Harvick OnLine: Drive Train Failure Ends Team Shell-Pennzoil's Day Early...

Drive Train Failure Ends Team Shell-Pennzoil’s Day Early during Gatorade Duels

Race/Date: Gatorade Duel 150’s/February 10, 2007
Location: Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.
Start Position: 14th
Finish Position: 29th

The No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet suffered a transmission problem 26 laps into the second Gatorade Duel 150 at Daytona International Speedway and finished 29th.

In time trials last Sunday, Kevin Harvick qualified his Shell-Pennzoil Chevy 29th after lapping Daytona’s 2.5-mile tri-oval in 49.048 seconds (183.494 mph). This effort netted Harvick the 14th starting spot in today’s second 150-mile qualifying race – an event unique to Daytona 500 used to determine the starting lineup other than the front row which is locked in from qualifying.

At the drop of the green flag, Harvick moved his bright red and yellow Chevrolet into the top 10. The Bakersfield, Calif., native continued to race in and around the top 10 for the first 23 laps until Juan Pablo Montoya tapped the wall, bringing out the day’s first caution flag.

Harvick informed crew chief Todd Berrier the Shell-Pennzoil’s Chevy was a little tight and he would need a handling adjustment to help the car turn better in the middle of the corners.

On the ensuing pit stop, Berrier called for four fresh tires, including a tire air pressure adjustment.

Unfortunately, the No. 29 machine stalled in the pit box and Harvick radioed to the team that the Shell-Pennzoil Chevy was done for the day. The team pushed the car behind the wall; however, since the race was only 60 laps they were unable to repair the problem in time. Harvick crossed the finish line 29th, positioning him and the Shell-Pennzoil Racing Team with the 36th starting spot for the Daytona 500.

Harvick’s Richard Childress Racing teammate’s Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer finished third and sixth, respectively, in the first Duel.

The Daytona 500 will be televised live Sunday, Feb. 18 beginning at 3:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on FOX and broadcast live on Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio.

KEVIN HARVICK - NO. 29 SHELL CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS –

“We broke a pinion. The No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy just won’t go without all the pieces connected. Better (this happened) today rather than Sunday. We felt good in the draft so I think we will be solid on Sunday.”