Crashes mar Friday Brickyard practice

SPEEDWAY, Ind. -- Scott Pruett's return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ended with a trip to a nearby hospital.

Pruett, who hasn't raced here since 2000, spun and smacked the wall in Turn 1 early in Friday's practice for the Brickyard 400. His No. 09 Phoenix Racing Dodge was heavily damaged on the driver's side and slid against the inside wall.

Greg Biffle

After evaluation at the infield care center, Pruett was taken to Methodist Hospital for further evaluation and X-rays, IMS officials said. It is unknown what the X-rays were for.

Pruett finished 10th in the Brickyard 400 in 2000, and he also has four starts in the Indianapolis 500. Unfortunately for Pruett, he also has four DNFs in the Indy 500, including a crash while leading in 1995, his last start in an IndyCar here.

Hermie Sadler and Greg Biffle also crashed in practice. Biffle walked away from his wreck, while Sadler was checked and released from the infield care center and was cleared to drive by IMS director of medical services Dr. Henry Bock.

"The throttle hung up on me going in Turn 2," Sadler said. "We tested this SAFER barrier. It is unfortunate for us. It's our best car that we've got. ... Not sure of a rock got up in there. I don't know. We've never had trouble with this car. It worked fine in the garage, but it didn't work when I needed it to."

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Biffle's car worked fine, but his No. 16 Ford was a little too loose. Biffle said he lost control on the entrance to Turn 4, and the car backed into the outside wall.

"I just lifted on the gas and started to turn in and spun out," Biffle said. "Mine got away in the worst possible spot -- way early. ... It just got away from me. I was just way too loose. That was our first qualifying run of the day. Even though that was a good car, they've got another good one in the truck, so we'll be all right."

Biffle was also checked, released and cleared to drive.

Draw to determine pole winner?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. drew the No. 1 spot for qualifying Saturday morning, which begins at 11 a.m. Temperatures will be cooler in the morning, which usually means a faster track.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

A driver who goes early in qualifying has a big advantage, some drivers say.

"Whoever put the schedule together doesn't understand the combination of weather and cars," said Ryan Newman, who goes out 20th of 50 cars. "It's not ideal at all. Whoever gets the early draw is more likely going to be a top five or top 10 qualifier than a guy that goes out next to last, depending on the weather of course. Last year I think the track picked up over a second and a half just because I went out so early. It's not fair to all the drivers."

Earnhardt Jr. could need all the help he can get, for the No. 8 Chevrolet was 37th fastest at 179.383 mph.

Rudd's Brickyard 400 trophy ruined

Ricky Rudd's Brickyard 400-winning trophy was ruined recently because of a flood in Rudd's basement. Rudd said he lost some old photos and trophies because of the flood damage.

"Our trophy is pretty much destroyed right now, so I'm going to have to get it rebuilt," said Rudd, who won here in 1997. "I'm sure it can be rebuilt, but it's pretty sorry looking now. It's kind of crumbled in a few pieces, so hopefully we need to get a replacement, or get that one rebuilt."

As for the $571,000 check for winning that race, well, that's gone, too.

"The check has been spent," Rudd said. "The check bought the house that destroyed the trophy."

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Mexico City race profitable for Busch teams?

The NASCAR Busch Series is headed to Mexico City for a road race next year, and some team owners wonder if that's such a good idea. Bill Davis, car owner for Kenny Wallace, said it would be an expensive proposition to go all the way to Mexico for one race.

"To me, being a car owner in a struggling series is expensive and hard to go do," Davis said. "And do we have a lot of sponsors right now that are international and that are going to benefit?

"But that said, it is an opportunity to maybe appeal to a new demographic, a new group of fans that may embrace our sport and embrace our sponsor's products. If that's the case and if that's the end result, then we've done a good thing."

Ricky Hendrick, who owns Kyle Busch's team, has a more practical approach.

"It makes me want to go take Spanish lessons," Hendrick said. "I took German in high school so I need to go take Spanish lessons."

Waltrip's triple play weekend

Michael Waltrip will be very familiar with Crawfordsville Road this weekend as he attempts to run three different races between the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Waltrip was planning to run in Friday night's Craftsman Truck Series Power Stroke Diesel 200 and Saturday night's Busch Series Kroger 200 at IRP before the Brickyard 400 on Sunday.

Ken Schrader is attempting the Truck-Cup double, while Jason Leffler, Hermie Sadler, Kenny Wallace, Robby Gordon, Greg Biffle and Kevin Lepage are all trying the Busch-Cup double.

John Andretti

Andretti's streak in jeopardy

John Andretti is one of 14 drivers who have competed in every Brickyard 400, but unless something unusual happens, he won't be running in his eleventh on Sunday.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. plans to run the entire race and no substitute driver has been named for the No. 8. In addition, no car was entered for Andretti, unlike last year, when he ran a No. 81 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Unfortunately, Andretti's day ended early with an accident and a 43rd-place finish.

Andretti, a long-time Indiana resident, was the first driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same day, but was unable to secure a ride for either race at the Brickyard this season.