NASCAR gives Allmendinger breathalyzer test

AJ Allmendinger spoke to the media briefly Friday and confirmed that he was given a breathalyzer test by NASCAR before he could practice.

Allmendinger was charged with driving while impaired after he was pulled over by Mooresville, N.C., police early Thursday morning. He had a .08 blood alcohol level, minimum to be arrested for DWI.

NASCAR placed him on probation Thursday, citing he admitted guilt in a statement issued by the team. His team, Richard Petty Motorsports, announced Friday that Allmendinger would be put on probation through the end of the 2010 racing season and fined $10,000 with that money going to charity.

After practice Friday, Allmendinger spoke to reporters. Here's what he said:

"Basically, honest truth is I had just a couple of drinks, had a couple at dinner and then couple that night. Honestly thought I was fine. I'd been drinking water for an hour and a half at that point and figured I was OK to drive home. You know I unfortunately got pulled over and it kind of went from there.

Question: What did Richard Petty say to you

ALLMENDINGER: I honestly haven't spoken to Richard completely yet. Obviously, Robbie Loomis and the higher ups of the organization have talked to me. They've shown support towards me but, obviously, it was my fault, it was a bad decision. I wish I could take it back. I'd do anything to take it back. That's life, you can't. So, all I can do is go out and learn from it and be a lot better person from it, which I will be and, hopefully, if it's possible, educate other people that you don't have to be having a ton of drinks to feel like you're drunk. It only takes a little bit and you're over the legal limit. Hopefully, I can do that to everybody and I just apologize to my family, everybody at Richard Petty Motorsports that put all the hard work in, all the sponsors that have supported me and been a part of this. I regret it. I wish I could take it back, but, like I said, I can't take it back. I'll just be a lot better person from it.''

Question: What was it like to take a breathalyzer today before you went out for practice

ALLMENDINGER: It's a part of it. I know what I've done. I respect the punishment and everything I have to do to gain the trust back of NASCAR and everybody that is out there racing with me, so it's not the best feeling in the world but at the same point, I respect I have to go do it and I understand and I have no problem with that.

Question: Did you ask NASCAR why they put you on probation when they had never done that to a driver before in a similar situation

ALLMENDINGER: Nope. I'm not in that position to ask those type of questions. Like I said, I respect NASCAR for every punishment they handed out.  I feel very fortunate that I get the opportunity to still do what I love to do and come here and race cars. I'm not in the position to ask questions. I just have to go along with whatever is kind of doled out to me.''

Question: Why were you pulled over in the first place

ALLMENDINGER: It was late at night. One in the morning. I was driving down the road. They felt the need to pull me over. You're coming from a bar, it's late at night. It's a part of it.

Question: How will this impact your career?

ALLMENDINGER: Hopefully, it doesn't. Hopefully, I can show people that I can learn from it. People do get second chances and I can just go. LIke I said, the biggest thing for me is trying to educate other people on that and build from my mistakes. It's not the first mistake I've ever made. It's the biggest mistake I've made to this magnitude. A lot of people make mistakes and they get a second opportunity and I feel like if I can go out and just learn from it and make myself a better person and make other people better for it, then it's OK.

ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for following agreed-upon rules of civility. Comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its Web sites. Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the "Report Violation" link below the comment.