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Feeling Anxious
Testing Day 1
Testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - this is one of the big ones. There is so much prestige that goes along with winning the Brickyard, pretty much every team out there tests here at the Brickyard. We work out tails off during the test, trying to gain any little fraction of a second to make the car faster. But, for this journal entry, I want to share with you what my team did to even be able to get to the test.
The AOL team, like most that are here testing with us, brought two cars to the Brickyard. We already had it planned out which two cars we were bringing here, chassis numbers 114 and 109. Chassis 114 was run only one time this season, our last race in Chicago. If follow my racing career, you know what happened last weekend in Chicago, I was involved in a wreck following a restart on lap 126, heavily damaging the AOL Chevy and ending our day early. Watch the wreck here http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/sports/article.adp?id=20040711225209990005
As you can see by the video, the car was in no shape to go testing at Indy the following week. I knew my crew chief Kevin Hamlin really wanted to bring 114 to the test, but thought they would scrap that idea and bring a different car. But, I have figured out one thing since joining Richard Childress Racing, they don't give up on anything. The team was determined on bringing that car.
After leaving the Chicagoland Speedway following the race, the AOL Team transporter pulled into the RCR shop in Welcome, NC Monday afternoon. As soon as the car could be unloaded, the guys went to work on chassis 114 and were determined to have it ready for the Indy test session. They stripped off the remaining damaged sheet metal and sent it off to Ronnie Hopkins Chassis in Greenvile, SC to have a new front clip installed. (That's the front part of the chassis). The car made it back to the shop Tuesday morning and the guys, everyone on my AOL team as well as the fabricators, paint and body shop and the mechanics, went into high gear to try to get it ready to load back into the transporter by Friday afternoon to leave for the test.
After numerous hours of hard work, they were able to do it, that's chassis 114 in the photos I've included in this entry. As of our lunch break on Monday, chassis 114 is sitting fifth out of 19 cars on the speed chart. I know the guys literally worked around the clock to have it prepared for the test. Thanks guys, I really appreciate all your hard work. It looks like it's going to pay off.
Written by dave30blaney Blog about this entry |
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Great job to everyone! The car looks as good as new! I would have never known that that was the car that was in that crash. It looks awesome! Lauren
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thanks dave and the whole AOL team for keeping all of us, your fans, updated on whats going on with the car and team. keep working hard as a team and we'll see the #30 AOL chevy in victory lane before the season is over. thanks again.
popi46 -
Great job by team AOL to have car #114 ready to test at indy. I think this team knows they have a driver in dave blaney that can get it done. Just keep watching the AOL # 30. You are going to see this hot rod up front on a regular basis. Keep working hard and believe in each other and it will pay off !!!!!!!!!!!
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Dave,
I sure hope that Lisa or someone else is assisting you in this endeavor. While I appreciate the great data and information, I really want to cheer for you as my favorite "CUP" driver, not e-mail poster! Sounds like you, Kevin, and the entire # 30 AOL team are working very well together. Great to hear and hoping to see you all in Victory Lane real soon.
Bill
7/24/04 3:33 PM
I SURE DO WISH YOU A LOTS OF GOODLUCK. AND LISTEN TO
RICHARD HE KNOWS HIS STUFF. IM BIG FAN OF RICHARDS
DALE EARNHARDTS,I HOPE TO SEE YOU UP FRONT SOON. GIVING THE
OTHERS A RAN FOR THE MONEY.
GOD BLESS YOU AN YOUR TEAM. ID LOVE TO MEET YOU AT TALLADEGA
WHEN YOU COME TO ALABAMA. I MAY GET TO GOI JUST HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME MONEY AND TICKETS(YOU COULDN'T BY CHANCE GET ME 2. COULD YA)
IF YOU DO AND A 30 T-SHIRT ID WARE IT.I GUESS YOU THINK IM SOMEKIND OF
WERDO HA. WELL JUST JOKING OF COURSE I THINK. LOL TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
I WILL BE SAYING MY PRAYERS ON RACES DAYS FOR A SAFE RACES FOR ALL DRIVERS AND CREWS.I ALWAYS DO.
FAY4MIKEYWALTRIP
FAY4EARNHARDTS3
AND IT COULD BE (FAY4D.BLANEY30AOL)