It was pretty bad. We were very lucky that we came out clean.

These guys are real athletes. Also a little crazy. I mean it takes some kind of courage to climb on the back of a bull or a wild horse and challenge them to throw you off.

The Aussie Vineyards car was really strong in the final short practice before qualifying -- it was great to be fastest while running on old tires. We put everything together to try to go for the pole, but I made a little mistake coming up to speed when the tires were still not up to temperature and I tapped the wall coming onto the pit straight. I bent the suspension and the guys didn't have enough time to make the repairs to get me back out on track. I feel pretty sad although it is probably my first mistake of the year. It is probably worse for me because it happened here at my home track.

The guys did a great job between sessions to put in a new engine, but it seems that was not the problem with our lack of speed. We just have no pace. We can change a few small things overnight, but I am not sure how much we can do. I am holding it flat the whole way and guys are pulling away from me and that's not a good feeling. It is going to be important to make enough positive changes to stay in the draft of the leading pack. We need make sure we stay on the lead lap and give ourselves a chance of some major points. Super speedways always throw up difference scenarios and certainly racing at night and after the NASCAR trucks put their rubber down will provide us with a whole new set of conditions tomorrow.

Finishing fifth is not a bad result. It has helped us in the points.

It was my mistake. I feel bad for the team. Today was our first opportunity to get on the pole and I made a little mistake. We felt we had a car to compete for the pole, but we'll try to get it (Saturday).