Ganassi: Daytona win the favourite

Chip Ganassi says Jamie McMurray's Daytona 500 win is his "new favourite" as a team owner.

He has won the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 24 Hours several times as a team owner, but NASCAR's crown jewel had eluded him until Sunday.

Ganassi claims McMurray's win in the 52nd Daytona 500 is the one he now praises more than his other major victories. It allows him to equal Roger Penske, who has also claimed victories in the three greatest races held in the United States.

"I can certainly tell you this one is my new favourite," said Ganassi. "I don't know how you rank them. Someday I'll look back on it and say that was all great. You get into this sport because you love it, and I still love it.

"I plan on loving it for a while, so I don't want to stop. I don't want to start thinking about it - you're not going to see any books out of me or anything. I don't like to look at those kind of things. That's for the media to talk about and whatever."

Ganassi believes it is now key for his team to keep winning and prove that McMurray's victory was no fluke.

"I think it's just important we stay winning and we keep trying to get better week in and week out, in whatever series we're in," Ganassi added. "That's why we're there, to get better, raise the bar, do the right thing for our partners and our sponsors. I just love being in this sport."

Ganassi says when McMurray left the team in 2005 he did so on good terms when he got a better contract with Roush Fenway, just as Juan Pablo Montoya left him in 2000 to pursue his Formula 1 career.

He says he is glad that he has been able to bring both back and achieve more success together.

"When [Jamie] left us, it certainly wasn't anything that was acrimonious," said Ganassi. "Believe me, I would have been perfectly happy keeping all these guys I bring back and seem to have some success with. I would have been perfectly happy keeping them in the first place.

"We've tried to put our money into the cars and into the engines. I don't have a lot, I don't have the biggest jet over at the airport and the flashiest trucks. We're in the business of racing.

"I don't want to take anything away from anybody else, but we have to spend our money more wisely. These guys that have driven with me over the years have had opportunities to go get a great contract after they've driven with me.

"I feel fortunate that they come back and have some success because that's important. That's important to a career. I feel honoured that they want to come back and that we have the type of team they want to come back to."

McMurray's team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya finished 10th, which means Earnhardt Ganassi Racing heads to round two in California with both cars in the top 10 of the standings.

McMurray: Daytona win is ‘a dream’Messi expects Real challenge

Daytona resumes following stoppage

The Daytona 500 has resumed following a one hour and 42 minute red flag halt to repair a hole that had opened up in the track.

The problem had developed between Turns 1 and 2, causing punctures on John Andretti and Jimmie Johnson's cars, and leading to the former crashing.

NASCAR officials had initially hoped that the problem could be fixed rapidly, but the resin course workers were using to plug the hole stubbornly refused to set at first as the ground remained moist following heavy rain in recent weeks.

Almost two hours after the red flag was shown, the problem was finally resolved and the drivers returned to their cars to complete the remaining 78 laps. The field has now left the pitlane for some yellow laps, before racing resumes with Clint Bowyer leading to the green flag.

Leader Harvick wants race to resumeFabiano coy over future

Montoya upbeat on Daytona chances

Juan Pablo Montoya is optimistic ahead of the start of his fourth full season in NASCAR, having taken eighth on the grid for today's Daytona 500.

The Colombian was among the top contenders during the second Gatorade Duel qualifying race last Thursday, leading laps and recovering to finish a strong third after losing the draft following the final caution.

Montoya says his main goal thus far has been getting to the main race with his car in one piece, something he achieved with clean practice sessions and an incident-free run during his duel.

He says his focus in now on racing intelligently, hoping he get the most of having a good car for the season opener.

"I think we've got a good car," said Montoya. "But you have to be smart.

"In the Shootout I pushed [Greg] Biffle really hard and damaged the front of the car. I went too hard. So [in the Duel] you have to be like self-conscious about what you did and how far you went.

"Our main goal really was trying to get to the 500 with the same car we practiced and qualified with. That was our goal and we did it.

"We got a decent starting spot and it's such a long race that it doesn't really matter where you start. The big thing is that we've got a good car and that goes a long way."

Montoya expects today's race to have a wild finish, and that NASCAR officials might have to take advantage of the extra attempts at a green flag finish now permitted following this week's rule change.

Both Gatorade duels have had very close finishes, while the Budweiser Shootout finished under caution due to a multi-car accident last week.

"I wouldn't be surprised that we will have more than one green-white-chequered," Montoya said.

"Honestly, people are racing really clean but you're pushing and you know, [in the Duel it] was only half a field. And it was out of control. It was good, but it was out of control.

"I think it's going to be interesting because you're going to have a lot of the good cars up front because the way the tyres wear and everything at the end they're going to be a handful. But yeah, it makes it interesting."

Montoya refuses to speak about winning the Daytona 500, but he says if he were to win the race one day it would be right up there with his greatest victories, such as his Indianapolis 500 and Monaco Grand Prix wins.

"Well, it would be as high as the other ones," said Montoya. "It would be cool to win them all. But right now, I don't think about it. I didn't think about it when I won Indy or Monaco.

"Afterwards, you go, 'oh wow, I won this.' But you ask me today and you've got to take it like any other race. You've got to make your pitstops and make sure you have a good balance, and keep the car in one piece for when it counts."

Besides his third place from last Thursday in the Duel, Montoya's best finish at Daytona in a points-paying race came when he took ninth last year in the summer race, having finished 14th in the rain-shortened opener a year ago.

Leader Harvick wants race to resumeHenry - I don’t deserve place

Patrick in crash on NASCAR debut

Danica Patrick retired from her NASCAR debut with major damage to her car after she was involved in a multi-car accident around halfway through the Nationwide Series season opener.

The IndyCar star had started the race from 15th on the grid and ran around the middle of the pack in the early laps, doing well to avoid a couple of early incidents.

Later she would drop back in the order as she struggled with the handling of her car, losing the draft as a consequence. By lap 40 she was almost 40 seconds behind the leaders, hoping for a caution to be able to stay on the lead lap.

She would eventually drop a lap down following her first stop, but would get back up to speed following adjustments to her car. On lap 52 the caution came out for the third time while Patrick was the first car a lap down, earning her the free pass back onto the lead lap as per NASCAR rules.

Restarting from 29th place she was racing her way into the top 20, until a major incident was ignited ahead of her along the frontstretch on lap 68. At least ten cars were involved and Patrick got caught up in it, hitting first another car and then the outside wall.

She drove her car back to the pits, but following an inspection by the JR Motorsports crew, the team decided to take it to the garage and ultimately retire.

"That's the tough thing about this racing," said Patrick. "I can see what they've all said all along with these big tracks. Slow comes up and you run so fast there that's there no way to go.

"But the disappointing part more than anything is just that I missed out on getting 40 or whatever laps left of experience that I could have got. And the car was finally where I liked it and I felt confident as a driver to be able to run in the pack. So I was kind of getting the hang of it."

Patrick added that she still learned from her first NASCAR experience, which she expects will make her better prepared for her second visit to Daytona next year.

"I can tell you that I'll be a lot more confident and prepared for next year," she said. "This is some really difficult racing, it really is.

"The cars are definitely on the edge here, and as you can see, someone gets a little bit out of shape and everybody is on top of each other. And since the car doesn't slow down very well, you're already on the edge when everything happens.

"I'm glad that I got that second stint in to be able to get more confidence out there but it's never fun when crashing a perfectly good car wasn't your fault."

Tony Stewart claimed his fifth victory in the Nationwide Series season opener, which continued to unfold in wild fashion, as following the crash where Patrick was involved, another 'Big One' followed on lap 91 due to contact between Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr at the front, the latter actually flipping over and hitting the wall.

Chrissy Wallace, another female rookie entering the event, also retired from the race after being involved in an incident at the end of the first lap. Wallace got tapped from behind by Sprint Cup regular Paul Menard, and ended up crashing hard against the inside wall.

Papis excited about first Daytona 500Francis reveals Racing offer

Hole in the track halts Daytona 500

The 2010 Daytona 500 was stopped on lap 122 to repair a hole that appeared in the asphalt between Turns 1 and 2, in a bizarre twist.

The race was red-flagged after John Andretti and reigning Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson both suffered punctures. The former crashed into the wall, prompting a yellow, which aided Johnson, who luckily didn't lose a lap as he trundled back to the pits. It remains unclear whether the incidents were related to the circuit breaking up.

The damaged piece of track appeared to be approximately two foot long and occurred 15 feet above the yellow line. NASCAR officials expected to get the race back under way but were still working the problem after an hour having encountered problems getting the resin solution to set following weeks of heavy rainfall.

