The Official Ryan Newman Website

Allstate 400 at The Brickyard
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Race 20 of 36
ESPN 1:00 p.m.

CHASSIS NOTES

PRS-580: This weekend's No. 12 Alltel Dodge is a brand new car for the Penske Racing team and Newman. Its first laps will be in Friday's practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
PRS-552: The backup No. 12 Alltel Dodge served as the team's primary car at Las Vegas (finished 15th) and at Darlington (finished 37th) earlier this year. It was also the backup car at Texas and Chicago.

Track Facts

Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Speedway, IN
Banking/Turns: 9
Distance: 2.5 miles
Shape: Oval

Built originally as a test facility for the burgeoning Indiana car industry, the track was paved with 3.2 million bricks following a series of races in 1909. Since 1911, the Brickyard has hosted one of the most famous races in the world -- the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. In the inaugural 1994 Brickyard 400, Hoosier fan favorite Jeff Gordon won the first of his three titles.

Contact Information
4790 W. 16th Street
Speedway, IN 46222
(317) 481-8500

TRACK STATS

NEWMAN FINISHES 13TH AS TIRE WOES DOMINATE AT INDIANAPOLIS
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (July 27, 2008) - Ryan Newman and the No. 12 Penske Racing Alltel Dodge team finished 13th on Sunday afternoon in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. In a race that was plagued with tire issues and "competition cautions," Newman and the Alltel team overcame a blown tire and ran a smart race which helped them gain valuable points in the NASCAR standings.

Newman is currently 16th in the 2008 NASCAR Cup driver point standings, a mere 144 points out of the 12th place "Chase cutoff" with six races to go until the NASCAR Chase for the Cup begins in September.

"I had to drive a smart race," said Newman. "Our Alltel Dodge wasn't the fastest race car, but it was a good consistent race car. Basically, we had 10 laps at a time to figure out our car and that's a tough task on everyone involved. We're satisfied with the finish, but it was a disappointing race."

During practice on Saturday afternoon, race teams began to notice that the race car's right side race tires were severely worn after just a handful of laps. When the race began on Sunday, NASCAR informed the teams that there would be a "competition caution" period at lap 10 due to the tire wear issues. NASCAR also notified the teams that additional "competition cautions" may occur after teams had the opportunity to inspect tires.

Newman started third for what the Indiana native and 2008 Daytona 500 winner deemed "the second biggest race of the season." It was only on lap four of the 160-lap event when the caution flag waved for an on-track incident and the No. 12 Alltel team elected to stay track to ensure this top track position. As the race continued, Newman radioed the team that the No. 12 Dodge was experiencing a tight-handling condition from the center to the exit of the corners.

Due to the early first caution, NASCAR moved the "competition caution" period to lap 14. Under that caution period, Newman brought the Alltel Dodge to pit road for right side tires and a track bar adjustment. He returned to the track in seventh place. After the stop, Alltel team crew chief Roy McCauley radioed Newman that both of his right side tires were "corded" from the on-track action during the first 14 laps of the race.

Once under green flag conditions, Newman moved up three spots to fourth, but it was only seven laps into the run that he informed the Alltel crew that the No. 12's "tires were shot." Due to his tire condition, Newman lost track position and at lap 28, Newman knew that his right rear was down to the cords.

Because the race's second competition caution was just two laps away at lap 30, Newman tried to ride it out. As soon as the competition yellow waved at lap 30, Newman radioed his crew that the No. 12 Dodge's right rear tire blew.

Newman was able to limp to pit road without shredding the downed tire and causing damage to the Alltel Dodge. The crew changed four tires, added fuel and made track bar and air pressure adjustments. Newman returned to the track in 31st position, cautiously determined to regain lost track position due to the blown tire.

"I'm going to pass as many cars as I can, but I'm not going to push it," Newman radioed his crew. "We're not going to get a fuel run here because of the tires, so I just want to be careful and make sure we have a car at the end of the race."

