<b>Pictures:</b> 2012 Daytona 500
A fireball erupts from a track dryer truck after it was struck by driver Juan Pablo Montoya during a caution in the Daytona 500. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando Sentinel
A fireball erupts from a track dryer truck after it was struck by driver Juan Pablo Montoya during a caution in the Daytona 500. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
A fireball erupts from a track dryer truck after it was struck by driver Juan Pablo Montoya during a caution in the Daytona 500. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
A firefighter rescues the truck driver as a fireball erupts from the track dryer truck after it was struck by driver Juan Pablo Montoya. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Emergency workers clean up after a fireball erupted from a track dryer truck, after it was struck by driver Juan Pablo Montoya during a caution in the Daytona 500. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Drivers parked on the backstretch after the Daytona 500 was halted. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
A fireball erupts from a track dryer truck after it was struck by driver Juan Pablo Montoya during a caution in the Daytona 500. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Dave Blaney crosses the finish line in the lead late in the Daytona 500. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Fans photograph a big-screen TV showing a disastrous fire after a crash involving Juan Pablo Montoya’s car and a jet dryer truck during the Daytona 500. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Fans photograph a big-screen TV showing a disastrous fire after a crash involving Juan Pablo Montoya’s car and a jet dryer truck during the Daytona 500. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
A fireball erupts from a track dryer truck after it was struck by driver Juan Pablo Montoya during a caution in the Daytona 500. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Martin Truex, Jr. drives during the early laps in the Daytona 500. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Danica Patrick (10) and David Stremme (30) cross the start/finish line during the early laps in the Daytona 500. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Jeff Burton crosses the start/finish line during the early laps in the Daytona 500. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Paul Menard (27), Greg Biffle (16), Carl Edwards (99), Matt Kenseth (17), and Regan Smith (78) cross the start/finish line during the early laps in the Daytona 500. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Greg Biffle (16), Matt Kenseth (17) and Carl Edwards (99) cross the start/finish line during the early laps in the Daytona 500. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Danica Patrick (#10) and Kurt Busch (#51) in the grass after getting tagged in the Jimmie Johnson wreck in the second lap. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
The field goes green for the start of the Daytona 500. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
The field goes green for the start of the Daytona 500. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
The field goes green for the start of the Daytona 500. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
The field goes green for the start of the Daytona 500. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Danica Patrick (#10) returns to the garage after getting tagged in the Jimmie Johnson wreck in the second lap of the Daytona 500. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Jimmie Johnson, the #48 Chevrolet, slams into the wall on the 2nd lap of the Daytona 500. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Jimmie Johnson, the #48 Chevrolet, slams into the wall on the 2nd lap of the Daytona 500. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Danica Patrick’s #10 Chevrolet is walked onto to Pit Road at sunset. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Driver Danica Patrick climbs into her race car before the start of the Daytona 500. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Driver Danica Patrick climbs into her race car before the start of the Daytona 500. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Driver Danica Patrick climbs into her race car before the start of the Daytona 500. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
The crew of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., pushes his race car out of the garage area and toward pit road before the start of the Daytona 500. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
The massive jet dryer trucks take to the track to dry the tri-oval, as the sun finally shines at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. Speedway officials are aiming for a first-ever, prime time running of the Daytona 500, Monday night. (JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
The massive jet dryer trucks take to the track to dry the tri-oval, as the sun finally shines at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. Speedway officials are aiming for a first-ever, prime time running of the Daytona 500, Monday night. (JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
The massive jet dryer trucks take to the track to dry the tri-oval, as the sun finally shines at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. Speedway officials are aiming for a first-ever, prime time running of the Daytona 500, Monday night. (JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
The massive jet dryer trucks take to the track to dry the tri-oval, as the sun finally shines at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. Speedway officials are aiming for a first-ever, prime time running of the Daytona 500, Monday night. (JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
John Donley of White Cloud, Michigan, waits out the rain delay of the Daytona 500, in the infield at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
The scene outside Danica Patrick’s hauler as the rain delay continues at Daytona 500, at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
Drivers and crew outside the garage as the rain delay continues at Daytona 500, at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
The scene outside Danica Patrick’s hauler as the rain delay continues at Daytona 500, at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
The scene outside Danica Patrick’s hauler as the rain delay continues at Daytona 500, at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, with with NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Brian Vickers (far left), passes the Rick Santorum-sponsored #26 car as he walks on pit road before the start of the Daytona 500, at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. (JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney chats with NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Brian Vickers as they walk to pit road before the start of the Daytona 500, at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. (JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
Republican president candidate Mitt Romney greets fans in the rain before the start of the Daytona 500, at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. (JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, with with NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Brian Vickers (far left), passes the Rick Santorum-sponsored #26 car as he walks on pit road before the start of the Daytona 500, at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. (JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
Republican president candidate Mitt Romney greets fans in the rain before the start of the Daytona 500, at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. (JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
Republican president candidate Mitt Romney greets fans in the rain before the start of the Daytona 500, at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. (JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
Republican president candidate Mitt Romney greets fans in the rain before the start of the Daytona 500, at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. (JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL)
