INDIANAPOLIS – Dave Blaney and the Caterpillar Racing team lined up 41st for the start of the Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A plethora of tire problems plagued the practice sessions leading up the event, and the 160-lap race was just more of the same. The No. 22 Bill Davis Racing Toyota Camry ran in the top 25 for the first half of the race, but mechanical issues slowed the team in the final laps. Blaney took the checkered flag in the 35th position.
The No. 22 Bill Davis Racing team was the fourth of 47 teams to take to the track for qualifying Saturday morning. Blaney ran a speed of 173.987 mph during his run, which earned the team the 41st spot on the starting grid for Sunday’s event. Though disappointed, the Bill Davis Racing team worked on improving the car during the two afternoon practice sessions. By the end of the two hours of practice, Blaney and the crew were considerably more satisfied with the handling of their Camry. Unfortunately, it became apparent to both NASCAR and the teams during the practice sessions that tires were going to be a problem during the race. NASCAR officials spent the evening making plans for the race.
Blaney took the green flag for the start of the event Sunday afternoon and began to make his way past slower traffic. The handling of the Cat Camry was much improved right from the start, and Blaney narrowly avoided a multi-car incident in the early laps of the race. Many cars opted to make pit stops during the ensuing caution, and Blaney lined up in the 27th spot for the lap 10 restart. NASCAR officials waved a competition caution flag on lap 30 of the 160-lap event to enable the teams to bring their cars into the pits to change tires. Blaney drove onto pit road for four tires and fuel and returned to the track in the 24th spot.
It was apparent right from the start that the tires that were provided for the race were not going to hold up for more than 12 lap, and NASCAR waved caution flags every 10 to 12 circuits so the teams could change tires. Blaney worked through both loose and tight handling issues throughout the race, and crew chief Tommy Baldwin made adjustments to the BDR Camry during every pit stop. The No. 22 team remained in the top 25 through the first half of the event, but the veteran driver began to experience mechanical issues just past the halfway point.
Baldwin made a strategic call for Blaney to lead lap 100 and pick up the valuable five bonus points before he ducked down pit road for service during one of the competition cautions. The team worked hard to change the balance of the car, but the problems Blaney was having with his Camry began to mount. Baldwin suspected a clogged fuel filter was the culprit, but the team never had time to investigate during the caution periods near the conclusion of the race. When the checkered flag finally waved, Blaney held the 35th spot.
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