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(AP) -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. has wrecked his
pole-winning Daytona 500 car.

Earnhardt was pushing Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie
Johnson in Wednesday's practice when the contact caused Johnson to
bobble.

 A second pack of cars led by Martin Truex Jr. closed quickly on
Earnhardt's bumper, causing the No. 88 Chevrolet to spin across the
track and into the inside wall.

Hendrick Motorsports immediately pulled out a backup car for
Earnhardt. He will have to forfeit the top starting spot in
Sunday's season-opening race.

It will be Earnhardt's third car of Speedweeks. He wrecked one
in last weekend's exhibition Budweiser Shootout.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)