Incident quells Labonte's chances at victory

HAMPTON, Ga. -- Bobby Labonte has gone to Victory Lane in five of the past 11 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but wasn't able to do so Sunday.

			Bobby Labonte spins his Pontiac on pit road after contact with Jimmy Spencer.

Labonte finished 37th in the MBNA America 500 -- 38 laps down.

Coursing the pit lane during the second round of green flag pit stops, Labonte had steered down toward his pit stall when he was turned completely around by Jimmy Spencer, who upon exit from his pit drove into the left side of Labonte's Pontiac. Labonte spun around and hit the pit wall.

Derick Jennings, Labonte's rear tire changer, and a NASCAR official had to dive over the wall and out of harm's way. Neither was injured, but the incident did prove fatal for Labonte's hopes of victory. Crew chief Jimmy Makar said that in turning the car around Labonte over-revved the motor.

He slowed just after the halfway point, and eventually lost a cylinder. After more than 35 laps spent in the garage, Labonte re-entered the track with 105 laps remaining. Labonte was assessed a stop-and-go penalty for speeding on pit road.

Spencer, crew chief Doug Randolph and team owner Chip Ganassi were summoned to the NASCAR trailer after the race.