John Bartunek posted a 6.123-second elapsed time that trumped Steve Cossis' No. 1 qualifying time of 6.232 but ended on fire against the guardrail. He experienced tire shake but stayed with it and hung on for the incredible E.T. But something flung his '68 Camaro to the left and into the wall.

John Bartunek posted a 6.123-second elapsed time that trumped Steve Cossis' No. 1 qualifying time of 6.232 but ended on fire against the guardrail. He experienced tire shake but stayed with it and hung on for the incredible E.T. But something flung his '68 Camaro to the left and into the wall.

It went airborne and flipped, then slammed to the pavement. Bartunek, of Pearl River, N.Y., was unhurt -- just angry when he climbed from his car.

"It was a nice, clean run. It was pretty much business as usual," Bartunkek said after he collected his thoughts.

"Maybe one of our 'chutes got under the wheelie bar." After that, he said, it was "just smoke and fire. You just hang on and hope it stops soon," Bartunek said, "But Jerry Haas builds an awesome car. We'll be back."

Mark Walker captured this photo sequence of Burtunek's wild ride.

 

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