Dale Earnhardt Jr. comes in at the end of the first segment of the Budweiser Shootout. Credit: AP

Earnhardt Jr. bounces back after problems

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Folks will want to use Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout as a barometer for what to expect from Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2005.

He says not to, says doing so would be an inaccurate gauge of his team's ability.

Earnhardt struggled in the 70-lap affair, dropping to 19th in the 20-car field at one point during the first segment, and struggled early in the second segment before mounting a to surge into the top five.

	Dale Earnhardt Jr. exits his car after Saturday night's 70-lapper. Credit: CIA Stock Photo
	DALE EARNHARDT JR. •   Driver Page •   Merchandise •   Article Archive

He would eventually finish seventh. Not terrible, but not up to the lofty standards expected of a guy who has dominated restrictor-plate racing to the tune of seven career victories at Daytona and Talladega.

Right?

"I thought we run pretty good," Earnhardt said. "There was some real good cars that got shuffled (back). That (Shootout) car was the worst car here in the test, so I think we came a long way with it.

"I know the (Daytona) 500 car is better, and I was pretty happy. I had a lot of fun."

After changing the transmission in the Budweiser Chevrolet prior to the race, Earnhardt was forced to start the all-star event at the rear of the field.

His car was off the pace nearly from the get-go, an issue Earhardt attributed to a faulty ignition box.

Once he switched boxes, he shot through the field with the precision his competitors are accustomed to seeing in plate races.

"There were times after his engine was fixed that he was fast," said third-place finisher Jeff Gordon. "It didn't seem like he was as strong as I've seen him before, but I'll guarantee you if he'd gotten out front nobody would have passed him."

Under the current aerodynamic package, passing the leader is virtually impossible.

Key word: virtually.

Earnhardt said it could be done, but competitors would have to be willing to work together.

Missing a spark?Dale Earnhardt Jr. has troubles in Segment 1 Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

"It's a revolving door," Earnhardt said. "It isn't that hard to pass the leader, but second, third and fourth have to work together well. It's tough. You have to have a lot of friends out there, and everyone is tired of losing, I guess.

"The tolerance from first to last is a lot slimmer than it used to be, so, yeah, it's like an IROC race.

"So they'll have to put a bunch of blades on the cars to make it where you can blow each other away and keep passing each other."

Despite the setback, the new Bud crew didn't get discouraged. In fact, Junior said Saturday's effort was quite encouraging.

"They're laid back," Earnhardt said of his crew. "Pete (Rondeau) was worried about the issue, but he did a good job keeping his cool and we changed what we were allowed to change.

"We went back out there and if it was still having a problem we were probably going to have to park it. But, it was fixed.

"When we unloaded that that car in that test, and even in drafting practice, I couldn't even hang on to anybody. We got in an eight-car pack and I was just tagging on the rear. It was terrible.

"So they've done a lot of good work to that car. Our 500 car was the best car in the draft, I thought, so we're not really running that good by ourselves with it, but when they put them all out there, I'll be the strongest."

Jimmie Johnson, Saturday's Bud Shootout winner, agreed.

"I expect to see him up front in the 500," Johnson said.