Ill-stricken Busch gives way to Gilliland

FONTANA, Calif. -- For the second consecutive day, illness forced Kyle Busch to make an early exit from his car.

Suffering from the aftereffects of strep throat, bronchitis and influenza, Busch lasted 62 laps in Sunday's Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway before being replaced by David Gilliland in the No. 18 Toyota. He was helped from the car, then slowly climbed on top of the team's war wagon to watch a couple of laps before going back to the garage area.

"I'm going to go lay down for a little bit and see if I can't get some fluids or something in me at the infield care center," Busch said. "The car was decent. I'm real proud of these guys. I appreciate them sticking behind me and I'm sorry I had to get out.

"I'm not feeling well. I was coughing read bad out there. Maybe now I'll go lay down and get some fluids or something and try to get better. We've been fighting it for several days."

Denny Hamlin filled in for Busch during Saturday's Nationwide Series event, giving the Las Vegas native a chance to rest up for the Sprint Cup race. But when Busch felt no better Sunday morning, the team decided to go ahead and use a relief driver.

Gilliland parked his No. 71 Chevrolet after 13 laps, then walked back through the garage area and stood by in the No. 18 pits. Starting last after the team changed engines before the race, Busch steadily worked his way through the pack and was up to 23rd by the time green-flag stops commenced on Lap 38.

A caution flag for an incident involving Jamie McMurray allowed Busch to come in and make the switch. While the pace car circulated around the track, the team was able to get Gilliland belted in, his radio connected and four tires and fuel. He left pit road, just beating the pace car into Turn 1 and remaining on the lead lap.

"Way to cut it close, boys," Busch's spotter, Jeff Dickerson, reported on the radio. "We make it look like it was rocket science."

Gilliland returned in 28th position and was given a quick pep talk by crew chief Steve Addington.

"Do what you've got to do and we'll be fine," Addington said on the radio. "We'll adjust it from here."

Busch said the car was handling well when he climbed out.

"It was a little bit tight for me and we were trying to loosen it up and see if it would get to where I like it," Busch said. "We started getting a little loose in. Hopefully it's not too loose for [Gilliland]."

Unaccustomed to the car, Gilliland realized several laps into the run that Busch had turned off several of the electrical switches controlling the fans when he exited the car. That was quickly remedied on the next stop.

Gilliland was able to avoid the multi-car accident that took out a significant number of lead-lap cars with less than 10 laps remaining, allowing him to move up to 24th at the finish, two laps behind winner Jimmie Johnson.

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