With tire wear still an issue, NASCAR announced they would throw another "competition caution" at lap 47. Again as the caution flag waved, Newman told his crew that the right rear tire was on cords.

Newman entered pit road in 22nd place, and the team elected to change four tires to play it safe, as well as add fuel and make an air pressure adjustment. Newman continued his fight, stating to the crew that he'd "rather lose position now and have a race car later in the day."

Returning to the track in 18th spot, Newman was told by crew chief McCauley that the No. 12's right rear tire was severely worn, but that the right fronts were starting to look better than in previous runs.

Due to continued tire wear issues across almost all of the teams competing at the Brickyard, NASCAR continued to call "competition cautions" about every 11 green-flag laps. After each run, NASCAR took the time to examine the teams' tires in order to determine wear patterns and determine when the next "competition caution" period would begin.

It was at lap 97 when another "competition caution" period started, and at that point Newman was up to 17th place. As the yellow flag waved, Newman told his crew that his right rear tire was once again getting ready to blow, but the car felt good overall.

Crew chief McCauley brought the No. 12 machine to the pits and elected to gain track position, changing two tires and adding fuel. Newman returned to the track in seventh place.

Although the strategy appeared to work, when the green flag waved Newman slid back through the field due to too-low tire air pressure. "It's a handful," said Newman to the No. 12 team. "I can't get going and I can't keep it going."

To alleviate this problem, McCauley told Newman that the team would change the air pressures to the settings that were used at the start of the race at the next caution. At lap 121, another yellow flag waved, with Newman holding fast in 15th place. Newman came down pit road and the Alltel team changed four tires with the modified air pressure adjustments and added fuel. The No. 12 Dodge restarted in 15th place.

As the race wound down, McCauley radioed Newman that they would need to pit for only right side tires in each of the final two scheduled "competition cautions" of the race in order to gain track position. When the caution flag waved on lap 138, the Alltel team implemented that strategy and Newman pitted for two tires, fuel and another air pressure adjustment. The strategy call and a quick pit stop moved Newman up to sixth place

Although the No. 12 Dodge began the green-flag run in the top-10, Newman began to experience a loose-handling condition during the run, dropping him to 13th place at lap 150, where he would finish the race 10 laps later.

"We had a good race car," said Newman after the event ended. "We just didn't get the chance to race it out there. We all had to play it safe and we all had to drive smart. It's just a disappointing way to have to run such a big race. But it was a good points day for us, and that's what we need right now to make the Chase."

Newman's Penske Racing teammates Kurt Busch and Sam Hornish Jr. finished 40th and 21st, respectively.

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to action next Sunday afternoon, August 3, for the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway The race can be seen live on ESPN at 1 p.m. EDT and heard on the MRN radio network at 1:15 p.m. EDT.

NEWMAN QUALIFIES THIRD FOR ALLSTATE 400 AT THE BRICKYARD
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (July 26, 2008) - Ryan Newman, driver of the Penske Racing No.12 Alltel Dodge Charger, will start third in the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard on Sunday afternoon.

Newman, a native of South Bend, Ind., turned a quick lap of 180.970 miles per hour (49.732 seconds). Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, won the pole with a lap of 181.763 miles per hour (49.515 seconds).

"We had a great draw and good solid lap in the Alltel Dodge today," said Newman, who went out second in the morning qualifying session. "Everything felt really good out there. I missed it a little bit in turn two, but overall it was a great lap and we got a great starting position out of it."

In eight starts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), Newman has never started outside of the top eight. This marks the second time he has started third at the 2.5-mile oval - Newman also started third at IMS last year. He has one top-five finish.

"We started third last year, but the outcome wasn't so good. Hopefully, we will have better results this time around," Newman said. "We ran eight laps in race trim in practice yesterday, and the car felt good.

"We have two more practices today to work on the Alltel Dodge. We have a good package for this race, and I'm really looking forward to tomorrow."

Newman is currently 16th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings. He is 189 points away from the cutoff for the Chase for the NASCAR Cup. Newman has one win, two top-five and seven top-10 finishes in the 2008 season.

