Brainerd: Jim Yates final summary

Slippery Lane Slows Jim Yates in Lucas Oil Nationals

BRAINERD, Minn., August 14, 2005 - Good fortune wasn't on Jim Yates' side Sunday in the opening round of the Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

Yates, the No. 12 qualifier, did not have lane choice against V. Gaines and it cost him because he wound up in the noticeable slower right lane. A broken Top Fuel motor early in eliminations made it a one-lane race track, and Yates wasn't in the correct lane.

"We did the best we could under the circumstances," said the driver of the B&W/Wiley-X Eyewear Pontiac, "but that wasn't enough to win."

Gaines reached the finish line first in 6.763 seconds at 204.11 mph to Yates' tire-spinning 6.793 at 203.34 mph.

"We made some changes to the wing and clutch before the run so we could get down the track," added Yates, "but we fell victim to the oiled-down race track."

Yates, who remained 10th in POWERade points with 733, resumes action in the Mid-South Nationals, Aug. 19-21, at Memphis.

-jls