Almirola understands but still unhappy with relief

Aric Almirola understands the reasoning behind the decision to replace him with Denny Hamlin at Milwaukee last weekend in what turned out to be the winning car. That still doesn't mean he has to like it.

Almirola -- who was leading the Busch Series race at the time the driver switch was made -- sat down with Joe and J.D. Gibbs afterward and believes the decision had everything to do with sponsorship obligations and little to do with any lack of confidence in his ability.

If Aric Almirola is headed for a full-time ride with Ginn Racing in 2008, he's the last one to know.

"I'm very, very flattered by all the rumors," Almirola said, "but I've been [at Gibbs] for many years and plan on being there for many years to come. They've given me a lot of opportunity over the past few years and I hope to return the favor to them."

"I'm still not happy with it but I understand the situation and I understand the position that they were in," Almirola said Wednesday. "I'm just so glad that it worked out, that we won the race, because the guys who work on the team do an awfully good job week-in and week-out and they're the ones who really deserve credit.

"Those guys might have gotten their thunder stolen away by all the media talking about Denny and myself and what events took place there."

Almirola said the deal with Rockwell Automation, sponsor of the No. 20 Chevrolet, is up at the end of the year, so all parties involved were doing what they could to further that relationship. With Hamlin in California for the Nextel Cup race, Almirola's primary job was to practice and qualify the car for Hamlin -- putting it on the pole -- and step out of the way.

When Hamlin's helicopter was unable to land at the track Saturday evening, Almirola suddenly found himself in the car for the start of the race and unsure if the regular driver would be there.

"I totally understand the Gibbs side of the situation," Almirola said. "You need that Cup superstar to sell sponsorship. It's not easy to sell sponsorship for somebody who hasn't proven themselves yet, and I understand that.

"At the time, in the heat of the moment, I was deep in the battle of the race. I didn't totally agree and understand the situation. But looking back on it now, I understand it. Rockwell's invested a lot in Denny Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing, so they deserved everything they got there at Milwaukee. They deserved to have their racecar in the spotlight and I was happy that I got the pole for them and that Denny won the race."

Even though he knew it was Hamlin's car to drive, Almirola said that didn't make the decision to turn it over any easier.

"Nobody ever wants to get pulled out of any event," he said. "No quarterback ever wants to get pulled out of a game, no baseball player, no true athlete wants to get pulled, especially when you're in a situation where you feel like you can win the race.

"There are days when I've run around in 37th, wishing somebody would please, please, please ask to relief drive for me so I could get out. Those are the days that would never happen. When something is going to happen like this, it's always going to happen when things are going good."

Even though he wasn't around for the victory celebration, Almirola said he takes pride in the outcome.

"I feel like I was a big part of the victory because I set the car up, I practiced the car and ... qualified the car on the pole so they had the best pit box," Almirola said. "So when Denny did got his lap back, they could make up positions in the pits because they had the best pit box.

"I feel like I was a part of it, but by no way, shape or form do I feel like that was my first victory. I feel like my first victory is still to come and I'll actually be in the car when it crosses the start-finish line for that one."

Almirola said he's still planning to run a handful of Nextel Cup races later this season and believes he's still in line for a fourth car if Gibbs expands its program.

"I'm under contract with Joe Gibbs Racing and I have a long history with them," Almirola said. "I've been there since I was 18 years old. I started racing Late Models with them and they've become like family to me. I've been there quite some time now. I see our whole relationship as a team and driver and owner growing further and further."