Engines in the cars of Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick all had to be replaced. All three drivers will start from the rear of their respective Thursday qualifying race regardless of how they qualify on Sunday for the Feb. 23 Daytona 500.
All three will also have to start the Daytona 500 from the rear of the field.
A fourth car with a Hendrick engine, belonging to driver Justin Allgaier, developed an oil line problem during the practice session.
“It was a concern when Tony blew up, and then we did,” Patrick said. “It’s something we’re doing in our family, I guess, and we need to figure it out. I’m sure the Hendrick teams are wondering what is going on.”
A Hendrick spokesman said there appeared to be a common problem in the "bottom end" of the engines.
