Aaron’s Dream Machine finishes 26th in Indy
 
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (July 26, 2008) David Reutimann finished 26th at O’Reilly Raceway Park after a flat right-front tire caused the Aaron’s Dream Machine to pit under the green with 50-laps remaining losing valuable track position. 
 
Reutimann split his time between the NASCAR Nationwide race at O’Reilly Raceway Park (ORP) and the Sprint Cup practices at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Saturday and did not have a chance to setup the car earlier in the day.  NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Mike Skinner was called upon to help setup the Dream Machine for Reutimann to run Saturday night.
 
Reutimann did get to ORP in time to qualify the Dream Machine, but a slight bobble in his qualifying laps hurt his time and he started the 200-lap event in 21st.  Reutimann moved forward early in the race and took 15th on lap 21, but during a long green flag run the Dream Machine could get no further than 14th.
 
When a caution came out halfway through the race, the first pit stop gave Crew Chief Jerry Baxter his first chance to adjust the car and help it through the turns.  As the race progressed, the changes helped and the Dream Machine quickly broke into the top-ten, but seemed to not be able to make a charge to the front.
 
Running tenth with 50-laps to go, Reutimann reported that he had a right front tire going flat.  He brought the Dream Machine into the pits and the crew changed the tire.  That stop would cost the team two laps and drop Reutimann back to 26th. 
 
Reutimann was running some of his fastest laps of the race in the closing laps and managed to drive by the leader with 25 to go to get one of his laps back but he could not pick up any more positions and took the checkered flag 26th.
 
Reutimann’s finish caused him to lose valuable points in the driver and owner points races but did not lose any positions.  He maintains fourth in the driver points and sixth in the owner points.
 
Aaron’s did receive excellent coverage on ESPN and MRN radio during their live broadcasts as the media covered Reutimann’s march forward and tire trouble at the end.
 
Aaron’s RM David Fish and his wife attended the race along with C0383 GM James Peterson and his guests.  They also had the opportunity to meet Reutimann and get photographs and autographs before the race, and watch a pit stop up close before going to their seats to watch the race.
 
The next race for Reutimann and the team will be next weekend in Montreal, Canada, but Aaron’s will not be the primary sponsor on the car.  NAPA Auto Parts will sponsor the 99 for this one race.  Aaron’s will be back on the car in two weeks at Watkins Glen, NY.
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