Busch Series regular Michel Jourdain Jr. takes a ride through the grass. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

McMurray wrecks primary in first practice

MEXICO CITY -- Jamie McMurray's weekend nearly ended before it began. But thanks to a generous teammate, McMurray will race in Sunday's historic Telcel Motorola 200 Busch Series race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

McMurray, one of six full-time Nextel Cup drivers who are racing in Mexico this weekend, crashed his No. 42 Dodge early in the first practice session at the 2.52-mile road course.

McMurray was approaching a 180-degree right-hand turn when he lost control and hit the barrier.

	Jamie McMurray Credit: Autostock
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"I had followed a car through the esses and really wasn't driving in that deep," McMurray said. "I just drove up in there, and the car was tight and just snapped loose on me. The walls have like murals in them, and the car didn't slid. It just sucked it in, and I couldn't get off the wall."

McMurray was able to joke about the murals, saying, "It's awful Catholic as you pass by."

His Chip Ganassi Racing crew wanted to repair the car, but it was too heavily damaged, and they loaded it on the hauler. McMurray then wondered whether he would be needed the rest of the weekend.

The team had no backup car, so McMurray approached good friend Rusty Wallace about driving the No. 64 backup; but Sorenson's backup car was pulled off the hauler for McMurray to drive Sunday.

McMurray wasn't the only driver to have problems in the first appearance by Busch drivers on a road course since 2001. David Stremme crashed hard and had to go to a backup, as did Rafael Martinez.

David Stremme's car is hauled away after a crash. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Stremme crashed in the chicane along the long frontstretch and later complained about the curbs lining the asphalt.

"I guess they've got that 'bus stop' in there so they don't go so fast," Stremme said. "I went and told (Busch Series director Joe) Balash that it's kind of crazy, since we're running 150 mph there. You see the first marking, but if you're in traffic, the second one is hard to see. There was a slow car in front of me, and we clipped (the curb), and it hooked me right in the fence."

Stremme said the concrete curbs were "humongous." McMurray also complained about the chicane, saying the curbs were too high.

"If it were me, I would just get rid of the chicane," McMurray said.

Otherwise, McMurray said there was nothing wrong with the track. It reminds him of Loudon or Milwaukee, both flat mile tracks. Still, he was surprised at the damage to his car.

"I didn't think (I hit hard), but I tore our car up about as bad I ever have," McMurray said.

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Stremme's backup car is his primary car for the Las Vegas race next weekend, so the No. 14 team turned to a FitzBradshaw Racing teammate for a car to use Sunday.

After the Navy -- Stremme's sponsor -- dismissed the idea of using the No. 12 car with its bright red paint scheme, FitzBradshaw began peeling the decals off the No. 40 backup of Carlos Contreras.

That car has a black paint scheme -- and was driven last weekend at California Speedway by Sterling Marlin.

Many drivers went off course during the session, and a few cars suffered minor damage. Jason Keller and Randy LaJoie were among those who had what appeared to be sheet-metal damage.

One driver who didn't have many problems was Busch Series rookie Carl Edwards, who ended up the fastest in the session at 102.567 mph. Edwards, the first driver on the track Friday morning, edged road-race veteran Boris Said, who went 102.344 mph.

"The car's great," Edwards said. "Road racing is different. It's more about the driver and the line you take and the braking points than it is the car setup. When we go to an oval like California, if a car is just a little bit off, you're slow. Here, it seems like if you're car is a little bit off, you can make up for it."

But Edwards is still getting used to driving a road course.

Adrian Fernandez was third-fastest in the morning practice session. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

"I'm not used to having to slow down so much," Edwards said. "It's really easy for me to apply the brakes softly, like you would on an oval, and then let off too early and overcook the corner.

"On these ovals we go to, you go, go, go. When you apply the throttle, you're going toward the floor. Here, there are so many sections where you just baby the throttle, and it's steady-state, constant-speed cornering. That's a lot different than what I'm used to."

Mexico City native Adrian Fernandez, an open-wheel star in his home country, was third-quickest at 102.283 mph. Fernandez, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, is attempting to make his first NASCAR race.

Sorenson was fourth-fastest at 101.878 mph, followed by another Mexico City native, Michel Jourdain Jr., at 101.654.

Ron Fellows was sixth, followed by Jorge Goeters, Robby Gordon, Kevin Harvick and Carlos Contreras.