AGR ST. PETE QUALIFYING QUOTES

Danica Patrick, #7 Motorola Dallara/Honda/Firestone "I really did not know how I was going to feel in the car until I got out there, but overall I am happy with the Motorola car. We are just a couple of tenths off of Hideki, a little bit further off of Marco and Tony. Earlier today we were closer to two seconds off, so for me, we made a lot of improvements. We definitely did not get our fastest lap in today as we kept getting held up in traffic, but I am happy that the car is better than it was."

Tony Kanaan, #11 Team 7-Eleven Dallara/Honda/Firestone "Qualifying was tough. I think the IndyCar Series is so competitive now that you have to give everything. When I finished the qualifying run in the Team 7-Eleven car, I was exhausted. With more good drivers, it makes it a lot more difficult, it makes me proud. If you look at my suit, I'm all wet. I had to sweat to get this one done."

Marco Andretti, #26 NYSE Dallara/Honda/Firestone "This is a huge disappointment. The Gillette car was absolutely good enough to make it into the Firestone Fast Six based on the practice times we've been posting. We had a problem with our pedal setup in qualifying and it's just really disappointing. The Gillette car has been good all weekend, though, so we'll find our way to the front."

Hideki Mutoh, #27 Formula Dream Dallara/Honda/Firestone

"I am disappointed for not improving my time from the last attempt. The Formula Dream crew gave me a great car. I was so sure that I could improve my time at the end but I did not pull it off. I really wanted to get into the top 12, so I am very disappointed. I will do my best to improve my position in the race tomorrow."

Bryan Herta, #26 XM Satellite Radio Acura "This is a disappointing finish for us but I really have to give it to the guys on the XM Satellite Radio Acura crew. They did a great job hanging in there with us. The car was good today and that gives us a lot to look forward to at Long Beach."

Christian Fittipaldi, #26 XM Satellite Radio Acura

"I didn't do anything special at the start. I had a good start and a good run, that's all. I had practiced the start this morning so I knew where I could break on cold tires in the XM Acura. There was a gap there and I just went for it and it worked out well for us. Then, on the second lap, I just made a mistake. When I went to brake, it was two inches too deep, then the rears unloaded, locked and I half-spun and barely touched the barrier."

Raphael Matos, #27 AFS/AGR Dallara/Firestone "I love St. Petersburg. The atmosphere is great and everything was just working great today with the AFS Racing/Andretti Green Racing car. I just can't thank all of those guys enough. Michael Andretti, Kim Green, Kevin Savoree and Gary Peterson have put a lot into the program. This is great for our sponsors, Automatic Fire Sprinklers and oso*fresh. This is a great feeling for them, too. This is our first victory of the year and hopefully we can repeat tomorrow."

Arie Luyendyk Jr., #26 AGR/AFS Dallara/Firestone "The AGR/AFS Racing car was great today. It had a bit of understeer in it but the whole race I was quicker than the guys in front of me. I wish I would have gotten around those guys a little sooner. Qualifying was tough. We went with a different setup for the race and the car seemed to come alive. I feel great and it was an awesome 40 laps."