Indy ORP: John Connolly Sunday notes

Connolly finishes 10th in U.S. Nationals qualifying INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 31, 2008 -- Dave Connolly was able to make only one qualifying run on Sunday, but it came in the heat of the day and the 6.681-second time was the quickest of the session, ...

Connolly finishes 10th in U.S. Nationals qualifying

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 31, 2008 -- Dave Connolly was able to make only one qualifying run on Sunday, but it came in the heat of the day and the 6.681-second time was the quickest of the session, leaving him ninth in the starting lineup for Monday's U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

Connolly's 6.671-second, 206.45-mph effort from Sunday was his best of the weekend. He races Warren Johnson (eighth, 6.668 at 207.88) in the first round of eliminations.

"We had a little bad luck at the wrong time this morning, but we have a good race car for Monday," Connolly said of the Cagnazzi Racing Charter Communications/LifeLock Chevy Cobalt. Mechanical problems prevented him from making the day's first run, which was run in cooler conditions.

"I think Tommy (Utt, crew chief) has a handle on the tune-up, especially in hot weather. We would've preferred getting lane choice. The lanes have been pretty even all weekend. All I know is that we will be the first pair out (when Pro Stock eliminations begin).

Connolly is the defending race champion and he will be attempting to clinch the No. 6 berth in NHRA's Countdown to 1. This is the last of the 18-race regular season.

Connolly's Cagnazzi Racing teammates Jeg Coughlin (fourth) and Ron Krisher (sixth) joined him in the starting lineup. All three drivers are in the final Countdown segment.