go-karts and went there. I also remember walking through the museum and seeing the cars they kept from past winners and old Sprint cars. It was really cool to walk around Gasoline Alley. There's something special about going to Indy and a lot of people would agree with that. This will be my first time back and I can't wait to make my first lap there."
"Growing up, I was an open wheel guy and it's going to be one of the coolest places for me to race at on the circuit. ...it's something I will never forget."
-M. McDowell
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This is not only the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender's first time racing at the prestigious track, but it is also his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend with new crew chief Peter Sospenzo atop the pit box.
"Last week, I spent time with Peter to get to know him," McDowell said. "He has a lot of experience, has won races and knows what he is doing. He will be able to get right into the mix. He's worked with different teams, veteran drivers and new drivers."
Sospenzo remembers his last time at the 2.5-mile oval with a rookie driver.
"When I was at Hendrick Motorsports, we had the highest qualifying rookie (sixth) with Brian Vickers in 2004 and that was neat because that place is so tough to get around," Sospenzo said. "It carries so much speed in the corners. We need to go there this weekend with McDowell and take our time and not get in a big rush. He needs to gain experience, log all the laps and leave with a good finish."
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For McDowell, racing at The Brickyard may be the ultimate experience.
"Growing up, I was an open wheel guy and it's going to be one of the coolest places for me to race at on the circuit," McDowell said. "The Indy 500 at The Brickyard was the biggest thing going when I was growing up, but I never got to do anything there in an open wheel car. It's funny because The Brickyard is what got me excited about NASCAR. There have been so many great winners of both the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400. Just to be at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an incredible experience and it's something I will never forget."
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY:
The Brickyard 400 |
TV |
| Track Layout |
2.5-mile Oval |
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Practice
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2 p.m. ET, Friday, 7/25 |
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| Practice |
3:30 p.m. ET, Friday, 7/25 |
ESPN 2 |
| Qualifying |
10 a.m. ET, Saturday, 7/26 |
ESPN 2 |
| Final Practice |
2 p.m. ET, Saturday, 7/26 |
ESPN 2 |
| Race |
1 p.m. ET Sunday, 7/27 |
ESPN |
Live coverage of the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard starts at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN and 2 p.m. ET on IMS radio network. |
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