NASCAR WCUP: Park's Survives Tough Phoenix, Moves To 15th In Points
8 November 1999
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
How tough is it to survive at Phoenix International Raceway?
While the race crews battled the high temperatures at the dusty, narrow track and heard reports of snakes in the infield this weekend, the media center found an unwelcome visitor Saturday when a scorpion made a visit.
This place is tough. Just ask Steve Park.
On Sunday, Park seemed to be doing more than surviving. Everything was running along smoothly until he hit pit road at PIR. Or more appropriately, until he was hit on pit road.
Rusty Wallace and Geoffrey Bodine collided on pit road sending Wallace into Park who was running 11th at the 123-lap mark. The Pennzoil Monte Carlo spun 360 degrees on pit lane and continued on before returning to the pits to assess the damage.
"Go on it looks like it is only sheet metal so pull it away from the fender and lets send him back out," said crew chief Paul Andrews when Park returned to the pits.
The car was not badly damaged, but Park returned to the track in 23rd place with lots of lap traffic to contend with. For the rest of the 312-lap race he worked his way to the front and passed Chad Little for 15th place just before the checkered flag fell.
"We were doing pretty well today until all that happened on pit road," said Park after the race.
In the early going, Park moved from his 26th place starting spot up through the field often turning lap times as quick as the leader. A 16-second pit stop enabled Park to stay on the lead lap and things seemed fine for the second-year driver until the third pit stop.
"I guess things could have been worse," said Park. "We were able to keep going after the accident and we did move into 15th place in the points."
Rookie Tony Stewart earned his second victory of the 1999 season. Park and his teammates return to action this weekend in Miami for the inaugural Pennzoil 400.
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.