McDowell 'OK' after fiery qualifying crash at Texas
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After the No. 38 Ford dumped oil around the track during time trials, McDowell attempted his qualifying lap three drivers later, skidded through the speedy dry and barrel-rolled out of Turn 2 after overcorrecting his No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Camry.
McDowell, 23, who made his debut last week at Martinsville, tested the Car of Tomorrow in ways that could never be simulated in the lab.
"I came off of (Turn 4) on that first lap and felt a little bit off, that something wasn't quite right," McDowell said. "I went down into one and I don't know if it was the oil dry or if something happened. I hate to make that much work for the guys back at the shop. Fortunately, I'm OK, thank God. I got to see that replay and it wasn't good, but for everyone back at the shop that spends time putting these seats in and making these cars safe — that's one of the worst wrecks I've seen in a while. I'm not excited that I had to participate in it. We'll pull the back-up out and we'll get in race trim tomorrow and be fine.
"I feel great. Nothing broke. I didn't pass out. I didn't lose anything out there. I just wish I didn't overcorrect there. We'll have to go back and look at it. I don't know if something happened or if I just lost it there, but it didn't quite feel right. We were six-tenths off of what we ran in practice. I'm just glad to be alright."
NASCAR president Mike Helton, VP Robin Pemberton and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby drove out to view the damage to the Turn 2 wall. Pemberton was one of the first officials to return to the garage as the car returned on the wrecker.
"It's amazing," Pemberton said. "You always have to have luck on your side too, but all the research that's been done on the car — it's paid off. It was a pretty good crash. The damage that was done to the safety barrier, you could tell it was a pretty good hit. We'll have to review the accident further, but the fact that the driver got out and walked to the ambulance says a lot."
Tom Gideon, safety manager for GM Racing, shook his head as he visually assessed the damage as the car was parked in the garage.
"This car is much better period," Gideon said. "They looked at more things to absorb the energy in this car and it performed very well."
Kyle Petty, who watched the replay of the crash from his garage stall, believed it was a combination of factors that enabled McDowell to walk away on Friday.
"I think that the wall — the SAFER barriers had a lot to do it with," Petty said. "But you also have to give a lot of credit to the guys back at the shop — the guys that work on the car as much as the car itself. The car did everything it was designed to do."
Team owner Michael Waltrip offered kudos to his men as well.
"Just from the time it stopped limping off turn two it seemed like forever," Waltrip said. "it was an amazing crash I'm proud of everybody at MWR for bolting that thing together."
Although McDowell didn't have the qualifying effort he had hoped for, that fact that he'll be able to race tomorrow is a testament to research and development invested in the new car.
"The Car of Tomorrow has got a lot of room in it and allows for some impact like we saw today," McDowell said. "I think the advancements in the seats and helmets and the headrests for sure. That was a violent wreck and I lived through all of it. I felt every roll and I'm standing here right now no problems, maybe a few little bumps and bruises but other than that I'm fine.
"For me to walk away from that wreck is unbelievable. I'm going to thank my lucky stars tonight. Thank God for the opportunity to walk away from that wreck."
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