Motor Sports Update
Late Race Accident Spoils Almirola's Day at Talladega
Talladega, AL (April 28, 2007) — This week the #20 Rockwell Automation / JGR team loaded up and headed to the largest track on the Busch Series Circuit, the 2.66 mile Talladega Superspeedway. With Daytona Pole Winner Aric Almirola behind the wheel, the team was looking forward to a good weekend
With the additional of restrictor plates to the engines of these cars, teams were challenged to create cars as aerodynamically sound as possible. A good car would turn quick lap times but also handle well enough to allow the driver to run on the bottom groove or the top groove of the race track. So when Almirola put up the 19th fastest lap time in qualifying, the team was not concerned because cars go from the back to the front back to the back quicker than any other track on the circuit.
It is safe to say that one of Talladega's claims to fame is the notorious wreck known as "The Big One". With the cars running as close as they are and speeds around 188 mph a small bump from one car to another can start a massive chain reaction with the victim being many racecars. As the race began, Almirola took a conservative approach running in the back of the pack close enough to see the leaders, but far enough away that in the event the big one happens, he can safely navigate through the carnage.
Shortly after the race started, Almirola quickly called in that the car was handling great. So when the caution flew on lap 10, Crew Chief Dave Rogers call for him to bring the car to attention of the crew for four tires, fuel and no changes. Restarting in the 27th position, it only took Almirola 10 laps to drive into the top five. Spending the next 20 laps running in the top 5, Almirola got as high as second until he was shuffled out of the draft and dropped back to the 16th position. But with the nature of Talladega, Almirola was able to crawl back into the top five in just 10 laps.
On lap 55, Almirola followed the leaders to pit road. Once again just getting tires & fuel, the #20 team had a great stop and returned him to the track in the 4th position. Almirola would spend the next 30 laps running in the top five until lap 86 when he worked his way to the lead. After leading several laps, Almirola was passed and dropped back to 12th. By lap 101, a determined Almirola had worked his way up to 6th when the car of Ward Burton drove into the left rear sending the #20 car hard into the wall. The crew was able to make minimal repairs that would allow Almirola to limp home in the 20th position, the last car on the lead lap.
"This is what makes restrictor plate racing frustrating," commented Almirola after the race. "We had a really good car and could get to the front of the pack with it. We were just riding along trying to bide our time until the end of the race and instead ended up getting wrecked. The cars were stacking up in front of me and I guess the #27 missed it and just ran into us. We were able to finish the race, but I really wanted a top-five. You just hate it because you really are at the mercy of the patience of all the other competitors."
This week the Busch Series heads to the home of Denny Hamlin, Richmond, VA. Hamlin will return to the seat of the #20 car with a different paint scheme featuring JGR sponsor Z Line designs. The Circuit City 250 is scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
