INDY 500: Pre Race Quotes from Indy 500 Drivers
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
May 4, 2001
INDIANAPOLIS, - Quotes from selected Indy Racing Northern Light Series drivers and team officials about the 85th Indianapolis 500 on May 27 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (drivers listed in alphabetical order):
MICHAEL ANDRETTI (No. 39 Motorola/Archipelago Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone) (About returning to Indianapolis for the first time since 1995) "I'm just really tickled to death to be back and really excited. I think we have a real good shot at doing well here and maybe my best shot ever. So I'm looking forward to it." (About teaming up with Panther Racing): "I think the two teams joining forces is going to be very strong. They have a lot of information on these race cars, and we have a lot of things that we do, as well. And I think bringing them together is going to really make it a strong combination." (About absence from Indy and decision to return): "Well, it was really tough, especially the last couple of years because it was starting to feel like we may never get back here. Last year, watching Juan (Montoya) run out front was really depressing for me because I felt like if I would have been here we could have kept him honest, and it would have been interesting. I just felt like, you know what, this isn't fair. I need to be there, too, and that's when I really set it in my mind that I was going to try to do whatever I could to get back here." (About tight schedule in May for CART teams competing at Indy): "I don't really want to think about it. But it's going to be tough. We're actually going to miss the first two practice days of the month because we'll be at Nazareth. And, of course, the weather's going to be beautiful in Nazareth, so we're not going to have to worry about a rainout. So we'll be here on Monday, it'll be our first day of practice, and we'll run here all week. Of course, we know the weather's going to be beautiful in Indianapolis for qualifying weekend, so we're going to be able to get the car in on Saturday, and Sunday we'll work on our race setup even a little more. Then we'll head to Japan; I have some commitments in Japan Tuesday and Wednesday with Honda, who by the way I want to thank for letting us come here, as well. Then we have the race, we race there Saturday. Then we make our way back home, and then I come back out here Wednesday before Carburetion Day, and we run the whole weekend here. Then we head off to Milwaukee on Wednesday. So it's going to be a little tight." (About competing against Indy Racing League drivers at Indy): "You've got to remember these guys have been running these cars for quite a few years, so they know exactly how they react. They are quite different from what we're used to, so they do have an advantage there. There are some quick drivers here. If you look at Kenny Brack coming over from here, he's done very well in our series. So obviously you guys in IRL have talent. We're kidding ourselves if we think we're just coming here to run to race Penske and Ganassi for the win. I think we cannot forget the IRL regulars either. So we know that, we realize that, and we're staying focused on the whole field, not just a couple cars."
BILLY BOAT (No. 98 CURB Records Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone): "Our first goal with a new team and a lot of new people, especially for Indy, is to get out on the track, get comfortable and work up to speed. One thing about Indianapolis is that you can't take anything for granted. You have to go through the gates prepared and with every team member already giving 125 percent. Our two main goals, by far, are to get the car up to speed and be a first-day qualifier. That's very important for us. We need the following week of practice to prepare for the race, so putting the car in the show on the first day is critical for us." (Effect of three-week schedule on planning): "Our strategy needs to be to get the car solidly in the race on the first day and then work on race setups the following week to ensure that we have a good race car. This is the biggest race in the world, and there's going to be a lot of deal-making going on during that second week with people trying to put second cars in the race and drivers walking around with their helmet in their hand trying to get in different cars. That's something we don't want to have to worry about - we just want to know that our car is solidly in the field, and then we can focus on having a solid car all day long for the race." (About the mystique of Indy): "When I was growing up, my dream was to get to race in the Indy 500. I was able to realize that dream a couple of years ago when I got to drive for A.J. Foyt, and that was obviously the highlight of my career. I know what it's like when you sit on the pole here - I know the media attention you get - I know that you really begin to realize just how important this race is and how much focus this race receives. Most anyone you talk to on the street knows about the Indy 500, and it's the one race of the year that most people watch even if they have only a casual interest in racing. It's the race they watch, and it's the one they remember. They remember how you did. I know what it's like to sit on the pole, but to win this race definitely makes a career. To have your face on that Borg-Warner Trophy is something they can never take away from you. It's something that gives you a place in history." (Personal anecdotes about Indy): "Like motorsports in general, Indy has its highs and its lows. Obviously, when I sat on the pole in '98, that was a huge point in my career. Last year, to be able to get in the race and get qualified with the gun going off is something I'll never forget. Something I never want to do again - but something I'll never forget because it really makes you realize how important the race is when you come that close to not being able to participate. This is also a race where my whole family comes back for most of the month - they'll be here for three weeks. I bring the whole family in, and everyone enjoys the race together, and it makes for a great time. Even though our kids are young, they know what this race means. They know how big an event it is, and I think they appreciate it."
