Consistent Day for Team Target in Brickyard 400

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (August 3, 2003) ---During his first running at the Brickyard 400, Casey Mears had a consistent day in his No. 41 Target Dodge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Mears has an extensive family background at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  His uncle Rick has won the Indianapolis 500 four times and holds the record for most poles there as well.  The 10th Annual Brickyard 400 was Mears debut in a Winston Cup car on this track as he finished the race in the 29th position.

The Target Dodge qualified 28th and had some fast laps during Happy Hour practice on Saturday.  At the beginning of the race, Mears radioed that the car was loose and the Target Dodge fell to 37th position by lap 20.  Mears and Team Target would struggle with the car being tight all day and on lap 95 the car went a lap down.  Although Mears struggled with the handling of his car, he made consistent laps and completed the entire race.  

"The car was tight all day," Mears said.  "We made some adjustments and got some breaks with pit strategy and cautions that allowed us to get up in the pack but in the end the car was just not handling well.  I can't say that my first stock car race at Indianapolis was a great success but we did get time on the track and completed the entire race."

Mears teammates Jamie McMurray and Sterling Marlin finished third and 34th respectively.

Team Target races at Watkins Glen International next weekend.  The Sirius at the Glen will be broadcast live on NBC television and MRN radio on Sunday, August 10th.