Richard Childress Racing's Clint Bowyer was in the lead when the race was stopped, ahead of Roush Racing's David Ragan followed by Kasey Kahne, Carl Edwards, Elliott Sadler and Greg Biffle.

The race has already featured a record 19 different leaders and has had four cautions, including an early six-car wreck when Penske Racing's Brad Keslowski cut a right rear tyre and took out team-mate Sam Hornish as well as Regan Smith.

The 2.5-mile tri-oval was last resurfaced in 1978, and is scheduled to receive a new layer of asphalt next year.

Francis reveals Racing offerDaytona track repair begins

McMurray: Daytona win is 'a dream'

An emotional Jamie McMurray paid tribute to his former Roush Fenway team-mate Greg Biffle, after admitting the Ford driver's bump-draft gave him the edge to win the Daytona 500.

McMurray gained a speed advantage down the back straight on the race's second attempt at a green-white-chequer finish thanks to the assistance from Biffle, and that was enough for him to hold off the recovering Dale Earnhardt Jr at the flag.

"Biffle helped me out," he said. "I spun the tyres on the restart and it's a just a gamble on which line is going to give you the biggest run.

"Greg gave me an unbelievable run down the back stretch. Then when I saw the #88 coming I thought: 'Oh no Earnhardt at Daytona'. They win all the time it seems like. You never know what to expect."

It was the 33-year-old's first Sprint Cup win at Daytona, and only his fourth at the top level since making his debut with Ganassi in 2002.

He returned to Earnhardt Ganassi Racing for 2010 after he was dropped from Roush, which was forced to downsize to four cars this year due to NASCAR regulations.

"It's unreal," said McMurray. "It's unbelievable. I can't explain it. It's a dream, it really is.

"To be where I was last year [without a drive] and for Johnny Morris, Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates to take a chance on me and let me come back, it means a lot to me. What a way to pay them back. I'm very emotional."

McMurray also thanked the fans for their patience after they had waited more than six and a half hours to see the finish, following two stoppages to repair a pot hole in the track.

"It was tough having to keep getting in and out of the car, and tough for the fans. But they stuck with us and it was good to hear the applause at the end."

La Liga round-upPapis excited about first Daytona 500

Leader Harvick wants race to resume

Daytona 500 leader Kevin Harvick says he would rather the race was restarted than he was handed victory because the current track problems force the event to be abandoned.

Harvick was battling for the lead with Juan Pablo Montoya when the red flag came out for a second time on lap 161 of 200 to give NASCAR a chance to attend to the recurring track surface problem between Turns 1 and 2.

"I want to finish it racing," said Harvick, who is attempting to end a 107-race victory drought in the Sprint Cup. "The car's been all good, everything may go sour but I would love to finish it."

The Richard Childress Racing driver backed the decision to stop the race to try and fix the hole that has reopened in the track.

"The problem is that it is right in the middle of the track where the right side tyre runs," Harvick explained. "So when you go through it and hit it wrong the jackpost and everything hits, the #33 [car of Clint Bowyer] broke its splitter off."

The track has already been repaired once during a previous stoppage that lasted nearly one and three quarter hours. Kyle Busch, who is currently holding sixth place, said the hole had fully reopened during the 39 laps run between red flags.

"It stayed really good for about 18 laps and then you could see a chunk flying off some of the leader cars," Busch said. "Then about five laps ago I saw it start to develop and then it was back to the same old hole again."

He admitted the delays were frustrated, but agreed with Harvick that it was preferable to keep trying to finish the race under green.

"This is a bad predicament to be in for all of us, for NASCAR, everybody," said Busch. "It's unfortunate for the fans too. It's been a great race all day but this isn't any fun having to wait around and trying to get through this deal. But we will do what we need to do."

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Daytona track repair begins

Work is underway to repair the hole in the track that hampered last weekend's Daytona 500, track officials announced on Thursday.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season-opener had to be stopped twice last Sunday for a total of more than two hours and 20 minutes, in order to repair a hole on the inside line of Turn 2.

In the end the issue was fixed temporarily using body filler known as Bondo, which officials collected from teams, allowing the race to be completed, although with a long delay which caused the event to end under the lights.

The track's president Robin Braig has announced that work towards an immediate and more permanent fix is already underway, using reinforced concrete to fill the hole, a solution already used in the past at many tracks.

"This is the correct course of action to repair the track," Braig said. "Our team of engineers and asphalt specialists with North American Testing Corporation has previous experience with concrete being used on an asphalt track and it is a proven solution."

The NATC specialists concluded that a combination of unusually cold and wet weather at Daytona, exacerbated by cars bottoming out in that specific section of the track, contributed to the breakdown of the pavement.

The Daytona surface was last repaved in 1978 and although a new repave is not imminent yet, an evaluation process from NATC will determine if such course of action is needed to ensure the long-term integrity of the track.

However, some drivers, including two-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, have said they would not like to see the current bumpy surface changed, as it ensures that Daytona poses a different challenge to Talladega, the other restrictor-plate track on the calendar.

"I would hate to see them repave this track right now and make it like Talladega because right now, the drivers are actually a huge part of the equation," said Stewart last Friday.

"Knowing what to do when you get to those bumps and knowing what your car is going to do and how it is going to react, that is making us have to use the whole race track. It is making us have to really work on the handling of our cars.

"That is the part that has probably excited me the most since I have been here."

The current repair is expected to be completed this week, in time to allow the track's events to take place on schedule.

The Sprint Cup Series will not be back at Daytona until 3 July for the Coke Zero 400.

Henry - I don’t deserve placePapis excited about first Daytona 500

Papis excited about first Daytona 500

Italian Max Papis is excited about his maiden Daytona 500 outing, having won one of the transfer spots for the NASCAR Sprint Cup season-opener last Thursday in his qualifying race.

Papis, who drives the #13 Toyota Camry under the Germain Racing banner, will be the first Italian to compete in the 'Great American Race' since Mario Andretti contested the 500 for the last time in 1968, having won it a year earlier.

The former Formula 1 and Champ Car driver earned his spot partly due to a strategy gamble, when he stayed on the track along with eventual race-winner Jimmie Johnson, while the leaders pitted for tyres a handful of laps from the chequered flag.

However Papis had to get past Todd Bodine on the last lap, something he managed after the former Truck Series champion hit the wall approaching the end of the race, while also fighting for a spot in the main event.

Papis reckons making the field at Daytona to be one of the most meaningful achievements of his racing career.

"This track for me, it's really special," said Papis. "I came over here in '96. It was my first ever race in America, racing the Rolex 24 Hours. A lot of satisfaction for me in that race.

"For me, this being the first 500 is just a dream coming true. It came to great teamwork. [Robert] 'Bootie' [Barker, crew chief] left me up there in front. It was hairy. Sliding around, everybody pushing me, kind of fell a little bit in the black.

"He told me that's the black car you need to pass. That's it. Kept it wide open as hard as I could and slid around and made it happen."

Papis believes NASCAR is the toughest form of racing he has ever competed in. The Italian, who has served as test driver for Sprint Cup champion squad Hendrick Motorsports, has had to make the field for races based on his qualifying speed, and sometimes struggled to do so.

He believes the cream of America's racing talent is in NASCAR, which explains for him why there are not enough US drivers in open-wheel racing.

"Compared to everything else I've done, you can kind of take it easy a little bit or breathe for a second," says Papis.

"Here, if you breathe, they run you over, literally over. That's why I say that for me, you know, I've been able to race in Formula 1, I've been lucky to drive a Champ Car, IndyCar, whatever, but these guys... Now I know when they were complaining before, why all the American drivers they're not in open-wheel racing? Because they're over here."

Papis, one of only four non-guaranteed drivers to earn a place in the Daytona 500 through the Duels, out of 15 who were fighting for a spot in the qualifiers, will start today's race from 31st on the grid.

On Saturday night he led laps and was a top contender in the Truck Series race, but his hopes of a strong finish were dashed when he hit the wall following contact with Nelson Piquet.

Drivers play down Bud practice crashFrancis reveals Racing offer

Harvick buoyed by strong start

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader Kevin Harvick is happy about the start of his season but says the toughest part of his team's surge back to the front still awaits.

The Richard Childress Racing driver jumped to the lead of the Cup standings after finishing second to Jimmie Johnson last Sunday at California, charging back from a pit speeding penalty while in the lead.