Coverage of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard begins on the ESPN television network on Sunday, July 27 at 1 p.m. EDT. The race can also be heard on the IMS Radio Network.

PENSKE RACING TEAMMATES

• 7. Kurt Busch
• 38. Sam Hornish Jr.

ALLTEL PODCASTS

Every two weeks, fans can tune into Alltel Racing podcasts on http://www.alltelracing.com/.  The podcasts give fans the opportunity to hear No. 12 Alltel Racing driver Ryan Newman's thoughts on a variety of subjects from racing to fishing to Alltel's latest commercials. Fans can call 1-800-279-5612 to record a personalized question for Newman or you can email questions to Newman at ryannewmanmailbag@gmail.com.  By listening to the podcasts, fans also have the opportunity to win special Alltel Racing prizes.

This week's installment of the podcast features Alltel Dodge driver Ryan Newman. On the podcast, Newman will discuss the recent announcement to leave Penske Racing at the end of the 2008 season as well as his thoughts on the upcoming race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. To listen to this podcast and past podcasts, visit http://www.alltelracing.com/.

Notes

• Ryan Newman, driver of the Penske Racing No. 12 Alltel Dodge Charger, has one top-five and one top-10 finish in seven NASCAR Cup Series starts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).
• Newman's best finish at the 2.5-mile historic oval came in his rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series. Newman started fifth and finished fourth in the Brickyard 400 that year.
• Newman has an average starting position of 5.1 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Although Newman has yet to win a pole position at the famed race track, he has never qualified lower than eighth position in seven starts. His best qualifying effort came in 2003 when Newman scored the outside pole position and started second for the race.
• During the off-week, Newman traveled to his hometown of South Bend, Ind., where a road was named in his honor. The half-mile stretch of highway near the South Bend Regional Airport was renamed Newman Way.
• Newman will return to his racing roots this week at Indianapolis when he competes in the USAC Silver Crown race on Thursday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park. Newman, who won the USAC Silver Crown championship in 1999, will pilot car No. 192 owned by Terry Jacobs.

Newman Quotes

THE IMPORTANCE OF RACING AT INDIANAPOLIS: "Indianapolis is the ‘race track' as far as history goes. It is truly an honor to get to race where so many incredible drivers have raced and won. The track is especially special to me because it is in my home state. I remember going there and watching races as a kid with my family and even watching the first open NASCAR test session there as a spectator."

RACING AT INDIANAPOLIS: "I've been close to winning a pole there, and I have had some good runs there. But Indianapolis is a track that has bit us in the past. Despite that, I look forward to going back there. To me, this is the second biggest race of the season. We won the Daytona 500, which I think is the biggest race of the year, and we would love to get another big win at Indianapolis."

LAST WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT NEWMAN WILL LEAVE PENSKE RACING AT THE END OF 2008: "It was an extremely tough decision. I have had a great history with Roger and Penske Racing, and I am grateful for everything that they have done for me. I am completely dedicated to the No. 12 Alltel Dodge, the team, winning races and getting into the Chase.

McCauley Quotes

HISTORY OF PENSKE AND INDIANAPOLIS: "Indianapolis is the one that we all want to win. Roger (Penske) and this organization have such an incredible history at the track with Indy cars. We all want to give him a win there in NASCAR side. The Alltel team was able to give Roger his first Daytona 500 win earlier this year, and we would love to complete that picture with a win at the Brickyard.

KEYS AT INDIANAPOLIS: "There are two keys to Indy-qualifying and not being too tight off the corners so that you can complete the pass. Ryan has always done well qualifying at Indianapolis, and we want to continue that. Our job will be to keep the Alltel Dodge handling well throughout the race. I think that one of our biggest concerns for the first couple of practices will be tire wear because the diamond cut surface is always an issue at Indy. We're taking a new car this weekend. We took a new car to Chicago and got a top 10, so we are looking forward to this weekend's race."