Wrecks spark plenty of cautions at Fontana

FONTANA, Calif. -- A record eight cautions -- including two in the final 19 laps -- marred the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway on Sunday.

	Steve Park spins after making contact with Ryan Newman on Lap 1.

The biggest incident came in lap 231 when Dale Jarrett spun, touching off a nine-car accident.

Jarrett took the blame for the crash, but several drivers had problems with a track surface that was more unforgiving on Sunday, as sunny skies produced hot, slippery conditions.

"It was just driver error," Jarrett said. "I just got into the corner a little hard."

The day's most notable incident, however, came on the first lap, when Steve Park's pole-winning run at California Speedway was nullified when he collided with Ryan Newman.

VIDEO CLIPS Park and Newman make contact on the first lap Play video Sprague and Biffle have problems early at California Play video Dale Jarrett hits the wall hard with 21 laps to go Play video

Park got together with Newman coming out of Turn 2, sending Newman hard into the wall. Park shot back across the track, barely missing the Dodges of Mayfield and Casey Mears.

"All I know is that the 1 car (Park) got loose and got up and shoved me into the wall," Newman said.

Newman has been involved in three accidents in 2003 after enduring only one last season.

Park spent 45 laps in the garage before reentering the event, and he finished 40th. He couldn't be reached for comment.

Newman completed only 34 laps and finished 42nd, his third straight finish of 38th or worse.

Since winning at Texas last month, Newman had three straight DNFs.

	Park suffered heavy damage in the early wreck. Credit: Autostock

"It seems like we can't buy a break lately, and we get involved in everybody else's bad breaks, too," Newman said.

Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson both spent the majority of the day in the top 10 -- Johnson for 139 laps, Martin for 119 -- but they tangled on the frontstretch with only one lap to go.

Johnson ended up 16th, Martin 17th.

"I think (Johnson) got crowded up against the wall and had to back out of it," Martin said. "We were all so close together that I got into the back of him there and we lost it."

Johnson said he simply got tight and brushed the wall.

"I am just bummed that, once again, we had a great car, and we get to the very end -- the last lap -- and something else happens."