A week earlier he was the pacesetter in the Daytona 500, where he led the most laps but got shuffled back from the front on the final restart after losing the draft.

His performance has been mirrored by his RCR team-mates, with both Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer running at the front in both races, Burton finishing third last weekend at Fontana and Bowyer a contender until an untimely pitstop put him a lap down.

Harvick, who kicked off this year in style by winning the non-points Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, says his team's motivation is at a long-time high, despite likely wins at the season-opener and at Fontana slipping through its fingers in the closing laps.

"With the three of us running good, it pushes us to fine-tune our stuff and really get the best out of our cars week in and week out," Harvick says.

"There's no hollow title. We're happy we have a shot. We just keep building on those things. It leaves that sour taste in your mouth when you don't win and you want to go back and win again.

"Right now it's just everybody's very motivated, letting our cars talk for us."

RCR downsized its on-track operation from four to three cars this year, given the lack of sponsorship for the #07 entry which was driven by Casey Mears last season.

The move seems to have played a part in allowing the squad to regroup over the winter and regain the form it had in the two previous years, when all three RCR drivers were in contention for the title.

Harvick believes that even if they have already caught up with the best up front, the real challenge for the balance of the season will be getting ahead of Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports.

"I think, in my opinion, you always need to get better," says Harvick. "You need to constantly work on everything to keep going forward. You know, we worked hard to get to this point. But you can't stop. We don't need to get behind again. We need to work to progress forward before everybody else.

"I think, in my opinion, that's going to be the thing that will be the most challenging for us. It's not catching up. We did that. It's just getting in front of everybody else."

Clint Bowyer, who drives the #33 Chevy for RCR, is currently second in the Sprint Cup standings behing Harvick, while Burton ranks fifth in the points.

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Patrick struggles at Fontana

Danica Patrick said she accomplished her goals on her second NASCAR outing after finishing 31st in the Nationwide Series race at Fontana.

The JR Motorsports driver started the race from 36th on the grid and soon dropped back in the field, not at ease with the handling of her #7 Chevy. Initially she lapped more than two seconds off the pace, losing a lap as early as lap 19.

She then had a close call when Kyle Busch tried to pass her on the outside, but the current series champion avoided contact. Later she exceeded the speed limit after her first pitstop, where changes were made to try to improve the balance of her car.

Patrick then began to improve her pace, running around a second off the leaders at one point as she continued to get to grips with the car and experience the different lines on the low-banked 2-mile oval.

In the end she completed a clean run to 31st place, finishing three laps down on race winner Busch, who made an impressive last-lap pass on Greg Biffle to win in a green-white-chequered finish. Polesitter Joey Logano led most of the race but made contact with Biffle following the final restart.

"That first stint was a bit of a struggle but after that I think we fell into our rhythm," said Patrick. "I got up top and ran up there, I ran on the bottom and I made it work when I was pushing, I made it work when I was loose.

"It wasn't so pretty to start but I came to do what I came here to and did what I wanted today."

Patrick said she learned many lessons out of her second Nationwide Series race, admitting that she eventually had to go back in set up changes done to her car as the track changed throughout the race.

"I learned what happens with the track from the beginning to the end of the race," she said. "The track tightened up, it picks up a lot of grip so you've got to be prepared for that. We basically went back on all the changes by the end of the race so, you know, that's just what happens.

"I learned what the car feels like and what lane it needs by whether it's pushing or whether it's loose and just more miles under my belt. Getting comfortable with the limits of the car."

The IndyCar star says she is going to need to forget about her race results as she continues to learn all the nuances about stock car racing.

"I'm a competitor and I'm used to running up front so it's shocking when you go that far back," Patrick said. "But you know what? This is a whole new ball of wax for me, you know, it's all different. I have to disconnect from the results for quite sometime I think because they're probably not going to be what I'm used to."

However, Juan Pablo Montoya scored a similar result when he raced in the Nationwide Series, finishing 28th in his second race at Texas, where he also finished three laps down on the winner.

Patrick enters Daytona NationwidePrimera Liga round-up

Drivers play down Bud practice crash

Mark Martin and Denny Hamlin have played down the multi-car crash that they were involved in during practice for the Bud Shootout at Daytona yesterday - and denied that NASCAR's new approach to bump drafting rules caused the accident.

Six cars were heavily damaged when Joe Gibbs Toyota driver Hamlin tagged the rear of Martin's Hendrick Chevrolet and sent it spinning into the group they were drafting with.

NASCAR announced recently that it would remove previous restrictions on bump drafting for the 2010 season and would allow the drivers more freedom to make light contact. As yesterday's session was the first Sprint Cup group running since the rule adjustment, there were suggestions that the crash was a product of the aggressive racing now permitted.

But Martin said the incident was a simple misunderstanding between him and Hamlin.

"Probably a case of both of us anticipating something where it caused a flash," said Martin. "It looked like he was going to try to squeeze in on the outside of me, so I made an effort to give him the lane.

"And, he anticipated to get behind me, not that it wasn't worth it to get in behind me instead. So, if either one of us had just anticipated something else, then it wouldn't have happened."

Hamlin agreed with Martin's assessment of the crash.

"I had a huge run going and was going to go to the outside, but decided against it at the last minute," the Gibbs driver told American TV channel Speed.

"He was courteous enough that he was going to give me the high lane, and I guess when he checked up to give me that high lane, I'd already committed to go ahead and get behind him.

"It was just a conflict of two cars going to the wrong place at the wrong time. We're fine [with each other], it was just total miscommunication."

Martin reckoned that in this instance a more aggressive approach might even have avoided the incident, rather than being the cause of it.

"I was making an effort to be on the cautious side and I think Denny did too," he said.

"And in this particular case it created a situation where we came together. Where if just one of us had been just a little bit wilder, maybe it wouldn't have happened."

Drivers play down Bud practice crashRonaldo angry at red card

Patrick aims to finish at Fontana

Danica Patrick is hoping to finish her first NASCAR race, as she makes her second start in the Nationwide Series today at Fontana.

The female racer had a troubled debut in NASCAR's second-tier series at Daytona last week, where she had to retire after being involved in a multi-car crash after the halfway mark of the event. Despite that, her debut got the highest TV ratings ever for a Nationwide Series event in the United States.

This weekend Patrick has not been as much on the spotlight, as she continues to learn the ropes in her new environment. After being 37th and 27th fastest in two practice sessions on Friday, she admitted she was still struggling with the handling of her car at a track where high speeds but low banking pose a new challenge for the IndyCar star.

"We've made some improvements for sure but I'm still not totally happy," said Patrick.

"I'm just not feeling very comfortable on entry into the corners. I feel like we've made a lot of improvements to make it better off the corner, and to be honest that will only stay there or get better as we improve the entry because your problems on exit start at the beginning."

Patrick said her goal for this weekend is to make it to the chequered flag and continue to get more mileage under her belt. She anticipates a tough day behind the wheel, as she tries to familiarise with her car sliding around for a whole run, something she admits is a novelty.

"Finishing is definitely always the goal," she said. "I just need laps. I need to get familiar with how the car changes from the beginning to the end of a run.

"I'm probably going to be a bit surprised by how I'm going to have to deal with the car sliding around for the majority of the run and I need that to become a normal expectation level for me that I deal with.

"Being able to make changes on pitstops and improve it to move up in the race, since you get more comfortable and confident with it, are always very important early on in your career."

Patrick will be back next week for her third Nationwide Series race at Las Vegas where she will be driving fresh from an IndyCar pre-season test at Barber Motorsports Park during the week. She does not expect switching from one car to the other to be a problem, though.

"Well we're going to get our first look at how it's going to go," said Patrick. "I don't think it's going to be a huge problem. I tested an Indycar a few weeks ago and I was like, 'this thing is snappy and this thing turns really quick', so I'm sure it will happen again to me.

"We'll deal with that when it comes and I'm sure I'll be comfortable in a lap or two."

Patrick qualified nearly two seconds off the pace for today's 300-mile race at Fontana.

Hamburg join Ruud racePatrick enters Daytona Nationwide

Drivers play down Bud practice crash

Mark Martin and Denny Hamlin have played down the multi-car crash that they were involved in during practice for the Bud Shootout at Daytona yesterday - and denied that NASCAR's new approach to bump drafting rules caused the accident.

Six cars were heavily damaged when Joe Gibbs Toyota driver Hamlin tagged the rear of Martin's Hendrick Chevrolet and sent it spinning into the group they were drafting with.

