Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Earnhardt Jr. wrecks pole-winning car

   Dale Earnhardt Jr. will remain credited with the pole for this season's Daytona 500 but will not lead the field to the green flag.

   Earnhardt and Martin Truex Jr. were involved in a wreck during practice on Wednesday, forcing both drivers to have to use backup cars for Thursday's qualifying races and Sunday's 500.
 
   Jimmie Johnson and Earnhardt were running in a two-car tandem with the tandem of Truex and Brian Vickers behind them when Johnson needed to slow because for traffic coming on the track. Truex hit Earnhardt from behind, sending both cars spinning into the infield wall.
 
   "You got to pay attention out there. If you're going to come out and race, you got to pay attention," Earnhardt said.