To Make a Bad Day Even Worse …
… Red Bull Racing Team had to strap on its hip waders just to leave New Hampshire Motor Speedway, because the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 was a tough one to swallow — and there was no shortage of water to wash it down.
Pit strategy propelled Brian Vickers to the top five, but it was also the team’s undoing. During a caution period on lap 274, the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota, running close to empty, pitted for right-side tires and fuel with several other front-runners. But seven cars stayed out, and the skies that had been threatening finally opened up eight laps later.
Brian was stuck back in 16th, and he stayed there when NASCAR cut the race 17 laps short. Now 16th in points, he lost little ground on the Chase. He’s 113 points from the top 12.
“We had a top-five car — at least a top-10 car — and the car was finally handling the way I wanted,” Brian said. “I think we really would have had something for the cars in front of us. We were about 8-9 laps short on fuel so they decided to bring me in for right-side tires and fuel when the last caution came out. Unfortunately for us, the rain started. It’s frustrating because today was a great opportunity to make up some ground on the top 12.”
AJ Allmendinger’s day went up in flames on lap 202 when an oil line broke on the No. 84 Red Bull Toyota. Oil leaked onto the engine headers and caught fire. AJ stopped, bailed out and made a trip to the care center.
After starting 10th and maintaining that status in the early going, he ended up 43rd. The No. 84 sits 38th in the owner standings — 161 points from the top 35.
“We started off the race good, and we just kept screwing the car up with each change we made,” AJ said. “It’s just frustrating. We’re better than this as a team and we just need to have some good results.”
posted by Bull Rider at 9:05 AM
8 Comments:
Fire BAD!
Fire VERY bad!
By the way - is it just me, or does it seem like AJ's always the one with engine problems? Please correct me if I'm wrong about that!
KCMO
waitrip blew up last week and this week in practice. the 00 blew up after aj's problem. aj didnt have a engine problem, he had a oil line prob. which resulted in a problem with the engine. when aj has had a motor problem its been because of over reving the engine.
why do we hear story after story about the guys that just fly in on sunday and pit the car.
are the guys that work at the shop, then go to the track and work from 5am till 8pm all weekend long just that boring.
im sure there has to be some good stories about them.
Wow anonymous, they just fly in on sunday eh. Are you actually a nascar fan or just have nothing better to do? The Drivers are there usually around Wednesday everyone of them! Not taking anything away from the guys at the shop since they make the cars and engines and find new ways to get them to go faster (great improvement over last year we can all agree)and thats obviously not easy. I do agree with you there though, it would nice to have some articles about the hardworking guys & girls back at the shop :)
I think the other anon was talking specifically abt the pit crew(over the wall) guys being there just on Sundays; not the shop guys or the drivers.
nothing was said about drivers EH. i was refuring to the pit crew. ok they played hockey. tell me something about the guy that dives under the hot car and turns the wrenches. all we hear about is the driver, crew chief, pit crew and spotters.
Driving with fire under your car . . . not good
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