NASCAR announced recently that it would remove previous restrictions on bump drafting for the 2010 season and would allow the drivers more freedom to make light contact. As yesterday's session was the first Sprint Cup group running since the rule adjustment, there were suggestions that the crash was a product of the aggressive racing now permitted.

But Martin said the incident was a simple misunderstanding between him and Hamlin.

"Probably a case of both of us anticipating something where it caused a flash," said Martin. "It looked like he was going to try to squeeze in on the outside of me, so I made an effort to give him the lane.

"And, he anticipated to get behind me, not that it wasn't worth it to get in behind me instead. So, if either one of us had just anticipated something else, then it wouldn't have happened."

Hamlin agreed with Martin's assessment of the crash.

"I had a huge run going and was going to go to the outside, but decided against it at the last minute," the Gibbs driver told American TV channel Speed.

"He was courteous enough that he was going to give me the high lane, and I guess when he checked up to give me that high lane, I'd already committed to go ahead and get behind him.

"It was just a conflict of two cars going to the wrong place at the wrong time. We're fine [with each other], it was just total miscommunication."

Martin reckoned that in this instance a more aggressive approach might even have avoided the incident, rather than being the cause of it.

"I was making an effort to be on the cautious side and I think Denny did too," he said.

"And in this particular case it created a situation where we came together. Where if just one of us had been just a little bit wilder, maybe it wouldn't have happened."

Drivers play down Bud practice crashRonaldo angry at red card

Drivers play down Bud practice crash

Mark Martin and Denny Hamlin have played down the multi-car crash that they were involved in during practice for the Bud Shootout at Daytona yesterday - and denied that NASCAR's new approach to bump drafting rules caused the accident.

Six cars were heavily damaged when Joe Gibbs Toyota driver Hamlin tagged the rear of Martin's Hendrick Chevrolet and sent it spinning into the group they were drafting with.

NASCAR announced recently that it would remove previous restrictions on bump drafting for the 2010 season and would allow the drivers more freedom to make light contact. As yesterday's session was the first Sprint Cup group running since the rule adjustment, there were suggestions that the crash was a product of the aggressive racing now permitted.

But Martin said the incident was a simple misunderstanding between him and Hamlin.

"Probably a case of both of us anticipating something where it caused a flash," said Martin. "It looked like he was going to try to squeeze in on the outside of me, so I made an effort to give him the lane.

"And, he anticipated to get behind me, not that it wasn't worth it to get in behind me instead. So, if either one of us had just anticipated something else, then it wouldn't have happened."

Hamlin agreed with Martin's assessment of the crash.

"I had a huge run going and was going to go to the outside, but decided against it at the last minute," the Gibbs driver told American TV channel Speed.

"He was courteous enough that he was going to give me the high lane, and I guess when he checked up to give me that high lane, I'd already committed to go ahead and get behind him.

"It was just a conflict of two cars going to the wrong place at the wrong time. We're fine [with each other], it was just total miscommunication."

Martin reckoned that in this instance a more aggressive approach might even have avoided the incident, rather than being the cause of it.

"I was making an effort to be on the cautious side and I think Denny did too," he said.

"And in this particular case it created a situation where we came together. Where if just one of us had been just a little bit wilder, maybe it wouldn't have happened."

Ronaldo angry at red cardDrivers play down Bud practice crash

Drivers play down Bud practice crash

Mark Martin and Denny Hamlin have played down the multi-car crash that they were involved in during practice for the Bud Shootout at Daytona yesterday - and denied that NASCAR's new approach to bump drafting rules caused the accident.

Six cars were heavily damaged when Joe Gibbs Toyota driver Hamlin tagged the rear of Martin's Hendrick Chevrolet and sent it spinning into the group they were drafting with.

NASCAR announced recently that it would remove previous restrictions on bump drafting for the 2010 season and would allow the drivers more freedom to make light contact. As yesterday's session was the first Sprint Cup group running since the rule adjustment, there were suggestions that the crash was a product of the aggressive racing now permitted.

But Martin said the incident was a simple misunderstanding between him and Hamlin.

"Probably a case of both of us anticipating something where it caused a flash," said Martin. "It looked like he was going to try to squeeze in on the outside of me, so I made an effort to give him the lane.

"And, he anticipated to get behind me, not that it wasn't worth it to get in behind me instead. So, if either one of us had just anticipated something else, then it wouldn't have happened."

Hamlin agreed with Martin's assessment of the crash.

"I had a huge run going and was going to go to the outside, but decided against it at the last minute," the Gibbs driver told American TV channel Speed.

"He was courteous enough that he was going to give me the high lane, and I guess when he checked up to give me that high lane, I'd already committed to go ahead and get behind him.

"It was just a conflict of two cars going to the wrong place at the wrong time. We're fine [with each other], it was just total miscommunication."

Martin reckoned that in this instance a more aggressive approach might even have avoided the incident, rather than being the cause of it.

"I was making an effort to be on the cautious side and I think Denny did too," he said.

"And in this particular case it created a situation where we came together. Where if just one of us had been just a little bit wilder, maybe it wouldn't have happened."

Drivers play down Bud practice crashRonaldo angry at red card

Track problem halts Daytona again

The 2010 Daytona 500 has been red-flagged for a second time after further track problems developed between Turns 1 and 2.

The race had already been halted for just over one hour and 40 minutes while a hole in the track was filled and repaired. It resumed with 78 laps to go, but the area around the repair has begun to break up again, leading to a second stoppage on lap 161.

NASCAR officials are optimistic that this problem can also be repaired and the race restarted for its final 39 laps.

Kevin Harvick is the current race leader, having been battling side by side for first place with Juan Pablo Montoya when the yellow came out for the track issue.

Sevilla gain Getafe advantageLeader Harvick wants race to resume

Daytona track repair begins

Work is underway to repair the hole in the track that hampered last weekend's Daytona 500, track officials announced on Thursday.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season-opener had to be stopped twice last Sunday for a total of more than two hours and 20 minutes, in order to repair a hole on the inside line of Turn 2.

In the end the issue was fixed temporarily using body filler known as Bondo, which officials collected from teams, allowing the race to be completed, although with a long delay which caused the event to end under the lights.

The track's president Robin Braig has announced that work towards an immediate and more permanent fix is already underway, using reinforced concrete to fill the hole, a solution already used in the past at many tracks.

"This is the correct course of action to repair the track," Braig said. "Our team of engineers and asphalt specialists with North American Testing Corporation has previous experience with concrete being used on an asphalt track and it is a proven solution."

The NATC specialists concluded that a combination of unusually cold and wet weather at Daytona, exacerbated by cars bottoming out in that specific section of the track, contributed to the breakdown of the pavement.

The Daytona surface was last repaved in 1978 and although a new repave is not imminent yet, an evaluation process from NATC will determine if such course of action is needed to ensure the long-term integrity of the track.

However, some drivers, including two-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, have said they would not like to see the current bumpy surface changed, as it ensures that Daytona poses a different challenge to Talladega, the other restrictor-plate track on the calendar.

"I would hate to see them repave this track right now and make it like Talladega because right now, the drivers are actually a huge part of the equation," said Stewart last Friday.

"Knowing what to do when you get to those bumps and knowing what your car is going to do and how it is going to react, that is making us have to use the whole race track. It is making us have to really work on the handling of our cars.

"That is the part that has probably excited me the most since I have been here."

The current repair is expected to be completed this week, in time to allow the track's events to take place on schedule.

The Sprint Cup Series will not be back at Daytona until 3 July for the Coke Zero 400.

Gago and Real slam CityNASCAR drops bump-drafting rules

Drivers play down Bud practice crash

Mark Martin and Denny Hamlin have played down the multi-car crash that they were involved in during practice for the Bud Shootout at Daytona yesterday - and denied that NASCAR's new approach to bump drafting rules caused the accident.

Six cars were heavily damaged when Joe Gibbs Toyota driver Hamlin tagged the rear of Martin's Hendrick Chevrolet and sent it spinning into the group they were drafting with.

NASCAR announced recently that it would remove previous restrictions on bump drafting for the 2010 season and would allow the drivers more freedom to make light contact. As yesterday's session was the first Sprint Cup group running since the rule adjustment, there were suggestions that the crash was a product of the aggressive racing now permitted.

But Martin said the incident was a simple misunderstanding between him and Hamlin.

"Probably a case of both of us anticipating something where it caused a flash," said Martin. "It looked like he was going to try to squeeze in on the outside of me, so I made an effort to give him the lane.

