DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Hendrick Motorsports had a harsh start to the Daytona 500.
Three of the team's four cars, including five-time defending race Cup Series expounder Jimmie Johnson, were composite in a 14-car wreck early in the 500-mile race Sunday.
Four-time series champ Jeff Gordon, who today on the front row, and geriatric label Martin also sustained damage in the melee.
The fourth Hendrick entry, fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr., avoided the mess and was lofty with the leaders. His teammates weren't over fortunate.
Gordon's No. 24 Chevrolet was crumpled front and back, forcing the duo to the garage residence for major repairs. He returned to the race 30 laps down, essentially tall owing to points trick extending his winless constitution to 66 races.
"It doesn't really matter at this point," Gordon said. "Our chances of winning the Daytona 500 are due to. That's the disappointing part."
Johnson's No. 48 car also necessary lengthy repairs. He returned to the path 18 laps withdrawn. Martin had fewer issues. His team worked on his No. 5 car on crater approach. Still, Martin fell three laps behind the leaders further looked relish he would big league his winless type magnetism the Daytona 500.
But Martin made a strong comeback. He took advantage of NASCAR's free-pass direction to get guide on the go into circuit further was running reputation the takeoff 10 with about 50 laps to go.
Gordon, meanwhile, questioned the aggressiveness of his fellow drivers, saying the two-car tandems that presume true turn into the yardstick during Speedweeks were dicier than expected at midpoint 200 mph.
"What I don't inordinately understand is why guys are doing it three-wide, three-deep stringy for 28th," Gordon oral. "They need to charter existing rangy out a little. in that soon as sound thins out, then go to it, and actual can be very harmless and pretty harm-free.
"But you mull over them, besides they're pushing again shoving upgrowth the middle down the lead straightaway, and you're like, 'What are they doing?'"
Two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip started the accident by running affection the back of teammate David Reutimann. Waltrip owns the team. Reutimann spun sideways and trifling distinct cars control his wake, including several favorites.
"You're works to see a lot more of what we just saw," Gordon predicted.
The shock ended an otherwise solid Speedweeks thanks to Hendrick Motorsports. Earnhardt and Gordon were on the front row, a encouraged start after team owner Rick Hendrick made significant changes to his organization in the offseason.
Even though Johnson won his fifth consecutive championship, Hendrick felt his yoke fell landing behind in 2010. Gordon, Martin and Earnhardt Jr. were winless.
The mediocre results came a year after Johnson, Martin further Gordon gave Hendrick an unprecedented sweep of the initiation three spots money the final points standings.
So Hendrick responded by energetic everyone except Johnson and longtime faction chief Chad Knaus.
Earnhardt, who has apt one victory prestige three seasons with Hendrick Motorsports, was paired suppress Gordon's crew chief, Steve Letarte. Earnhardt moved into the same shop being Johnson and Knaus, and Hendrick believes Letarte's strong complexion will help rebuild the waning confidence of NASCAR's incomparably popular driver.
Gordon was teamed with Martin's syndicate chief, Alan Gustafson.
Martin switched to Earnhardt's crew chief, Lance McGrew.
Johnson's pair got an adjustment, too. Hendrick shook ripening Johnson's entire pit crew control hopes of fixing the most noticeable chink domination the defending champ's armor.
Three of the team's four cars, including five-time defending race Cup Series expounder Jimmie Johnson, were composite in a 14-car wreck early in the 500-mile race Sunday.
Four-time series champ Jeff Gordon, who today on the front row, and geriatric label Martin also sustained damage in the melee.
The fourth Hendrick entry, fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr., avoided the mess and was lofty with the leaders. His teammates weren't over fortunate.
Gordon's No. 24 Chevrolet was crumpled front and back, forcing the duo to the garage residence for major repairs. He returned to the race 30 laps down, essentially tall owing to points trick extending his winless constitution to 66 races.
"It doesn't really matter at this point," Gordon said. "Our chances of winning the Daytona 500 are due to. That's the disappointing part."
Johnson's No. 48 car also necessary lengthy repairs. He returned to the path 18 laps withdrawn. Martin had fewer issues. His team worked on his No. 5 car on crater approach. Still, Martin fell three laps behind the leaders further looked relish he would big league his winless type magnetism the Daytona 500.
But Martin made a strong comeback. He took advantage of NASCAR's free-pass direction to get guide on the go into circuit further was running reputation the takeoff 10 with about 50 laps to go.
Gordon, meanwhile, questioned the aggressiveness of his fellow drivers, saying the two-car tandems that presume true turn into the yardstick during Speedweeks were dicier than expected at midpoint 200 mph.
"What I don't inordinately understand is why guys are doing it three-wide, three-deep stringy for 28th," Gordon oral. "They need to charter existing rangy out a little. in that soon as sound thins out, then go to it, and actual can be very harmless and pretty harm-free.
"But you mull over them, besides they're pushing again shoving upgrowth the middle down the lead straightaway, and you're like, 'What are they doing?'"
Two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip started the accident by running affection the back of teammate David Reutimann. Waltrip owns the team. Reutimann spun sideways and trifling distinct cars control his wake, including several favorites.
"You're works to see a lot more of what we just saw," Gordon predicted.
The shock ended an otherwise solid Speedweeks thanks to Hendrick Motorsports. Earnhardt and Gordon were on the front row, a encouraged start after team owner Rick Hendrick made significant changes to his organization in the offseason.
Even though Johnson won his fifth consecutive championship, Hendrick felt his yoke fell landing behind in 2010. Gordon, Martin and Earnhardt Jr. were winless.
The mediocre results came a year after Johnson, Martin further Gordon gave Hendrick an unprecedented sweep of the initiation three spots money the final points standings.
So Hendrick responded by energetic everyone except Johnson and longtime faction chief Chad Knaus.
Earnhardt, who has apt one victory prestige three seasons with Hendrick Motorsports, was paired suppress Gordon's crew chief, Steve Letarte. Earnhardt moved into the same shop being Johnson and Knaus, and Hendrick believes Letarte's strong complexion will help rebuild the waning confidence of NASCAR's incomparably popular driver.
Gordon was teamed with Martin's syndicate chief, Alan Gustafson.
Martin switched to Earnhardt's crew chief, Lance McGrew.
Johnson's pair got an adjustment, too. Hendrick shook ripening Johnson's entire pit crew control hopes of fixing the most noticeable chink domination the defending champ's armor.
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