TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Helio Castroneves' tax evasion case stretched into NASCAR with an attorney who also represents a series champion.

Castroneves, an Indy 500 champion, pled not guilty Friday after a grand jury indicted him on charges of conspiracy and six counts of tax evasion. Also indicted were Castroneves' sister and Alan Miller, an attorney who represents a few Cup drivers, including Jimmie Johnson.

Miller did not enter a plea and was released on $250,000 bail.

"Certainly shocking,'' Johnson said of Miller's situation. "Alan's been my attorney since I was 15. Been a great friend and has helped me with a lot of different things. I have an outside tax group that I use, so he really is my attorney. As of now everything is still the same. Learning a lot as time goes on here and there's still a lot to be investigated and uncovered moving forward."

Johnson was asked if he would disassociate himself with Miller if more comes out?

"I've got a business to run,'' Johnson said. "I need to protect myself and my family. With everything I've done with Alan he has respected my thoughts and me as a driver as if he was a parent. He's really done a phenomenal job for me. As time goes on, we'll all learn and understand more. I'm just kind of holding tight right now and making sure that when I start making decisions on what is going to happen, I have all the information at that point in time.''

No answers

Jimmy Makar, senior vice president for Joe Gibbs Racing, says the team is unsure what caused Kyle Busch's engine woes during last weekend.

Busch reported that he was losing power but then things improved. Still, he finished 28th, his best finish in the first three races of the Chase.

"I wish I could tell you,'' Makar said of what was wrong. "We've looked at the fuel system. We've run everything across the dyno. We've run it across the lab in the shop. We've actually taken everything and gone to Kentucky and tested with it [Thursday]. I haven't found anything. I think it was fuel related, but we can't find anything that says this is it.

"Whatever caused it is ... it came and went and we haven't been able to locate the problem. That's your worst nightmare, when you can't find a reason for your problem.''

Feeling better

Jeff Gordon says he's still ill but not like last weekend.

"It seems like every day I just get a little bit better,'' he said. "I'm still not back to 100 percent. Hopefully by Sunday, I think I'll be back to 100 percent.''

Pit stops

Brad Keselowski drove a few laps in practice for Casey Mears in case Keselowski is needed to fill in. Mears' pregnant girlfriend is due any time. ... Qualifying begins at 12:15 p.m. today.