| | Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS -- While Bobby Labonte tries to earn the biggest victory of his career, older brother Terry will be watching from the sidelines for the first time in 21 years.
The younger of the racing brothers from Texas was to start third in the 43-car lineup in Saturday's Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Two-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Terry Labonte, still
recovering from the lingering effects of a crash on July 1 at
Daytona International Raceway, decided Friday to sit out the Indy
race, ending his record string of consecutive starts at 655.
"It's hard to believe he won't be racing," said Bobby, who was
just 14 when his brother began his string in Riverside, Calif., on
Jan. 14, 1979. "But his health is a lot more important than any
record or any race."
The elder Labonte, 43, known as NASCAR's Iron Man, crashed hard
during the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, fracturing his right shin and
sustaining a concussion. He aggravated the injuries July 9 when
Labonte crashed again in Loudon, N.H.
He kept the streak going by starting the race two weeks ago at
Pocono, but ran only 26 laps before being relieved by Rich Bickle.
"I ran a few laps at Pocono and was fine," said Terry, also
known as the Iceman for his calm demeanor. "I got out of the car
because of my leg. But, yesterday, we ran one lap (in practice) and
I was dizzy. I didn't notice it until I got down in turn three, and
then I had a hard time focusing."
Todd Bodine qualified the car Thursday while Labonte flew to
Charlotte to see the doctors who originally treated his injuries.
He underwent a CT scan that showed no problems and came back to
Indianapolis intending to race Saturday.
But after practicing in his No. 5 Chevy on Friday, Labonte made
his decision.
"I felt much better today, but I just didn't feel 100
percent," he said. "We talked with Dr. Jerry Petty, and he said I
could run one lap in the race on Saturday, if I wanted to, and then
come in.
"We're confident it's not a lingering problem, but I decided
I'm going to sit out tomorrow and then Watkins Glen (next Sunday),
then pick up where we left off. We'll try to start another
streak."
Although he is disappointed that the longest streak in sports -- equivalent to Cal Ripken Jr.'s record string of 2,632 consecutive baseball games -- is ending, Labonte was philosophic.
"It's just a sport, just a game. It's not that important," he
said.
Bodine, running the race in Labonte's sted, said, "He's been
around for so long, got the streak going, and nobody wants to see
it end. I'm glad that I can help him out and do what needs to be
done, but I really wish he could be back in the car."
Another no-show on Saturday is Jeremy Mayfield, replaced by Kyle
Petty after being knocked unconscious in a crash during Friday's
morning practice on the 2.5-mile oval.
Mayfield was to be kept overnight at Methodist Hospital for
observation, but checked himself out Friday afternoon.
Bobby Labonte, who has finished second, third and second in the
Brickyard race the last three years, follows pole-winner Ricky Rudd
and surprise front-row qualifier Darrell Waltrip for the start of
the 400-mile race.
The series points leader would love to win this race, and not
just because the $6.5 million purse assures one of the biggest
paydays of the NASCAR season.
"You can just feel the history here, the great drivers who have
raced at this place," said Labonte, who leads the season standings
over two-time Indy winner and defending series champion Dale
Jarrett by 53 points. "It does pay a lot of money. But there's
more to it than that."
Winning it, especially this year, in the midst of such a tight
championship race, would be a big boost for Labonte.
"But that's not because it's the Brickyard," he said. "A win,
any win, would be good right now."
Labonte, who has one victory this season and 13 in his career,
added, "Track position is very important nowadays, and on a track
like this, it's really important. If you have good track position,
you could possibly win.
"At a place like Michigan, it might not be quite as important
because the track is wider and banked. Here, you don't have that
luxury, and you might not have the opportunities to pass."
Jarrett, who won here in 1996 and 1999, starts fifth Saturday.
"I feel like we have the opportunity to win again," he said. "But I think the competition has caught up a lot -- not only here, but a lot of places."
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Terry Labonte says he is still suffering effects the concussion he sustained.
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