Tough weekend for Andretti Rallycross team

The two-car Andretti Rallycross team was fast at Charlotte this weekend, but suffered some bad luck.

Scott Speed, in the number 77 7UP Volkswagen Polo, finished today's race in the fifth position. Speed still sits second in the drivers' championship standings after a tough weekend at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

"Today was an improvement over yesterday's Heat rounds, but it's still a disappointing weekend for the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross crew," he said. "This round certainly outlined the areas we have to work on, but I genuinely feel like we learned a lot at The Dirt Track."

"We had a few mechanical issues in the final race that luckily didn't hold us too far back, but it definitely made it difficult to pass in the 7UP Volkswagen. Championships aren't won on the days when you are the fastest, but when you limit the amount of damage. Glad to have these two races behind us and I'm looking forward to jumping back in the car in Daytona," said Speed. 

Foust fast, finds front, flounders 

Tanner Foust, in the number 34 Rockstar Energy Drink Volkswagen Polo, fought his way to the front of the pack taking the first place position in the semifinal. But the Colorado native suffered a punctured tire after the first restart in the Global Rallycross Final, ending his time at The Dirt Track in eighth.  

"It was a particularly tough weekend for the guys on the Rockstar Energy Andretti Autosport Volkswagen. With the dirt and extremely rough conditions, the guys were fixing bodywork and repairing tires all day long," Foust said. "Over the two days I had three tire punctures, but the third was at the worst possible time, the first lap of the final.

"That puncture made it very tough to keep any pace, but I made sure to finish just in case others had harder luck than mine. I got a second chance at life after a hard fought semifinal placed me in the first row. Before the red flag in the final, I was settling into a solid second place position. I feel for the team and we were in a bit if survival mode all weekend. We will recharge and come ready for an even hotter Daytona!"

Andretti Rallycross