DEI faring well with Martin's help

Part-time driver has two top-5s in row

Dale Earnhardt Jr. posted consecutive top-five finishes once last season. Mark Martin accomplished that feat when he finished fifth and third in the past two races -- as a part-time, 49-year-old driver.

So much for the demise of Dale Earnhardt Inc.

"I think that goes a long way in quieting any naysayers that there might have been," Martin said. "I'm very proud to be a part of the program."

Martin was relaxed at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Tuesday. He briefly sat in a U.S. Army helicopter parked in the track's infield during a news conference promoting NASCAR's tribute to American troops during the Coca-Cola 600. Then before climbing in his car for a testing session, he talked about his success replacing Earnhardt in the No. 8 Chevrolet despite driving in only seven of 10 races.

"I don't think anybody else has got a deal like mine," Martin said of being able to work with a full-time crew. "They're kind of hard to put together. Whether we win or not, we've managed to do it and get really close several times. I don't think the trophy makes the difference. I think we've proved that it can be done and I'm proud of that."

DEI's future was shaky last summer when Earnhardt announced he was leaving the race team named after his late father and joining powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports. Crew chief Tony Eury Jr. went with him to Hendrick, and Budweiser left DEI to become Kasey Kahne's primary sponsor.

DEI then merged with Ginn Racing, which Martin raced a partial schedule for last season as part of a his semiretirement. DEI worked out a deal where Martin agreed to drive in 24 races, with 24-year-old Aric Almirola driving the other 12. Martin's sponsor, the U.S. Army, moved to his new ride.

"When Dale Jr. left we were, 'Where are we going? What are we doing?"' said Tony Gibson, DEI's car chief and interim crew chief for the No. 8 last year. "Mark stepped in and said, 'This is the direction the company needs to go in.' It helped guide us down that path and get us going."

Martin will drive Saturday at Darlington Raceway, where he has 25 top-10 finishes in 41 starts.

DRIVERS CONTEND WITH TRAFFIC AT INDY: Tuesday was the busiest opening day of Indianapolis 500 practice in nearly a decade, and the key to staying on the track was more about handling heavy traffic than going fast.

Marco Andretti, who posted the day's best lap at 226.599 -- more than 1.3 mph than teammate Tony Kanaan's best lap, was one of the fortunate ones.

"I caught the traffic just right, thanks to Graham Rahal for that," Andretti said. "I only did like four runs myself, so I was definitely lucky."

Danica Patrick, another of Andretti's teammates with Andretti Green Racing, wasn't as lucky. At one point, she slowed by nearly 15 mph to avoid getting into trouble, and later she turned in a fast lap of 224.095, ninth best of the day.

In all, 33 cars toured the 2.5-mile oval, completing a total of 1,385 laps. The last time that many cars drove on opening day was 1999.

There are 34 car-driver combinations vying for 33 starting spots in the May 25 race, and more drivers are expected to have rides before the fourth and final day of qualifying May 18.

CAMARA CLEARED TO DRIVE: Rookie Jaime Camara can get back in the cockpit this week. The 27-year-old Brazilian, who injured his back in a hard crash during Indianapolis 500 practice Monday, was cleared to drive Tuesday.

FIA'S EXPERT TO EXAMINE MOSLEY-NAZI LINK: In Paris, FIA has appointed an independent expert to investigate allegations that the sex scandal involving motor racing chief Max Mosley included Nazi role playing.

Anthony Scrivener will examine whether there was a Nazi connotation to Mosley's liaison with five prostitutes in London, as a British tabloid reported last month, FIA, the world governing body for motorsports, said in a statement.

Mosley, who is suing the News of the World newspaper, welcomed the appointment, FIA said.

Mosley, 68, has admitted visiting the prostitutes but denied there was any Nazi connotation.

SUPER AGURI WITHDRAWS FROM F-1: Japanese Formula One team Super Aguri will withdraw from the 2008 F-1 World Championship because of financial difficulties, team president Aguri Suzuki said at a news conference Tuesday.

"I regretfully must inform you that the team will be ceasing its racing activities as of today," he said.