Park goes to Backup After Practice Crash at Talladega

April 20, 2002

Talladega, AL. April 20, 2002.  The #1 Pennzoil team was forced to pull out
the backup car after a hard crash in this morning's Winston Cup practice
session all but destroyed the primary car.  While entering turn 2, Steve
Park ran over a piece of debris dropped by another car and cut the right
rear tire on the Pennzoil Chevrolet.  The cut tire caused the car to veer
sharply to the right and slam into the wall.

            Park was taken to the infield care center for a mandatory
check-over and released minutes later.  By the time Park returned to the
garage, the Pennzoil team already had the backup car in the garage and ready
to practice.  Park continued with the morning's practice session.

            "I feel fine, but we're just really disappointed right now,"
said Park.  "The Pennzoil Chevy was running really well out there.  I was
going into the turn, and all of a sudden I just felt the tire go.  It wasn't
only the tire--whatever it was I hit punctured all the way through to the
inner lining.  The car got really loose, then I hit the wall."

"We had such a great qualifying run, now with the backup car we'll probably
have to start at the rear of the field.  It's really a shame."

Park was running in the top ten before crashing in the morning practice
session.  He ended up with the thirteenth quickest lap of the morning.  Park
qualified 9th yesterday for the Aaron's 500, but will have to drop to the
rear of the field if he starts a backup car in tomorrow's race.