Dale Jarrett started the 13th running of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard with no where to go but forward. Jarrett qualified the #88 UPS Ford Fusion in 35th position but started from the back of the field due to an engine change the team made on Friday evening at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The UPS Team scored a 28th-place finish at Indianapolis. While Jarrett left Indianapolis better than he started, it still wasn't the finish for which the driver of the UPS Ford had hoped.
"It's disappointing to come here without a realistic chance at winning," Jarrett said. "But, Butch (Hylton, interim crew chief) and the guys made improvements in the UPS Ford from practice to today. I still couldn't get off the corners like I needed but it was an improvement and that is the most important thing. Hopefully we learned some things here that will help us later this season."
"I said going into today that if we were able to get a top-15 finish then that would be a huge accomplishment," Jarrett added. "We didn't get there but our end result was better than what it could have been so that's a positive for this team right now."
Elliott Sadler started from the 27th position but the M&M'S® Ford met an early demise as Sadler brought out the first caution after wrecking in turn four. The #38 M&M'S Ford spun out on lap three, ending Sadler's day and resulting in a 43rd-place finish for the M&M'S Racing Team.
Jimmie Johnson picked up the win in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. It is his first win at Indianapolis.
Sadler's 43rd-place finish dropped him two spots in the point standings to 22nd. Jarrett, meanwhile, climbed one spot to 24th. Jimmie Johnson continues to lead the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series point standings, stretching his lead over Matt Kenseth to 107 points.
The pace changes for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series as it travels to the road course of Watkins Glen International for next weekend's AMD at The Glen. The race starts next Sunday at 1:35 p.m. EDT. NBC goes live with its race broadcast at 1 p.m. EDT.
