SONOMA, CA – They say anything can happen in one lap of qualifying at Sonoma. With 11 turns, it is one of the biggest pressure cookers in the sport, especially for the 2007 "go or go home qualifiers" as they are referred to.

Paul Menard practiced well Friday in his Johns Manville Chevrolet and was fourth quickest of his group having to qualify on time for Sunday's race. Menard's time of 78.470 showed 21st overall. In qualifying however, Menard got loose, overcooked the final corner and ran a time of 79.219, well short of his practice lap and just missing the show.

The disappointment was obvious and a dejected Menard could do nothing but look to next week. "I felt really good coming into this race, it's a tough track, but it's a place I like to race - road racing is something I look forward to on this circuit," said Menard. "We had the speed, I just got loose. The last couple of races this team has gotten so much better and things were going pretty good here, I hate to have that momentum slowed.

"It's no fun going home, but we'll get back at it in Loudon."

Menard returns to the track next week in New Hampshire for the Lenox Industrial Tools 300.