"And, he anticipated to get behind me, not that it wasn't worth it to get in behind me instead. So, if either one of us had just anticipated something else, then it wouldn't have happened."

Hamlin agreed with Martin's assessment of the crash.

"I had a huge run going and was going to go to the outside, but decided against it at the last minute," the Gibbs driver told American TV channel Speed.

"He was courteous enough that he was going to give me the high lane, and I guess when he checked up to give me that high lane, I'd already committed to go ahead and get behind him.

"It was just a conflict of two cars going to the wrong place at the wrong time. We're fine [with each other], it was just total miscommunication."

Martin reckoned that in this instance a more aggressive approach might even have avoided the incident, rather than being the cause of it.

"I was making an effort to be on the cautious side and I think Denny did too," he said.

"And in this particular case it created a situation where we came together. Where if just one of us had been just a little bit wilder, maybe it wouldn't have happened."

Drivers play down Bud practice crashRonaldo angry at red card

Kenseth gets new crew chief

Roush Fenway Racing has replaced Matt Kenseth's crew chief with immediate effect, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series outfit has announced.

Drew Blickendersfer, who oversaw Kenseth's victory in last year's Daytona 500 on his debut alongside the former series champion, has been replaced by Todd Parrott starting from this weekend's event at Fontana, where Kenseth also won a year ago.

Parrott won the Cup title with Dale Jarrett and Robert Yates Racing in 1999, and worked with the team until last year, serving as crew chief for former Cup champion Bobby Labonte, although not for the whole season.

Blickendersfer, who had filled in for Chip Bolin, has been reassigned to a new role within Roush Fenway's research and development department.

Kenseth finished eighth in the season-opening Daytona 500 last Sunday.

McMurray: Daytona win is ‘a dream’Real confirm Canales deal

Papis excited about first Daytona 500

Italian Max Papis is excited about his maiden Daytona 500 outing, having won one of the transfer spots for the NASCAR Sprint Cup season-opener last Thursday in his qualifying race.

Papis, who drives the #13 Toyota Camry under the Germain Racing banner, will be the first Italian to compete in the 'Great American Race' since Mario Andretti contested the 500 for the last time in 1968, having won it a year earlier.

The former Formula 1 and Champ Car driver earned his spot partly due to a strategy gamble, when he stayed on the track along with eventual race-winner Jimmie Johnson, while the leaders pitted for tyres a handful of laps from the chequered flag.

However Papis had to get past Todd Bodine on the last lap, something he managed after the former Truck Series champion hit the wall approaching the end of the race, while also fighting for a spot in the main event.

Papis reckons making the field at Daytona to be one of the most meaningful achievements of his racing career.

"This track for me, it's really special," said Papis. "I came over here in '96. It was my first ever race in America, racing the Rolex 24 Hours. A lot of satisfaction for me in that race.

"For me, this being the first 500 is just a dream coming true. It came to great teamwork. [Robert] 'Bootie' [Barker, crew chief] left me up there in front. It was hairy. Sliding around, everybody pushing me, kind of fell a little bit in the black.

"He told me that's the black car you need to pass. That's it. Kept it wide open as hard as I could and slid around and made it happen."

Papis believes NASCAR is the toughest form of racing he has ever competed in. The Italian, who has served as test driver for Sprint Cup champion squad Hendrick Motorsports, has had to make the field for races based on his qualifying speed, and sometimes struggled to do so.

He believes the cream of America's racing talent is in NASCAR, which explains for him why there are not enough US drivers in open-wheel racing.

"Compared to everything else I've done, you can kind of take it easy a little bit or breathe for a second," says Papis.

"Here, if you breathe, they run you over, literally over. That's why I say that for me, you know, I've been able to race in Formula 1, I've been lucky to drive a Champ Car, IndyCar, whatever, but these guys... Now I know when they were complaining before, why all the American drivers they're not in open-wheel racing? Because they're over here."

Papis, one of only four non-guaranteed drivers to earn a place in the Daytona 500 through the Duels, out of 15 who were fighting for a spot in the qualifiers, will start today's race from 31st on the grid.

On Saturday night he led laps and was a top contender in the Truck Series race, but his hopes of a strong finish were dashed when he hit the wall following contact with Nelson Piquet.

Piquet fired up for ARCA debutReal win Canales race

Hornish: NASCAR harder than Indy

Double IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr has warned Danica Patrick that she will find the level of competition in NASCAR much higher than she has been accustomed to in IndyCar.

Penske driver Hornish has had a tough time since moving from IndyCar to NASCAR in 2008 - finishing only 35th and 28th in the Sprint Cup standings in the past two years.

With Patrick entering an exploratory programme of ARCA and NASCAR Nationwide races this year as she ponders a similar move, Hornish said she should expect to find much greater strength in depth in stock car racing.

"I can only say that I know how many races I won over in the IRL and championships," said Hornish. "You can look and see the difficulty that the transition has been for me. I hope that she does well with it and that things go well. For me going through it, I know it's a very, very difficult change to make.

"I think that there are people as talented over here [in NASCAR]. But instead of having five guys that are that talented, you have 30 guys that are that talented [in NASCAR]. You say, 'Oh, there's double the cars.' Well, okay... there's double the cars but there are twice as many teams.

"I just look at the competition: this is the fastest car in the field in qualifying, this is the last car. How close is it? How many guys are in this amount of time and how hard is it to win?

"If you're a sixth place car over there [in IndyCar] and you are on the same talent level coming over here, you're going to be 30th."

Hornish also thinks Patrick is being unwise to race in both NASCAR and IndyCar this season.

"I talked to Dario Franchitti about it when he came over and he told me, 'Man, I can't believe how difficult it would be to juggle both of them back and forth,'" said Hornish.

"It's not the way that I would do it. I would come over [full-time], but since she doesn't know if she wants to do this full-time, I think she's doing the right thing - learning.

"Don't jump into Cup full-time next year. Give yourself a year in Nationwide just to learn. Give yourself an opportunity to be able to race closer up to the front instead of spending a full year of running between 20th and 30th."

Patrick will make her stock car debut in the ARCA race at Daytona this weekend, but has not yet decided whether she will take part in the Nationwide Series event at the track a week later.

Real win Canales raceMontoya: Patrick needs patience

Piquet misses South African event

Nelson Piquet's ARCA debut at Daytona next weekend will now be his first stock car race start, after the Brazilian decided to withdraw from this weekend's Free State 500 in South Africa.

The former Formula 1 driver had initially planned to contest the stock car event on the Phakisa oval prior to his US racing debut but will now head straight to Daytona.

"Due to the close proximity of the next race in my USA programme for 2010, the details of which have just recently become firmed up, and the logistics involved in getting back from the race in South Africa, I have unfortunately had to withdraw from the event," Piquet explained.

"I would have loved to take part, but I have to concentrate on this race in America now. Hopefully I'll be able to make it next year."

NASCAR veteran and 1986 Daytona 500 winner Geoff Bodine will start from pole in the Phakisa event, which will be South Africa's first race for NASCAR-style cars.

Piquet had also intended to contest the Mil Milhas endurance event at Interlagos last weekend, but was forced to miss this race as well when the Mitsubishi he was scheduled to drive suffered problems in practice.

The ARCA season-opener will therefore mark his first car racing start since he split with the Renault F1 team last summer.

Piquet misses South African eventCazorla hit with injury blow

Drivers play down Bud practice crash

Mark Martin and Denny Hamlin have played down the multi-car crash that they were involved in during practice for the Bud Shootout at Daytona yesterday - and denied that NASCAR's new approach to bump drafting rules caused the accident.

Six cars were heavily damaged when Joe Gibbs Toyota driver Hamlin tagged the rear of Martin's Hendrick Chevrolet and sent it spinning into the group they were drafting with.

NASCAR announced recently that it would remove previous restrictions on bump drafting for the 2010 season and would allow the drivers more freedom to make light contact. As yesterday's session was the first Sprint Cup group running since the rule adjustment, there were suggestions that the crash was a product of the aggressive racing now permitted.

But Martin said the incident was a simple misunderstanding between him and Hamlin.

"Probably a case of both of us anticipating something where it caused a flash," said Martin. "It looked like he was going to try to squeeze in on the outside of me, so I made an effort to give him the lane.

"And, he anticipated to get behind me, not that it wasn't worth it to get in behind me instead. So, if either one of us had just anticipated something else, then it wouldn't have happened."

Hamlin agreed with Martin's assessment of the crash.

