Talladega strikes fear into drivers
By Don Coble| Morris News Service
Saturday, October 04, 2008

TALLADEGA, Ala. --- Carl Edwards ' million-dollar offer was still on the table Friday, but there were no takers at Talladega Superspeedway.

Edwards laughingly said he'd pay $1 million for a 10th-place finish in Sunday's AMP Energy 500, a race known for big crashes that crush both cars and championship hopes. The reason nobody took him seriously is because so many drivers also would pay to get out of Talladega in one piece.

Just about everyone, especially the 12 drivers in the Chase for the Championship, were on edge during Friday's practice session. Qualifying is today at noon; the main event is Sunday at 2 p.m. (ABC-Ch. 6).

If practice was any indication, Sunday's race will be wild.

Cars were three- and four-wide, 10-deep groups at more than 190 mph. It didn't take long for trouble to start.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., who's eighth in the playoff rankings, blew an engine on the eighth lap. He returned in the second practice session and blew a right-rear tire in the second turn, triggering a crash that also included David Gilliland, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer and David Reutimann.

JOHNSON SURPRISED: Jimmie Johnson said he's still trying to learn details of the three-count indictment against his attorney, Alan Miller.

Miller represented two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves , and both were indicted for tax evasion Thursday. Both were arraigned in Miami Friday after federal agents claimed Miller helped the driver conceal income from Penske Racing and Coimex International S.A.

Castroneves pleaded not guilty and was released on $10 million bail and ordered to remain in the United States. Miller, who's represented Johnson for the past 18 years, was released on $250,000 bail.

"It's certainly shocking," Johnson said. "Alan has been my attorney since I was 15 years old. He'd been a great friend and has helped me with a lot of different things. I have an outside tax group that I use, so he really is my attorney. As of now, everything is still the same. I'm learning a lot as time goes on here, and there is still a lot to be investigated and covered moving forward."

Reach Don Coble at don.coble@morris.com.

From the Saturday, October 04, 2008 edition of the Augusta Chronicle
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