INDIANPOLIS, Ind. (July 25, 2010) –  Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the most historic stops on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit, but also one of the most demanding. Visiting the 2.5-mile track in July usually sees record temperatures and this weekend was much of the same. David Ragan and his UPS team took on the heat, but struggled with their UPS Ford. After qualifying a disappointing 28^th Ragan battled a lack of overall grip during the race and to top it off had a left-front tire go flat during a long green-flag run. Ragan was able to stay in contention for the “lucky dog” award and earn his lap back towards the end of the race. Once back on the lead lap Ragan worked his way into a 20^th-place finish.

 

Upon arriving in Indy Ragan struggled with the handling of his UPS Ford, but after four practice sessions was able to get it turned around and ready for 400 miles at the Brickyard. Unfortunately qualifying came halfway through the practice sessions, before the team got its handling woes heading in the right direction, resulting in a 28^th-place starting position. Track position is crucial at a track like Indy so the team went into Sunday’s race knowing they’d have to pull out all the stops to get back towards the front. 

 

As the field took the green flag and headed into the first turn one of the competitors ahead spun causing a chain reaction accident behind. Ragan saved the day by dodging the carnage and emerging on the other side 23^rd. From there he continued to pick up positions and was up to 16^th when the competition caution was thrown because heavy overnight rains had washed the rubber off the track. Ragan described his UPS Ford as being “tight in the center and a little free up off the turns.” In an effort to gain track position and after only eight green-flag laps on the tires, crew chief Donnie Wingo brought Ragan down pit road for just two tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. The two-tire call picked up a few spots, but most of the front runners had the same thought process. 

 

Ragan restarted 12^th, but the handling condition worsened the longer he continued on track causing him to lose positions. Wingo tried air pressure and more track bar adjustments to try and give Ragan more grip on the track, but nothing seemed to be enough help for Ragan. On lap 124 he sensed he had a tire going down and pitted under green on lap 126 for four tires and fuel. Indeed his right-front tire had a small hole and was going flat. The decision to pit kept the UPS Ford in one piece and Ragan focused his efforts on being the “lucky dog” and earning his lap back.

 

On lap 138 the caution came out and Ragan was awarded the “lucky dog” and was back on the lead lap. With nothing to lose Ragan pitted for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. The field took the green with 18 laps remaining and Ragan was 21^st. In the closing laps the No. 42 of pole sitter Juan Pablo Montoya and the No. 88 of Dale Earnhardt Jr., made contact bringing out the last caution. In a last effort to pick up track position Ragan stayed out instead of pitting, but in the end fresher tires won out. Ragan held on for a 20^th-place finish, while Jamie McMurray won the Brickyard 400.