"I had a huge run going and was going to go to the outside, but decided against it at the last minute," the Gibbs driver told American TV channel Speed.

"He was courteous enough that he was going to give me the high lane, and I guess when he checked up to give me that high lane, I'd already committed to go ahead and get behind him.

"It was just a conflict of two cars going to the wrong place at the wrong time. We're fine [with each other], it was just total miscommunication."

Martin reckoned that in this instance a more aggressive approach might even have avoided the incident, rather than being the cause of it.

"I was making an effort to be on the cautious side and I think Denny did too," he said.

"And in this particular case it created a situation where we came together. Where if just one of us had been just a little bit wilder, maybe it wouldn't have happened."

Drivers play down Bud practice crashRonaldo angry at red card

Ganassi: Daytona win the favourite

Chip Ganassi says Jamie McMurray's Daytona 500 win is his "new favourite" as a team owner.

He has won the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 24 Hours several times as a team owner, but NASCAR's crown jewel had eluded him until Sunday.

Ganassi claims McMurray's win in the 52nd Daytona 500 is the one he now praises more than his other major victories. It allows him to equal Roger Penske, who has also claimed victories in the three greatest races held in the United States.

"I can certainly tell you this one is my new favourite," said Ganassi. "I don't know how you rank them. Someday I'll look back on it and say that was all great. You get into this sport because you love it, and I still love it.

"I plan on loving it for a while, so I don't want to stop. I don't want to start thinking about it - you're not going to see any books out of me or anything. I don't like to look at those kind of things. That's for the media to talk about and whatever."

Ganassi believes it is now key for his team to keep winning and prove that McMurray's victory was no fluke.

"I think it's just important we stay winning and we keep trying to get better week in and week out, in whatever series we're in," Ganassi added. "That's why we're there, to get better, raise the bar, do the right thing for our partners and our sponsors. I just love being in this sport."

Ganassi says when McMurray left the team in 2005 he did so on good terms when he got a better contract with Roush Fenway, just as Juan Pablo Montoya left him in 2000 to pursue his Formula 1 career.

He says he is glad that he has been able to bring both back and achieve more success together.

"When [Jamie] left us, it certainly wasn't anything that was acrimonious," said Ganassi. "Believe me, I would have been perfectly happy keeping all these guys I bring back and seem to have some success with. I would have been perfectly happy keeping them in the first place.

"We've tried to put our money into the cars and into the engines. I don't have a lot, I don't have the biggest jet over at the airport and the flashiest trucks. We're in the business of racing.

"I don't want to take anything away from anybody else, but we have to spend our money more wisely. These guys that have driven with me over the years have had opportunities to go get a great contract after they've driven with me.

"I feel fortunate that they come back and have some success because that's important. That's important to a career. I feel honoured that they want to come back and that we have the type of team they want to come back to."

McMurray's team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya finished 10th, which means Earnhardt Ganassi Racing heads to round two in California with both cars in the top 10 of the standings.

McMurray: Daytona win is ‘a dream’Ibrahimovic - Goals will come

Montoya upbeat on Daytona chances

Juan Pablo Montoya is optimistic ahead of the start of his fourth full season in NASCAR, having taken eighth on the grid for today's Daytona 500.

The Colombian was among the top contenders during the second Gatorade Duel qualifying race last Thursday, leading laps and recovering to finish a strong third after losing the draft following the final caution.

Montoya says his main goal thus far has been getting to the main race with his car in one piece, something he achieved with clean practice sessions and an incident-free run during his duel.

He says his focus in now on racing intelligently, hoping he get the most of having a good car for the season opener.

"I think we've got a good car," said Montoya. "But you have to be smart.

"In the Shootout I pushed [Greg] Biffle really hard and damaged the front of the car. I went too hard. So [in the Duel] you have to be like self-conscious about what you did and how far you went.

"Our main goal really was trying to get to the 500 with the same car we practiced and qualified with. That was our goal and we did it.

"We got a decent starting spot and it's such a long race that it doesn't really matter where you start. The big thing is that we've got a good car and that goes a long way."

Montoya expects today's race to have a wild finish, and that NASCAR officials might have to take advantage of the extra attempts at a green flag finish now permitted following this week's rule change.

Both Gatorade duels have had very close finishes, while the Budweiser Shootout finished under caution due to a multi-car accident last week.

"I wouldn't be surprised that we will have more than one green-white-chequered," Montoya said.

"Honestly, people are racing really clean but you're pushing and you know, [in the Duel it] was only half a field. And it was out of control. It was good, but it was out of control.

"I think it's going to be interesting because you're going to have a lot of the good cars up front because the way the tyres wear and everything at the end they're going to be a handful. But yeah, it makes it interesting."

Montoya refuses to speak about winning the Daytona 500, but he says if he were to win the race one day it would be right up there with his greatest victories, such as his Indianapolis 500 and Monaco Grand Prix wins.

"Well, it would be as high as the other ones," said Montoya. "It would be cool to win them all. But right now, I don't think about it. I didn't think about it when I won Indy or Monaco.

"Afterwards, you go, 'oh wow, I won this.' But you ask me today and you've got to take it like any other race. You've got to make your pitstops and make sure you have a good balance, and keep the car in one piece for when it counts."

Besides his third place from last Thursday in the Duel, Montoya's best finish at Daytona in a points-paying race came when he took ninth last year in the summer race, having finished 14th in the rain-shortened opener a year ago.

Daytona 500 gets back underwaySevilla gain Getafe advantage

Leader Harvick wants race to resume

Daytona 500 leader Kevin Harvick says he would rather the race was restarted than he was handed victory because the current track problems force the event to be abandoned.

Harvick was battling for the lead with Juan Pablo Montoya when the red flag came out for a second time on lap 161 of 200 to give NASCAR a chance to attend to the recurring track surface problem between Turns 1 and 2.

"I want to finish it racing," said Harvick, who is attempting to end a 107-race victory drought in the Sprint Cup. "The car's been all good, everything may go sour but I would love to finish it."

The Richard Childress Racing driver backed the decision to stop the race to try and fix the hole that has reopened in the track.

"The problem is that it is right in the middle of the track where the right side tyre runs," Harvick explained. "So when you go through it and hit it wrong the jackpost and everything hits, the #33 [car of Clint Bowyer] broke its splitter off."

The track has already been repaired once during a previous stoppage that lasted nearly one and three quarter hours. Kyle Busch, who is currently holding sixth place, said the hole had fully reopened during the 39 laps run between red flags.

"It stayed really good for about 18 laps and then you could see a chunk flying off some of the leader cars," Busch said. "Then about five laps ago I saw it start to develop and then it was back to the same old hole again."

He admitted the delays were frustrated, but agreed with Harvick that it was preferable to keep trying to finish the race under green.

"This is a bad predicament to be in for all of us, for NASCAR, everybody," said Busch. "It's unfortunate for the fans too. It's been a great race all day but this isn't any fun having to wait around and trying to get through this deal. But we will do what we need to do."

Primera Liga round-upDaytona 500 gets back underway

Daytona 500 gets back underway

The Daytona 500 has been restarted for a second time after another red flag stoppage to carry out track repairs.

A hole has developed in the asphalt between Turns 1 and 2 twice during today's race, forcing a one hour and 42 minute stoppage on lap 122, and then another 45 minute delay on lap 161 when the hole reopened.

Course workers used a different method to seal the hole during the second red flag and are optimistic that the race can now proceed as planned to the full 200-lap distance.

Darkness has now fallen over Daytona, with five and a half hours having elapsed since the race initially began. Kevin Harvick currently leads from Juan Pablo Montoya under yellow prior to the race resuming in earnest.

Daytona resumes following stoppageCopa del Rey round-up

Daytona resumes following stoppage

The Daytona 500 has resumed following a one hour and 42 minute red flag halt to repair a hole that had opened up in the track.

The problem had developed between Turns 1 and 2, causing punctures on John Andretti and Jimmie Johnson's cars, and leading to the former crashing.

NASCAR officials had initially hoped that the problem could be fixed rapidly, but the resin course workers were using to plug the hole stubbornly refused to set at first as the ground remained moist following heavy rain in recent weeks.

Almost two hours after the red flag was shown, the problem was finally resolved and the drivers returned to their cars to complete the remaining 78 laps. The field has now left the pitlane for some yellow laps, before racing resumes with Clint Bowyer leading to the green flag.

