Jarrett talks about broken rib

Dale Jarrett, driver of the No. 88 UPS Taurus, said he felt something "pop" in his right side during the second practice session Saturday morning in preparation for tomorrow's Coca-Cola 600. Jarrett spoke about the injury while receiving treatment from the MRO rehabilitation staff.

DALE JARRETT --88-- UPS Taurus -- "I was going into turn three and I just felt a pop. I don't know if it's from a previous injury or something from the other night. I mean, it's on my right side so it doesn't make sense that it would have happened the other night but you don't know. I had no indication. I worked out yesterday and lifted weights and ran like I normally would and had no problems. I was just going into the corner in the second session. It was the best we had been. The car got a little more grip and when I went to turn the wheel I just felt a pop and it was hard to catch my breath. I ran about four more laps and told them I couldn't do anymore right then."

YOU TRIED A FLAK JACKET?

"Yeah, but my deal is something where the pain really comes whenever I go to turn the wheel. The only thing the flak jacket was basically gonna do was to keep from furthering the injury. I need something that is gonna help kind of tie this together, so when I do go to turn the wheel that I'm not gonna get that much pain. If it's just some pain and I can breathe, that's fine. But what I had this morning wasn't something that I would feel comfortable with for 600 miles. I feel I'll start and my plan is to finish. With the amount of time we have here, we'll be okay."

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA IF YOUR RIBS ARE BROKEN?

"I'm pretty sure that it's broken, but if we went and got x-rays there's no more you can do if it's broken or not. That's what we suspect."

WILL YOU WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE RACE TO GET IT CHECKED OUT?

"Probably so, if it's bothering me anymore. Then again, when you have a broken rib and you know that, there's not much more you can do for it by knowing whether it is or not. We'll work this afternoon and if we're not getting anywhere, we may go get it done later this afternoon, but that's what we suspect."

-Ford Racing