After a solid first qualifying lap at the one-mile Phoenix
International Raceway yesterday, Kurt Busch's No. 78 Furniture Row/Beautyrest
Chevrolet SS scraped the wall during the second lap, due to a malfunction in
the coolant system.
The culprit for the loss of grip was a parts breakage in the
coolant system that sprayed water under the tires, causing Busch to wiggle and
eventually lose control of the car. “Kurt did a great job saving the car from
further damage,” said team crew chief Todd Berrier.
The car was sufficiently damaged on its right side to force the
team to go to a backup car for Sunday's Subway Fresh Fit 500 Sprint Cup Series race.
"The Furniture Row/Beautyrest Chevy steered to the right,
brushed the wall and we'll be in a backup car come Sunday,” said Busch. “You
would think after Daytona we would fare a little better. But right now we need
to suck it up and battle through this adversity.”
Going to a backup car will result in Busch starting Sunday’s race
from the rear of the field.
He was credited with the 25th fastest speed based on
his first lap; turning the one-mile oval in 26.618 seconds at 135.247 miles per
hour. The first lap is usually the slower of the two.
Mark Martin won the pole
position for Sunday’s race at 138.074 mph. Rounding out the Top-10 were Kasey Kahne,
Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Denny
Hamlin, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman.
Photo: Jerry Markland/Getty Images
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