NASCAR adjusts green finish rulesSevilla gain Getafe advantage

McMurray: Daytona win is 'a dream'

An emotional Jamie McMurray paid tribute to his former Roush Fenway team-mate Greg Biffle, after admitting the Ford driver's bump-draft gave him the edge to win the Daytona 500.

McMurray gained a speed advantage down the back straight on the race's second attempt at a green-white-chequer finish thanks to the assistance from Biffle, and that was enough for him to hold off the recovering Dale Earnhardt Jr at the flag.

"Biffle helped me out," he said. "I spun the tyres on the restart and it's a just a gamble on which line is going to give you the biggest run.

"Greg gave me an unbelievable run down the back stretch. Then when I saw the #88 coming I thought: 'Oh no Earnhardt at Daytona'. They win all the time it seems like. You never know what to expect."

It was the 33-year-old's first Sprint Cup win at Daytona, and only his fourth at the top level since making his debut with Ganassi in 2002.

He returned to Earnhardt Ganassi Racing for 2010 after he was dropped from Roush, which was forced to downsize to four cars this year due to NASCAR regulations.

"It's unreal," said McMurray. "It's unbelievable. I can't explain it. It's a dream, it really is.

"To be where I was last year [without a drive] and for Johnny Morris, Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates to take a chance on me and let me come back, it means a lot to me. What a way to pay them back. I'm very emotional."

McMurray also thanked the fans for their patience after they had waited more than six and a half hours to see the finish, following two stoppages to repair a pot hole in the track.

"It was tough having to keep getting in and out of the car, and tough for the fans. But they stuck with us and it was good to hear the applause at the end."

Hole in the track halts Daytona 500Llorente dreaming of World Cup

Patrick in crash on NASCAR debut

Danica Patrick retired from her NASCAR debut with major damage to her car after she was involved in a multi-car accident around halfway through the Nationwide Series season opener.

The IndyCar star had started the race from 15th on the grid and ran around the middle of the pack in the early laps, doing well to avoid a couple of early incidents.

Later she would drop back in the order as she struggled with the handling of her car, losing the draft as a consequence. By lap 40 she was almost 40 seconds behind the leaders, hoping for a caution to be able to stay on the lead lap.

She would eventually drop a lap down following her first stop, but would get back up to speed following adjustments to her car. On lap 52 the caution came out for the third time while Patrick was the first car a lap down, earning her the free pass back onto the lead lap as per NASCAR rules.

Restarting from 29th place she was racing her way into the top 20, until a major incident was ignited ahead of her along the frontstretch on lap 68. At least ten cars were involved and Patrick got caught up in it, hitting first another car and then the outside wall.

She drove her car back to the pits, but following an inspection by the JR Motorsports crew, the team decided to take it to the garage and ultimately retire.

"That's the tough thing about this racing," said Patrick. "I can see what they've all said all along with these big tracks. Slow comes up and you run so fast there that's there no way to go.

"But the disappointing part more than anything is just that I missed out on getting 40 or whatever laps left of experience that I could have got. And the car was finally where I liked it and I felt confident as a driver to be able to run in the pack. So I was kind of getting the hang of it."

Patrick added that she still learned from her first NASCAR experience, which she expects will make her better prepared for her second visit to Daytona next year.

"I can tell you that I'll be a lot more confident and prepared for next year," she said. "This is some really difficult racing, it really is.

"The cars are definitely on the edge here, and as you can see, someone gets a little bit out of shape and everybody is on top of each other. And since the car doesn't slow down very well, you're already on the edge when everything happens.

"I'm glad that I got that second stint in to be able to get more confidence out there but it's never fun when crashing a perfectly good car wasn't your fault."

Tony Stewart claimed his fifth victory in the Nationwide Series season opener, which continued to unfold in wild fashion, as following the crash where Patrick was involved, another 'Big One' followed on lap 91 due to contact between Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr at the front, the latter actually flipping over and hitting the wall.

Chrissy Wallace, another female rookie entering the event, also retired from the race after being involved in an incident at the end of the first lap. Wallace got tapped from behind by Sprint Cup regular Paul Menard, and ended up crashing hard against the inside wall.

Real win Canales racePiquet set to race in ARCA opener

Piquet misses South African event

Nelson Piquet's ARCA debut at Daytona next weekend will now be his first stock car race start, after the Brazilian decided to withdraw from this weekend's Free State 500 in South Africa.

The former Formula 1 driver had initially planned to contest the stock car event on the Phakisa oval prior to his US racing debut but will now head straight to Daytona.

"Due to the close proximity of the next race in my USA programme for 2010, the details of which have just recently become firmed up, and the logistics involved in getting back from the race in South Africa, I have unfortunately had to withdraw from the event," Piquet explained.

"I would have loved to take part, but I have to concentrate on this race in America now. Hopefully I'll be able to make it next year."

NASCAR veteran and 1986 Daytona 500 winner Geoff Bodine will start from pole in the Phakisa event, which will be South Africa's first race for NASCAR-style cars.

Piquet had also intended to contest the Mil Milhas endurance event at Interlagos last weekend, but was forced to miss this race as well when the Mitsubishi he was scheduled to drive suffered problems in practice.

The ARCA season-opener will therefore mark his first car racing start since he split with the Renault F1 team last summer.

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Piquet sixth on NASCAR Truck debut

Nelson Piquet had a strong NASCAR Truck Series debut in the season opening event at Daytona, finishing sixth in an incident-packed race.

Piquet, who drove the #1 Toyota Tundra for Red Horse Racing, survived a number of incidents, ran as high as second at one point and got a strong run on the last lap to gain a number of spots on his way to chequered flag.

"It was an amazing feeling," said an excited Piquet following the race. "I'm just so happy to be able to finish the race and staying out of trouble, sort of - I had my touches and bumps here and there, but I managed to keep the truck in my hands. It was really tough.

"Just unexplainable - so much pressure and fun all at the same time with the guys all around pushing and bumping.

"There on the last lap, hitting side-by-side and then trusting the last corner and just doing it flat and knowing that it needed to go and then gaining like three or four positions in the last lap of the last corner. It's amazing.

"It's much better than last week [in the ARCA event]. I learned so much last week that it helped me a lot for this race. I'm really happy, the team did an excellent job. I need to thank Toyota and Red Horse for helping me so much."

The Brazilian had qualified 22nd, focusing more on his race set-up, and quickly started to make progress once the green flag waved, doing a good job at avoiding the race's first incident which happened as soon as the first lap and right ahead of him.

By lap 25 he was already up to 12th place and drafting well in the middle of the pack and when another incident unfolded past the halfway point, he was once again able to avoid getting involved, moving up to seventh place.

Piquet would actually jump up to second following a round of stops under the third caution of the race, when different strategies shuffled the order. He lost the draft on the restart though and dropped back, but remained in the top 10.

By the time a fifth caution of the race came out he was already back up to third place but later he had another close moment, when Mario Gosselin spun while trying to get in his draft.

On lap 83 Piquet misjudged a bump-drafting move with Max Papis, who ended up turned sideways and against the outside wall, an incident that the Brazilian apologised for over his radio.

Following the seventh and final caution, Piquet tried to go on his own on the outside line while running in the top five, but he would eventually be forced to get back on the inside line. On the last lap he tried to make the outside work again and would finally crossed the finish line sixth.

"I think it was a bit of my inexperience over here," admitted Piquet. "Everybody was pushing and I had pushed one or two trucks before. He came out, he was by himself, I went to push him and I don't know if I pushed him on the wrong side or if our bumpers didn't line up or what happened.

"The moment that I touched him, he just went off. I really felt bad. I didn't know if it was the right time to apologise on the radio, but I have to give him an apology."

Piquet's Red Horse Racing team-mate Timothy Peters was the winner of the event.

The former Renault Formula 1 driver expects to be on the grid for the second race of the season at Atlanta on March 6, but he has yet to secure a deal to complete the whole season in the #1 truck.

Ronaldo angry at red cardPiquet set for Trucks debut

Kyle Busch extends Gibbs deal

Kyle Busch will remain at Joe Gibbs Racing for the foreseeable future after the team announced a multi-year extension to his current deal.

The 24-year-old will continue to drive for the leading Toyota outfit in the Sprint Cup series, having signed a multi-year extension of his contract with the team.

Busch joined JGR in 2008 following three full seasons at Hendrick Motorsports, where he claimed Rookie of the Year honours in 2005, making the Chase both in 2006 and 2007, and taking fifth in the championship on his final year with the outfit.

