Allstate 400 at the Brickyard

August 6, 2006
Speedway, IN

Derrike informed us of the following. "I will be driving the number 61 Front Row Motorsports Chevrolet at Indy this weekend. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to participate in qualifying for this year’s Brickyard 400. I have worked with the crew chief before so I feel like we should have good communication for the short amount of practice time that we will be given. The team tested at Indy and felt like they had a good test there with Chad Chaffin driving. Chad tested both cars, the car that I will drive number 61, and the 34 car that Chad will drive. Hopefully we can all work together and have a successful outing at one of the most prestigious races of the year. I am looking forward to it. I will update you after Friday’s practice sessions. The first practice is from 1:30 to 2:30 and from 3:30 to 4:30."

In the first practice, Derrike was 47th fastest with a time of 52.318 and speed of 172.025. In the second practice, Derrike was 49th fastest with a time of 51.825 and speed of 173.661. Derrike did not take part in the third practice.

In Qualifying, Derrike could only produce his fastest lap of 51.565 with a speed of 174. 537. This put the #61 Dodge in 50th position which was not fast enough to make the show.

Derrike updated us by saying, "Indy did not go well from the start! From the first lap on the racetrack we struggle to get what I needed in the car to find the speed and the grip to drive the car hard. We were fighting with the soft front spring coil bind which was not allowing the car to turn. We kept fighting that in both practice sessions. We just could not find a balance in the car. The crew did find something binding in the front of the car after practice. We had to make a number of huge adjustments and when I went to qualify, we evidently had found the problem, but the car turned so good I could not touch the throttle thus not allowing me to really be aggressive with the car. It sort of drove me! So it was not what I had hoped for. Their other car, a new Dodge with Chad Chaffin, got in. He had a great lap! So the team will have one effort represented which is a great accomplishment for the caliber of the field that attempted to qualify for the race.

"I have spoken to Ray McGlynn and it looks like our next races will be Michigan in two weeks and then Bristol."