Andretti's promising day ends with crash

SPEEDWAY, Ind. -- Even a change of scenery couldn't change the Andretti luck at Indianapolis, as once again, the words "Andretti is slowing down" were heard during Sunday's Brickyard 400.

Driving the No. 81 Kraft Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc., John Andretti's day ended early when he was tapped from behind and spun hard into the wall on Lap 47. The car suffered severe damage to the left side, bending the trunk under the left rear tire.

"Something happened in front of me and they all checked up," Andretti said. "The 15 was right in front of me and I knew I'd better not hit him. When I slowed down, somebody got into me -- and that was that."

Brickyard 400  Results  Standings  Lap by Lap  Video Highlights  Crash ends Andretti's day  Stewart leads most laps  Jarrett's jackman hit  Brickyard 400 Notebook

Andretti, who had the fastest lap in Friday's practice and qualified 11th Saturday, was forced to start at the back of the field because his crew swapped engines. He had charged up into the top 30 before his misfortune.

"The car was really fast," Andretti said. "They told me, 'Go out and drive like a wild man.' I just didn't realize it was going to be such a short day."

In four decades of trying to win at the Brickyard, four different Andrettis have a combined total of one victory -- Mario Andretti won the 1969 Indianapolis 500. Unfortunately for John, the family's luck at this track is still bad.

"It's really, really frustrating," he said. "I don't know what to do to get my luck to change."