John Andretti started Friday's Busch Series race 20th in the points. Credit: Autostock

Notebook: Andretti heading back to Indy?

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- The Andretti "family reunion" at Indianapolis this month took on another dimension Friday at Darlington Raceway, where John Andretti said he is considering an offer to drive in the Indianapolis 500.

Andretti, who drives fulltime in the Busch Series for ppc Racing was the first NASCAR driver to "do the double" when he raced in the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 1994.

Inside the Numbers John Andretti in the Indy 500 Year Start Finish 1988 27 21 1989 12 25 1990 10 21 1991 7 5 1992 14 8 1993 24 10 1994 10 10

While preparing for Friday night's Diamond Hill Plywood 200 Andretti was asked what circumstances would get him back in a car at Indianapolis.

"Right now I keep mulling over some opportunities that are there even for this year," Andretti said with a smile. "I've got to make a decision pretty quick but I got to get through Darlington first."

Two Andrettis are already at The Brickyard preparing for the 90th Indy 500 on May 28. Michael Andretti came out of retirement to join his son, Marco, as two of four Andretti Green Racing drivers attempting to qualify.

"It's a lot of history going on," John Andretti said Friday. "I think Mario [Andretti, Michael's father and John's uncle] is probably going around looking for a ride, which he could get easily, I'm sure."

Mears, Ganassi talking contract

With Kevin Harvick's contract with Richard Childress being extended recently, Casey Mears becomes the next target of media speculation about his contract status with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.

Mears' current agreement runs out at the end of this season. On Friday at Darlington, he downplayed the rumors.

Credit: Autostock

Dodge Charger 500 Lineup Pos. Driver Speed Time 1. K. Kahne 169.013 29.096 2. R. Newman 168.192 29.238 3. C. Bowyer 168.071 29.259 4. D. Stremme 167.727 29.319 5. D. Hamlin 167.453 29.367 6. E. Sadler 167.413 29.374 7. C. Edwards 167.379 29.380 8. B. Vickers 167.362 29.383 9. G. Biffle 167.231 29.406 10. Ku. Busch 167.146 29.421 • Complete lineup, click here Pole positionKasey Kahne captures his third pole of 2006 at Darlington Outside poleSecond quick, Ryan Newman makes it an all-Dodge front row Middle of the roadAfter his Richmond win, Junior qualifies 22nd at Darlington Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

"We're still working on it," Mears said. "Chip and I have talked a lot. We've had a lot of positive meetings. We're pushing forward and trying to make things work."

This is the second time in as many years that Mears has been in the midst of rumors he'll leave Ganassi -- or be discarded.

"Right now I'm really working hard to be with Chip," Mears said. "There are a lot of good things going on here now. I've got a lot of great guys that work on the team and support me a lot [and] I really like being a part of the Texaco/Havoline team."

Mears said most of the rumors were someone's invention.

"There's really nothing to say," Mears said. "We're working at it. Obviously there's always opportunity, but I'm focused on trying to work things out with Chip right now.

"It's all rumor and everybody likes to stir it up a lot when it comes to things like this. I guess it makes for a good story, but really we're just focused on running well at the track. Chip and I have talked a lot, and that's all I can really say."

Mears said the fact that no less than six teams will run Toyotas next season, and that as of Friday only Michael Waltrip's own team has announced a driver, meant nothing to him.

"Regardless of who the manufacturer is, any time there are new teams coming into this sport it opens up options for a lot of people and makes the sport bigger," Mears said. "I'm not really worried about it right now. I haven't really talked to 'em. I guess if they had talked to me it would open up an option, but I haven't really considered 'em, so I'm not really too worried about it."

Sadler concentrating on Cup ride

Robert Yates Racing announced Friday that Elliott Sadler would no longer race RYR's No. 90 Ford in the Busch Series.

The deal was announced as a means to accelerate Yates Racing's driver development program, as two of Yates' three development drivers, Stephen Leicht and Matt McCall, are slated to pick up the races that Sadler would have run.

But last week, RYR general manager Eddie D'Hondt said Sadler had asked to get out of the Busch car to "concentrate on his Nextel Cup car." Sadler was originally entered to drive the car at Darlington, but the entry was changed to Leicht at midweek.

"For the remainder of 2006, we are committed to getting Matt McCall, Stephen Leicht and Justin Diercks as much track time as possible utilizing test sessions and CitiFinancial Busch Series races," D'Hondt said. "There will also be events that we will bring two CitiFinancial Busch cars, allowing two of our drivers to compete in the same event."

Biffle adds Busch time

Greg Biffle might not be keen on adding travel to his schedule, but he did just that Friday with the announcement he would do four additional Busch Series races this season in a No. 66 Brewco Motorsports Ford.

Brewco team manager Todd Wilkerson confirmed Biffle would drive at Nashville and Kentucky in June, Martinsville in July and Watkins Glen in August. Wilkerson said the other races, Chicagoland in July and Michigan in August, would be done with Nextel Cup drivers.

Scott Wimmer and Ken Schrader have driven this season in Brewco's No. 66 Ford. Last season, Biffle raced exclusively in the Busch Series for Brewco and had 16 top-fives and 21 top-10s in 27 starts.

"I don't like a bunch of traveling [but] I enjoyed working with Newt [Moore, Brewco crew chief]," Biffle said. "I think driving the Busch car helps at a lot of places, although a few it doesn't."

Biffle will have to commute from a Nextel Cup track for three of the four additional dates, which boosted his Busch schedule to 27 races. He'll go from Pocono to Nashville and Michigan to Kentucky in June and from Pocono to Martinsville in July.

"The biggest reason I chose to do the Martinsville race is to get some extra practice on that racetrack for when we go back during the Chase [for the Nextel Cup]," Biffle said. "The [Busch] cars are lighter, the wheelbase is shorter and they have less horsepower, but they help you get a feel for driving the racetrack."

Childress gets degree

Team owner Richard Childress will be awarded an honorary degree from the board of trustees of Davidson County Community College (DCCC) during Friday night's commencement ceremony on the school's campus in Lexington, N.C.

Childress' wife, Judy, will accept the award, as Childress will be busy directing his Busch Series teams' efforts in the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Raceway.

"I'm honored to receive this recognition from Davidson County Community College and I'm sorry I won't be there to accept it in person," Childress said. "Davidson County Community College provides its students with a great opportunity to continue their education and prepare for better jobs in the future. It's also an honor to be rewarded at the same time as my friend Bob Timberlake."

Childress and Timberlake, a world-renowned artist, are only the fourth and fifth community leaders to receive such recognition from DCCC.