LOS ANGELES, CA -- It has been an exciting first day of the inaugural X Games Rally. The final scores are in and nobody could have predicted this finish! After gaining five seconds on Car 199, Pastrana / Edstrom on Special Stage 7 and tying them on Special Stage 8, Car 7, McRae / Grist moved into first place by a half a second at the end of the day. Additionally, 3rd and 4th place, held by Car 43, Block / Gelsomino and Car 90, O'Sullivan / Putnam, has closed up to less than a 5 second gap. With the true scores being divided by 5 (as previously explained), the differences are negligible - you will have to wait until Saturday's Super Special to know the winner!

The top 5 are as follows:

Car 7, McRae/Grist true score 50:28.2; divided - 10:05.6
Car 199, Pastrana / Edstrom true score 50:28.7; divided - 10:05.7
Car 43, Block / Gelsomino true score 51:37.2; divided - 10:19.4
Car 90, O'Sullivan / Putnam true score 51:42.1; divided - 10:20.4
Car 11, Choiniere / Becker true score 51:59.1; divided - 10:23.8

The most interesting, rally-like moment of the day has got to go to Jon Nichols and Carl Schenk who hit a rock in that last few feet of SS8. Just prior to the flying finish, a rock that had nearly claimed all cars prior, was hit by Nichols, causing a broken tie rod. The team, through inventive rally thinking, went to work - Jon turning the wheel manually while Karl manned the emergency brake in an effort to avoid the cliffs just a few feet away. Spectators also helped save the day for the team by pushing. Ultimately, Nichols and Schenk got through the finish and will continue on!! If anyone thought 4 wheel drive was the only action in town, would have been impressed at this site. Once the team got through the control, the entire body around them roared and clapped for them. Go 2 Wheel Drive!!!

Currently, the teams are packing up and heading to the Home Depot Center in preparation for the practice sessions that will occur tomorrow and Thursday. We will post as needed throughout the week.

Saturday's Super Special at the Home Depot Center will begin at 2 PM PDT and will be broadcast live on ESPN and ABC. We will be posting during the Super Special on Saturday, as we do at all events, so please tune in.