Hurt Earnhardt still qualifies for Brickyard

INDIANAPOLIS Despite a broken left shoulder blade, crackedsternum and bruised pelvis, Dale Earnhardt qualified his No. 3 car12th fastest, which puts him in the sixth row Thursday for theBrickyard 400 on Saturday.

In constant pain, Earnhardt said he was "just taking it easy.The car is a lot faster than I ran it. I'm just sorry I'm not goingto get to race it hard."

Earnhardt, trying for a record eighth season championship, needsto start the race to get points, even though relief driver MikeSkinner would finish.

Just when Earnhardt will get out of the car probably won't bedecided until during the race. In fact, car owner Richard Childresssuggested Earnhardt start the car from the rear of the field just toavoid middle-of-the pack accidents.

"Knowing Dale Earnhardt, he's going to start where he's at,"Childress said. "Sometimes he can be a little hard-headed and I'mtrying to keep him from it.

"I told him no championship was worth getting himself hurtworse. He gave me his word not to do that. He's got a long time towin that eighth."

WHAT'S FAST? NASCAR rules prohibit unlimited speed, usingcarburetor restrictor plates to keep the cars bunched.

What it creates is remarkably close racing. For instance, the25 qualifiers from Thursday all broke the track record (172.536m.p.h.) set last year by Jeff Gordon.

In fact, pole-winner Gordon smashed his own record by nearly 4m.p.h. at 176.419 around the 2 1/2-mile asphalt strip at theIndianapolis Motor Speedway.

That speed is nothing like Indianapolis 500 speeds. ArieLuyendyk set the one-lap record of 237.498 m.p.h. and four-lap recordof 236.986 m.p.h. in May's qualifying.

Luyendyk's speed is 61 m.p.h. faster he did it in a year-oldcar.

MONEY TALK: The Daytona 500 may still be the jewel of theWinston Cup circuit, but the Brickyard pays more.

Last year, there was $4.5 million to be split, with winnerEarnhardt making $565,000. This year's Daytona winner, Dale Jarrett,was paid $360,775.

Lowest payout at the 1995 Brickyard was to Kenny Wallace, andthat was $47,625.

FOYT FAILS: Thursday was not a good day for A.J. Foyt, who haswon both an Indy 500 and Daytona 500. Foyt was the 42nd fastestqualifier, which means he gets another chance today.