Motor Sports Update
Flat Tire Spoils Almirola's Run at Nashville
Nashville, TN (April 7, 2007) — After a weekend off, the #20 Rockwell Automation / JGR team headed to Nashville, TN with their sights set on a good finish. Based on past success at the unique 1.33 mile concrete oval and the fact their were only 7 Nextel Cup drivers entered in the event, the confidence was high of driver Aric Almirola and the team.
Friday proved to be a trying day. As all time low temperatures blew through the track, Almirola struggled with his race car. Complaining of the car being tight, especially in the center of the corner, he was having trouble gaining the speed necessary to compete with the leaders. As the team continued to work on the car through the bitter temperatures and occasional snow flurry, slowly the #20 car began to come to life.
Qualifying on Saturday proved to be equal chilly as Almirola made his run. Reporting that the car was better, he was able run his best lap of the weekend good enough for the 18th starting position.
As the green flag flew to start the Pepsi 300, Almirola called in quickly to report the car was extremely tight, all the way thru the corners. After an early pit stop, he called in reporting that the car was better, but still needed to be a little freer. When the caution flew on lap 86, he abandoned his 11th place position and headed to pit road for some major changes. Pulling spring rubbers and adjusting air pressure, Almirola returned to the track in the 8th position. With the car handling much better, Almirola quickly climbed up to 7th position. Spending the next 80 laps, Almirola reported that the car was loose at the beginning of a run, but slowly tighten up as the gas burned off. When the caution flew on lap 182 for debris, Almirola followed the leaders to pit road.
Returning to the track with fresh tires and gas to go to the end, he took the restart. Shortly after the restart, Almirola calls in that he thinks he has a flat. Pitting for four tires, Almirola loses one lap. After he returns to the track, Almirola then reports that he has a major vibration and his forced to return to pit road to change right side tires. This would leave Almirola to finish 19th, three laps down from the leaders.
"We must have run over a piece of debris coming to the green," said Almirola following the race. "We struggled early getting the car to turn, but really had it hooked up at the end. We were definitely going to finish in the top-ten and had a good shot of working our way up to the top-five. Each week that Dave (Rogers) and I worked together we seem to get better and better."
The Busch Series will return to action next weekend as they head out to the Lone Star State. The O’Reilly 300 at Texas Motor Speedway will begin at 3:00 p.m. EST and be broadcast on ESPN2. Qualifying for the event will be Thursday evening at 7:05 p.m.
