McMurray Closes Out 2005 Season with 18th-Place Finish at Homestead
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2005)
--- Jamie McMurray and the Texaco/Havoline team rolled into Homestead, Fla., with high hopes of finishing the season on a strong note, and more importantly capturing 11th in the standings and securing the $1 million bonus for doing so. While they did bring home an 18th-place finish, handling issues and a miscue on pit road kept them from beating Jeff Gordon, who held a 10 point advantage on 11th in the points heading into the season finale.
McMurray started the Homestead 400 in eighth after posting one of his strongest qualifying efforts of the season. Shortly after the initial green flag was displayed he radioed in that the car was "real loose". McMurray slipped to 10th in the opening laps, but fended off any other challengers until taking the first of eight caution flags on lap 15. McMurray commented that the car was loose entering the corners, but had developed a considerably tight condition on exit so the crew changed four tires, added fuel and made air pressure and wedge bolt adjustments during the ensuing pit stop.
Racing resumed on lap 20 with the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge lined up in 12th, and prior to the next caution on lap 24 McMurray managed to overtake 11th position. The crew elected to stay on the track and before taking the third caution of the day on lap 43 McMurray had motored back into the top 10. He radioed in that the car was still too tight so crew chief Donnie Wingo called to have both front tires lowered by one pound to help the car rotate in the corner. The Texaco/Havoline over the wall crew performed a four tire service stop and sent McMurray back on track in ninth.
Immediately after the next green flag McMurray raced up to sixth place. With each passing lap, however, the car began to get loose on corner entry and then pick up a tremendous push in the center of the corner. McMurray believed this was happening because the right front spring was coil binding as a result of taking too much wedge out of the right rear. Wingo agreed, and during the fourth caution on lap 89 the crew added wedge and changed four tires. McMurray entered the pits in 11th and returned to competition in 12th.
During the next run McMurray radioed in that the car's handling was "way better". He continued to compete in the top 15 until taking the sixth caution of the day on lap 126 running in 12th. Still looking for more help in the handling department, McMurray pitted for four tires, fuel and slight air pressure and wedge adjustments. Unfortunately, a loose lug nut during the pit stop required the team to return to pit road, dropping McMurray to 27th for the next restart on lap 130.
For the remainder of the event the team played catch up on the race track and on pit road. Marred in heavy traffic most of the time, McMurray fought the handling and other competitors en route to an 18th-place finish, bringing to a close his career as driver of the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.
"Thanks guys, I've enjoyed working with you over the last few years and I appreciate all that you have done for me," said McMurray while driving the car around the track one final time before entering the garage. "You're a great team and I wish you the best of luck next year and in the future. Thanks Donnie (Wingo)."
McMurray closed out the season 12th in the standings with one pole, four top-five finishes and 10 top-10 finishes. His Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates teammates Casey Mears, Sterling Marlin and David Stremme finished fifth, 26th and 42nd respectively.
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