Jarrett's jack man injured in pit crash

Dale Jarrett's pit crew tries to get out of the way as his car careens into pit road. Jack man John Bryan was injured in the crash. AP

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Dale Jarrett had more misery in the pits at the Brickyard 400 on Sunday when he injured a crewman.

Jarrett was headed to pit road on lap 37 when his brakes appeared to lock up and his car began to spin down the service road. He hit jack man John Bryan, who was unable to get out of the way.

It's the third time that Jarrett, a two-time Brickyard 400 winner, has been crippled by mistakes in pit lane at the famed 2 1/2-mile track.

"It's the most devastating thing I've ever been associated with," Jarrett said. "It was just stupidity on my part."

The car spun around and went backward into the wall, pinning Bryan against the concrete barrier and sending his helmet flying into the fence.

Bryan was awake and alert when taken to the hospital, complaining of a sore shoulder and pain in his pelvis. He was released Sunday night with no sign of serious injuries.

Also injured was Joe Krupa, a photographer for The Star Press of Muncie, Ind. Another member of Jarrett's crew dropped a tire which came up and hit Krupa. He also was released Sunday night.

Jarrett had the first pit box.

"I knew which pit box we had, and I thought I'd seen how far I could get in," Jarrett said. "Apparently we just got in too far today."

Jarrett's No. 88 Ford started 34th, but he never recovered from the pit accident. He finished 39th, 18 laps behind winner Kevin Harvick.

"I didn't even care about the rest of the race. I had to finish it for the guys," Jarrett said. "I could have cared less. My thoughts were just, `God take care of John Bryan."'

A year ago, the catch-can got stuck in the gas tank of Jarrett's Ford as he roared away and NASCAR forced him back into the pits for a stop-and-go penalty that ended any shot he had at victory.

Jarrett had a 4-second lead at the midway point of the 1998 race, but a fuel miscalculation by his crew cost him four laps and he never recovered.

It was the latest disappointment for Jarrett, the 1996 and 1999 winner of the Brickyard 400, and crew chief Shawn Parker.

Since winning at Rockingham, Jarrett has only three other top-10 finishes and entered Sunday's race 27th in the points race. He had one stretch where he finished 36th or worse in four of five races, with three crashes and an engine failure before a ninth-place run at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 25.

In April, Jarrett changed crew chiefs for the third time in just over a year after a frustrating eight races with Brad Parrott. Jarrett also changed crew chiefs last season, with Todd Parrott, Brad's brother, replacing Jimmy Elledge after six races.

On Friday, Jarrett denied speculation that he would leave Robert Yates Racing to take Tony Stewart's spot with Joe Gibbs Racing if it opened up. Jarrett, signed through next year, said he's agreed in principle with Yates on a new deal through the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

It was the second time Bryan has been hurt on pit road. He was working on Ricky Rudd's crew two years ago in Homestead, Fla., when Ward Burton hit him and another crewman.

Bryan injured his knee and got a concussion in that accident, which led NASCAR to make all crew members wear safety helmets.

 

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