WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) — Danica Patrick crashed in final Sprint Cup practice Friday at Watkins Glen International but walked away, was treated at the infield care center, and released.
Patrick’s No. 10 Chevrolet careened straight into a tire barrier coming out of the chicane at the top of the high-speed esses, crumpling the left front end.
“In the Carousel (turn after the chicane) there is so much load on the left front there that I guess that was the go spot for it,” said Patrick, who will have a second engine change before Cup qualifying Saturday. “What a terrible day. It has been a record horrible day, I’m pretty sure.”
Crew chief Tony Gibson said it appeared the front left shock failed.
“It looks like it just compressed all down and done,” Gibson said. “We are going to change motors. We will just treat qualifying like another practice session. We will run as many laps as we can run and work on the car.”
Patrick was 32nd in the first practice and 36th in the final session.
Last year at The Glen, Patrick qualified 35th and finished 20th.
Anything goes for Sunday’s Cheez-It 355 at The Glen.
“I would say if you are going to have to start at the back, the strategies are all over the place on road courses and it just might push us into something that works,” Patrick said.
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