Accident Cuts Labonte's Day Short at Pocono

LONG POND, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 1, 2004 Bobby Labonte finished a disappointing 29^th after a late-race accident in the Pennsylvania 500 Aug. 1 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.

Jimmie Johnson won the race, his second consecutive at Pocono and his fourth of the season.

On Lap 177 of 200, Labonte was in 12^th-place battling with Brian Vickers when the two cars made contact in Turn 1. Vickers was able to continue, but the rear of Labontes No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet made hard contact with the SAFER Barrier on the outside retaining wall of Turn 1.

Labonte climbed from the car unassisted and was checked and released from the infield medical center without injury.

I thought I gave him enough room, Labonte said. Maybe I didnt. I dont know. The next thing I knew I was sliding backwards and hit the wall pretty darn hard. Im glad the SAFER Barriers were there.

Labonte was as high as fourth on Lap 143 and was in fifth when he made his final pit stop of the day under caution on Lap 161. Unfortunately, several cars beat Labonte off pit road and he restarted the race in 13^th. Sixteen laps later, Labontes day was over.

The accident marked the first time since the Martinsville fall race in 2003 that Labonte has not been running at the finish of a race, ending a 23-race streak.

Labonte fell two spots in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, moving from seventh to ninth, his lowest position since he was ninth after the race at California Speedway on May 2. He has 2,466 points and his 574 behind leader Jimmie Johnson and six points behind eighth-place Ryan Newman. .

The next NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event is the Brickyard 400 Aug. 8 at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Labonte won the event in 2000. The race starts at 1 p.m. (EDT), and will be broadcast live on NBC and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network.