Time ticks away as blown engine stalls Nemechek

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- When you're already in a position where you have to make the field on your qualifying time, time is always of the essence. But for Joe Nemechek, Friday at Watkins Glen International became one team's struggle against the clock. On his first lap, the engine in his No. 87 Toyota let go, as a hole in the oil pan dumped fluid on the track (watch video).

So how fast can a Sprint Cup crew respond to adversity? Here's a minute-by-minute look:

11:55 a.m.: As the caution flag comes out, Nemechek rolls slowly to a stop on the pit-road exit, just past the start/finish line. As safety crews begin putting down oil dry, his car is hooked to the back of a tow truck and Nemechek gets a ride back to the garage area.

Noon: The car is unhooked from the tow truck and the crew rushes down to push it back to its stall. A narrow streak of fluid on the asphalt reveals the damage.

12:05 p.m.: While the car is rolled backwards into the stall and the wheels removed, one crewman is already at the hauler across the way, unloading a rolling dolly containing a ready-to-go engine with Triad Racing Technologies on the head covers.

"I didn't even get a full lap in," Nemechek tells a television reporter who asks him what happened. "On a road course, that's a pretty important deal, to figure out your braking points and all. If I can get one lap, I'll know exactly what I need to do to go fast for qualifying. We're going to work hard, though.

"We haven't had any [engine] failures. That's what's so bizarre. I'm not sure what happened but there's a hole in the oil pan, so I think it broke a rod. What caused that, I don't know, but I'd like to get back out there and make some laps."

12:10 p.m.: The No. 87 garage is the scene of frenetic activity, as crewmen scramble over, around and under the car. Absorbent wipes, drip pans and plastic buckets are placed under the leaking engine. First, the air cleaner and then the carburetor are removed from the top of the engine. While that work is going on, several other crewmen have placed the car on jack stands and are now underneath, beginning to disconnect the universal joint from the gearbox area.

12:15 p.m.: With Nemechek looking on, work continues on the engine, transmission and exhaust systems. With the hood up and wheels off, the extent of the damage is apparent, as oil streaks down the entire left-hand side of the engine compartment and is dripping off the frame and undercarriage.

12:20 p.m.: Three crewmen are underneath the car, one is in the wheel well, three more are bent over the engine and Nemechek is helping out where he can. Another crewman is on a cell phone, perhaps talking with someone back at the shop -- or one of the TRD engineers -- about transferring the connections to the new engine. There are oily fingerprints all over the side of the car, streaking across the yellow numerals.

12:22 p.m.: The radiator hoses are disconnected and the radiator is removed.

12:23 p.m.: Nemechek checks his watch, moves a few lug nuts out of the way, and leans down to watch the work continuing underneath the car. The rest of the Cup garage is quiet, as all of the cars with the exception Brian Vickers and Jimmie Johnson are practicing.

12:32 p.m.: The engine hoist is rolled over and attached to the damaged engine.

12:33 p.m.: An empty rolling dolly is put into place.

12:39 p.m.: Crewmen are finally ready to remove the damaged engine, which is still leaking water and oil. The mounts are unbolted and the engine and gearbox slowly swings free.

12:40 p.m.: Thirty minutes left in practice: The entire assembly is set down on the asphalt, as crewmen go to work removing the header pipe and gearbox. At the hauler, one crewman is busy connecting all the components that are needed: throttle linkages, spark plug wiring and some electrical systems.

12:43 p.m.: Nemechek is busy handing out absorbent pads. Then he climbs under the car, into the empty engine compartment and begins wiping down the frame while the rest of the team is transferring components from one engine to the other.

12:45 p.m.: The damaged engine is bolted to the rolling dolly and the hoist is removed, then rolled across to the hauler to pick up the spare engine.

12:48 p.m.: The spare engine is moved in front of the car, and work begins to connect the header and gearbox.

12:49 p.m.: As one crewman makes sure the gasket and header pipe are securely fastened, another is unbolting the engine from the dolly and checking the hoist.

12:51 p.m.: Nemechek continues to pace in front of the car as crewmen make a final effort to clean oil from the engine compartment.

12:52 p.m.: One crewman begins to jack up the hoist, lifting the replacement engine high enough to clear the front valance of the car.

1 p.m.: With the engine now in place, the crew begins the tedious task of reconnecting the transmission and exhaust from underneath.

1:02 p.m.: One crewman rolls over four new tires, just in case the work can be completed in time.

1:05 p.m.: Fifteen minutes left in practice. Work under the car is nearly completed. Now three crewmen are trying to attach oil hoses and other pieces that coil around the top of the engine.

1:10 p.m.: Now secured to the mounts, the engine no longer needs the assistance of the hoist, which is removed.

1:15 p.m.: Two crewmen pick up the radiator and place it back in the engine compartment.

1:17 p.m.: The main radiator hose is connected and the clip tightened.

1:20 p.m.: Practice ends.

1:21 p.m.: The alternator is put back in place.

1:24 p.m.: Water leaking from underneath shows that some of the connections aren't watertight, but that's quickly rectified.

1:28 p.m.: The carburetor is installed.

1:31 p.m.: While one crewman begins to pick up tools strewn around the garage, another is installing a new oil filter.

1:36 p.m.: While the crew is still attempting to finish the engine change and close the hood, a dejected Nemechek is walking slowly toward the Nationwide Series paddock.

"It was close," Nemechek said. "We just went through an update with the engines parts and pieces and the backup engine we had was still the old stuff. So it just took too long to convert it. We haven't had any issues all year, so it threw us for a surprise.

"Changing motors at the race track is almost a thing of the past. It just doesn't happen, but it got us [Friday]. Now I've got to figure out how to get around here and get qualified."

Unfortunately for the No. 87 Toyota team, all that work proved for naught, as Nemechek's qualifying lap of 119.770 mph was a tick too slow to make the field for Sunday's race. He wound up 44th of the 46 cars which made qualifying attempts.