Team Target caught in Talladega mayhem

For Immediate Release

Team Target caught in Talladega mayhem

TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 6, 2003) --- Casey Mears, driver of the No. 41 Target
Dodge, experienced mayhem at Talladega Superspeedway on lap 3 of the Aaron's
499.  Mears was caught in "the big one," which was started by a flat tire on
Ryan Newman's car, and included approximately 27 cars.

"I guess Ryan (Newman) blew out a left-rear tire," Mears said when he came
out of the infield care center.  "We just had nowhere to go.  I'm just glad
it wasn't somebody who got into somebody that caused that thing. I feel bad
for Ryan. Everybody else got caught up in it."

"The crash was right in front of me. I slowed down and got hit from the
back. We all tried to miss it. I went high, but a bunch of other guys got in
it and I couldn't do anything about it. It's always frustrating when you
crash. I feel fine. It wasn't a real hard hit."

Following the early accident, Mears visited the infield care center and the
Target Dodge was towed to the garage for repairs.  While Mears came out with
no injures, the #41 Dodge wasn't so lucky.  Crew chief Jimmy Elledge ordered
his troops around the car for approximately 20 minutes, working to get it
back on the track in order to gain a few more positions.  Unfortunately, the
motor was locked up and the Target Dodge was unable to be repaired.

Although Mears had to take a 40th place finish for the Aaron's 499, he did
capture his best qualifying effort of the season.  His 11th place starting
position was the best of the Ganassi camp and the best Raybestos Rookie time
on Friday.

"It's too bad. We had a rough start for the year," Mears said.  "We had a
good qualifying run in the Target Dodge and felt pretty good about it.
We'll have to go back to the shop and work on next weekends race at
Martinsville and make up for it there."

Ganassi teammates Sterling Marlin and Jamie McMurray finished sixth and 27th
respectively.  Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet,
won the race - his fourth straight win at Talladega Superspeedway.  

Team Target heads to Martinsville Speedway this weekend for the Virginia
500.  The race will be broadcast live on April 13 on FOX television and MRN
radio.