His move to JGR brought immediate success, as he claimed eight wins and the points' lead on his way to making the Chase, before a slump in form and some bad luck dashed his championship hopes in the final ten races of the season.

Last year Busch failed to make the series' 'play-off', despite winning four races during the regular season and he took 13th place in the final standing. He also claimed nine victories and the championship in the Nationwide Series - his first NASCAR title - plus seven wins in the Truck series.

In the latter one, Busch will field his own team in 2010, adding the owner label to his successful, yet young resume in NASCAR.

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NASCAR adjusts green finish rules

NASCAR will now make three attempts to finish each race under green flag conditions, in a revision of its 'green-white-chequer' rule.

The change has been implemented immediately, starting from yesterday's Gatorade Duels at Daytona, and will apply across the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck series.

Under the previous rule, if a caution was required in the final laps, the race was halted and then restarted for a green flag lap, a white flag lap, and then a final racing lap to try and ensure that the races did not end under yellow.

Before 2010, if another caution was called during the green-white-chequer procedure, cars would remain under yellow to the finish. But from this year three attempts will be made to finish each race under green. As before, if a yellow is called after the leader has already taken the white flag, the race will not be resumed.

"We want to do all we can to finish our races under green flag conditions - the fans want to see that and so do the competitors," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition.

"We felt that putting a cap at three attempts to finish the race under green is the way to go. It gives the fans what they want and it also gives the teams a better opportunity to prepare for their end of race strategy."

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Hole in the track halts Daytona 500

The 2010 Daytona 500 was stopped on lap 122 to repair a hole that appeared in the asphalt between Turns 1 and 2, in a bizarre twist.

The race was red-flagged after John Andretti and reigning Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson both suffered punctures. The former crashed into the wall, prompting a yellow, which aided Johnson, who luckily didn't lose a lap as he trundled back to the pits. It remains unclear whether the incidents were related to the circuit breaking up.

The damaged piece of track appeared to be approximately two foot long and occurred 15 feet above the yellow line. NASCAR officials expected to get the race back under way within the hour, once the hole was patched up.

Richard Childress Racing's Clint Bowyer was in the lead when the race was stopped, ahead of Roush Racing's David Ragan followed by Kasey Kahne, Carl Edwards, Elliott Sadler and Greg Biffle.

The race has already featured a record 19 different leaders and has had four cautions, including an early six-car wreck when Penske Racing's Brad Keslowski cut a right rear tyre and took out team-mate Sam Hornish as well as Regan Smith.

The 2.5-mile tri-oval was last resurfaced in 1978, and is scheduled to receive a new layer of asphalt next year.

Duno enters Daytona ARCA raceReal win Canales race

Rain disrupts Daytona build-up

All on-track activities had to be cancelled at Daytona on Friday due to inclement weather, forcing the Truck Series season opener to be postponed and NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying to be cancelled.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars were set to complete a practice session in the early afternoon, but rain did not allow the session to go ahead as planned and teams will have to shakedown their fresh engines during Saturday's final practice session for the Daytona 500, weather permitting.

The Nationwide Series qualifying session also had to be cancelled as rain continued in the afternoon and the field has been set based on last year's owners' standings, putting Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards on pole position, while Danica Patrick will make her debut in the series from 15th on the grid.

"This is a whole other ball of wax, and the car is not easy to drive," said Patrick ahead of her Nationwide Series debut. "There are a lot of really great drivers out there, really great teams, and everyone is running close. I'm glad to be out there."

The rain eventually stopped and the Truck Series race looked set to go ahead later at night as jet dryers got on track, but then a new shower dashed any hopes for the fans waiting to see some activity. The race, which will mark Nelson Piquet's debut in the series, will now take place on Saturday night.

Weather forecasts show only 20 per cent chance of rain for today, although the temperatures will be low.

Sprint Cup cars will be the first to hit the pavement for their final practice and lay down some rubber before the Nationwide Series race.

Hamburg join Ruud racePatrick enters Daytona Nationwide

Busch: Patrick just another rookie

Kyle Busch says he may try to stay away from Danica Patrick on the track when the IndyCar star makes her NASCAR Nationwide Series debut later today.

Patrick's maiden outing in NASCAR's second-tier series has drawn massive attention from American fans and media, as she is set to compete for the first time against some of the biggest names in the sport such as Dale Earnhardt Jr, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards.

However, Busch is quick to reiterate Patrick is a rookie in the series, and as such he expects her to struggle to find drafting partners during the race, given her lack of experience in the technique. Today's event will only be Patrick's second stock car race, following a sixth place in an ARCA round at the same venue a week ago.

"The thing you do realise and work around is her being out there on the track, she's got the experience she has, but she's still a rookie," said Busch. "She's trying to learn these things so you have to treat her like one of those.

"Maybe some people will help draft with her, but others will probably dump her off and not work with her as much because of her experience level. As far as I've seen, everyone has been really good and she's been doing a good job."

Patrick ran fifth fastest in the final practice session last Thursday but expects a tough baptism in her first NASCAR-sanctioned event today. However Busch reckons she has one of the fastest cars in the field, although that does not necessarily mean he would be willing to work with her in the draft.

"She's got a fast car, certainly," Busch added. "If she's been kind of erratic and all over the place or if she's had a slow car or something like that, then no it wouldn't be in my best interest to work with her.

"I don't have any problem - her in general wouldn't be a problem, it would just be the whether the car could do it and whether she can handle it I guess. The name doesn't matter to me."

Busch has been critical of the TV coverage in the United States, which he claims has been excessively focused on Patrick, to the detriment of the regular players in the Nationwide Series.

"The only thing I will say is that TV has been doing a horrible job because they've been covering her way too much - which isn't a problem, that's fine," said Busch. "But if you're going to have this much attention drawn on the series, let's put it toward some of the people... you've got all these people watching TV and they want to hear about Danica.

"Well, then take advantage of that and show the less funded team, the underprivileged people that want to have some funding so they can race the rest of the year. Danica is only going to be here for 12 races or whatever it is this year."

Busch, the reigning Nationwide Series champion, will start the season opener at Daytona from pole position, while Patrick will take the green flag from 15th place on the starting grid.

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Piquet set to race in ARCA opener

Nelson Piquet Jr is set to make his American stock car racing debut in the ARCA season-opener at Daytona next month.

AUTOSPORT has learned that the former Renault Formula 1 driver, who announced last week he would be switching to NASCAR, will drive the #6 Toyota Camry in the ARCA RE/MAX Series for series champion Eddie Sharp Racing at Daytona on 6 February.

The Brazilian will join IndyCar star Danica Patrick in what is expected to be one of the most high-profile ARCA events ever. Multiple Motocross champion turned stock car racer Ricky Carmichael and IndyCar's Milka Duno are among other notable names entering the race.

Piquet plans to make his debut in NASCAR-sanctioned racing a week later in the Truck Series round at the same track, where he is expected to drive the #1 Toyota Tundra for Red Horse Racing. His full plans for the rest of the season still have to be finalised, but he expects to continue to race in different series throughout the year.

"It's the first year. It's a lot of learning for me. I'm going to be doing races here, races there - as many races as I can just to get used to these kinds of cars and the tracks," said Piquet.

"If it starts going well, then I'll maybe do even more races or maybe do higher levels, like maybe even Nationwide. It is all going to depend on how quick I learn everything and how well I get involved with the team."

Before competing at Daytona, Piquet will have a hectic racing schedule, which includes the Interlagos 1000km endurance race in his native Brazil next weekend, followed by the Free State 500 stock car race at the Phakisa Freeway in South Africa a week later.

Piquet set to race in ARCA openerReal win Canales race

Duno enters Daytona ARCA race

IndyCar racer Milka Duno will make her stock car debut next month at Daytona.

The Venezuelan is set to drive the #90 Toyota Camry for Braun Racing, following a successful first test with the outfit at the same track in December.

Duno had told AUTOSPORT last month that a deal was dependent on sponsorship money, but an agreement has finally been struck for the female racer to compete at Daytona.

"For the first time in a while I fell I have a competitive car," said Duno following the test. "In IndyCars that had not been the case recently. I hope I can make the most of it at Daytona and back up my performance from the December test."

Duno plans a further ARCA test at Talladega next week, before heading to Daytona for the race, where she will join IndyCar rival Danica Patrick, who is set to make her stock car debut in the same event, driving for JR Motorsports.

Plans for further stock car outings for Duno are still in the works, including the possibility of entering NASCAR Nationwide Series races.

Duno enters Daytona ARCA raceHamburg join Ruud race