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 "We weren't turning a lot of rpms, something just let go. It's hard to describe." |
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Dale Jarrett
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By Denise N. Maloof, CNNSI.com
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Engine problems are unacceptable at any point during a Winston Cup event. Blowing one with nothing in front of you but sunshine and clean air is the ultimate downer.
That's exactly what happened to Dale Jarrett in Sunday's Subway 400. Jarrett, who had started fourth, was cruising after seizing the lead on lap 128. On lap 145 at North Carolina Speedway, his cushion abruptly evaporated in a cloud of white smoke.
"Something happened to the engine," Jarrett said. "It's very rare that we have an engine problem, but [Sunday] it got us and it's very unfortunate because we had a great race car."
The blow-up was complete; Jarrett guided the No. 88 Ford back to his pit with smoke billowing through the car's interior, out from under the hood, and all around its body. Once on pit road, his crew lifted the hood, pronounced a benediction, and seconds later Jarrett was out, his day done.
"It didn't give any warning," he said. "The temperatures were all OK. We weren't turning a lot of rpms, something just let go. It's hard to describe. Pieces and parts are gonna break sometimes, but it doesn't happen very often in our camp."
Jarrett brushed off the suggestion that NASCAR new one-engine rule, which debuted at The Rock, might have been a factor. Teams now must use the same engine for qualifying, practice and race day.
"This early in the race?" Jarrett said. "No. If it would have happened later, you might look at parts like that, but not this early in the race. It's just unfortunate. As hard as we try to insure that pieces and parts aren't gonna break, sometimes they do and [Sunday] it did."
