Victory eludes Pruett again, but 'last year hurt worse'

MEXICO CITY -- Scott Pruett went from having what looked like a sure victory Sunday to finishing in a battered third place in the Nationwide Series Corona Mexico 200 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Official Results

Corona Mexico 200

Pos.	Driver	Make
1.	Kyle Busch	Toyota
2.	Marcos Ambrose	Ford
3.	Scott Pruett	Dodge
4.	Carl Edwards	Ford
5.	Patrick Carpentier	Dodge
6.	Clint Bowyer	Chevrolet
7.	Scott Wimmer	Chevrolet
8.	Brad Keselowski	Chevrolet
9.	Mike Bliss	Chevrolet
10.	Steve Wallace	Chevrolet

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But it didn't come close to erasing the bitter hurt Pruett still feels from losing his Mexico stock-car debut a year ago in this event when teammate Juan Montoya knocked him out of the way and into fifth position on Montoya's way to the first NASCAR win that Pruett so dearly covets.

On Sunday, the run to the finish looked eerily similar to last year, as Pruett, this year driving the No. 40 Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates rather than the No. 41 he had a year ago, looked a sure bet to win; and then in the last 10 laps lost two positions.

He was passed first by eventual winner Kyle Busch, on Lap 72 of 80 (watch video); and then three laps later by Tasmanian Marcos Ambrose.

"Last year hurt worse, no question," Pruett said with a weary smile. "You know, we just didn't have a good enough car [Sunday]. We knew we had a good car -- don't get me wrong -- but last year we had a great car.

"And that's the difference between winning and getting a top-three or a top-five."

As good as Pruett looked in leading twice for a race-high 36 laps and, when yellow after yellow fell in the race's last 40 laps, being in position to go all the way on fuel, Pruett admitted his car wasn't good enough to win.

"It was an OK car," Pruett said. "The Fastenal Dodge ran good all day long; unfortunately we just missed the setup a little bit. I was sliding way too much -- loose getting in [to the turns] -- so we took a pretty big gamble and took some spring rubbers out of the rear, and that's why we pitted early so we could do it under the yellow.

"That helped a little bit, but not enough. I was holding on pretty good, and then when Kyle came up behind me, he shoved me a few times letting me know he was getting pretty anxious to go; so instead of getting turned around and my car tore up like last year, I gave way a little bit.

"I thought I could hold on, but then Marcos came up, too."

Pruett said the three caution flags that waved in the last 28 laps doomed him. He pitted for the last time on about Lap 40, and as everyone trailed in behind him his tires had a few more laps on them than the competition. (Continued)