Casey Mears Becoming a Free Agent

Despite last weeks statement by Rick Hendrick that he's behind Casey Mears, but dodging long term commitment questions, Hendrick confirmed for the world this last Friday that Casey Mears will not be back in the No. 5 Chevy for 2009.

Bu bye Casey.

Despite the announcement, Mears had known for a couple of weeks about this development, quoting having such a bad year this year.

This year, they moved Casey from the 25 to the 5 car and they've just not quite hit the right setups.  He noted an odd sensitivity to set ups in the new chassis.

"The biggest thing I've noticed is how sensitive these cars are," said Mears, a former open-wheel racer. "You can change everything and it doesn't do anything. It's the same. You can change about 10 million things on these cars and it doesn't respond. Then you pull an eighth of an inch out of the camber and it's the fastest car on the track. Finding the sweet spots on these cars has been difficult."

I think this bites for Casey.  He's under a good roof, probably one of the best in the business and now he may have to consider a 2nd rate team.  It will just never be the same as it is at HMS.  On the other hand, you have to wonder if HMS isn't pouring just a little bit more resource into Gordon, Johnson or Earnhardt Jr's camp to keep the performances up under public scrutiny / pressure.

http://www.boston.com