HELIO CASTRONEVES (No. 68 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone): "I'm very excited about racing at Indianapolis for the first time, and I'm really looking forward to May 27. We've spent some time there testing, and I've just begun to realize what a tough race it will be to win. Each corner of the track is different, which makes it a very difficult track to master. I've always respected Rick Mears and all his accomplishments, but since I've been to the Speedway that respect has grown - it's unbelievable that he has won there four times. (About tight schedule during May for CART teams also racing at Indy): "It will be a hard month for us with all the travel, but our goal is to stay focused and do all we can to make the show. We've been preparing as best we can so far, and once we get to the Speedway we'll be able to focus 100 percent on our Indy effort." (About Indy tradition): "I have an enormous amount of respect for the Indianapolis 500 and all the tradition that it represents, and I'm honored just to have the opportunity to compete there."
EDDIE CHEEVER JR. (#51 Excite@Home Indy Racing Car Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone, 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner) (About testing in April at Indy): "There's a lot of anxiety when you test at Indy for the first time in April because it's a very good snapshot of what your month of May is going to be like. The new Infiniti 35A did very well, and we are starting to get a handle on what the engine wants and the handling of the car, which is definitely different from last year's engine. We ran strong in difficult conditions, and our Firestone tires performed very well in the cold weather. At any point in time on that given day, there were three Indy 500 winners representing four Indy 500 victories on the circuit: me, Buddy Lazier and Al Unser Jr. We were up against some pretty good competition. The #51 Excite@Home car handled very well, and our straight-line speeds were very good. It puts us on a positive note heading into the Indy 500." (About the Indianapolis 500): "When you win the Indianapolis 500, you're part of history. People have been racing there for 84 years. Everybody wants to be a part of history. If you're an open-wheel driver, this is your special place, and it has been for many, many years. The beauty of the Indianapolis 500 is that it's draped in tradition. No racetrack has the history or size to even compare itself to Indy. I am still racing because I want a second Indianapolis 500 win. For me, winning the Indy 500 in 1998 was really a validation of a whole lifetime of effort. For over a decade now, I have been one of the many racing drivers making a yearly pilgrimage to the greatest racing circuit in the world, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I have come to realize that the greatest honor for all the drivers who compete in the Indianapolis 500 is not the driving, but rather the amazing relationship that they are allowed to develop with hundreds of thousands of racing fans. At the start of every Indianapolis 500, when all the ceremonies are over and it is time to get strapped in my race car and I look down the front straight and see the hundreds of thousands of fans that share the same passion, I realize that I made the right choice with my life."
AIRTON DARÉ (No. 88 1-800-BAR-NONE Team Xtreme G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone, 2000 Indy Racing Northern Light Series Rookie of the Year): "Our team is gaining momentum going in to the Indy 500, and this is the best time of the season for a team to do that. Last year I worked my way from the 21st position to the second position. This year we have a new, strong motor program with RPM Engineering that we have been very happy with. This is a big race for TeamXtreme and I because it is the first Indy 500 experience for 1 800 BAR NONE, and I get to race with my friend and former teammate, Jaques Lazier. We are going to take advantage of this momentum and carry it throughout the month of May. The team as a whole is confident because we have all of the elements needed to put together a great showing, even at such a demanding event as the Indy 500. We are seeing all of the puzzle pieces come together, and there is no better time for that than right now."
GIL de FERRAN (No. 66 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone): "Returning to Indianapolis is sort of like a homecoming for me since I lived there for two years when I first arrived in the United States in 1995. I was able to qualify for the race that year but unfortunately never made it through the first corner (due to a multicar accident) so I am looking forward to hopefully getting some more racing in this year. It means a lot to me to return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, particularly the fact that I am going with Marlboro Team Penske, which has a great history there. When I first joined the team, I thought if Roger (Penske) ever wants to return to Indianapolis that would be the only way I would like to go. To have the opportunity to return with Roger and the whole team is a big happening in my life. To me, it's one of the most prestigious races in the world and a title that I would like to add to my curriculum."
MARK DISMORE (No. 28 Delphi Automotive Systems/Bryant Heating & Cooling Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone): "The one thing that I really pick on myself for is last year at Indy when I had such a great car and felt like I could go out and race against anyone, including Juan (Montoya). Right at the very end of the day before Pole Day, we threw a new set of tires on and I had been in the car for about two hours and the temperature had come way down. I think we were like sixth fastest at the time, and I knew I could probably go out and burn one off and be as fast as anybody. Leaving pit lane, I just got on it, lit the tires up and crashed the car. The car was so good. I knew that it was an awesome opportunity for me to win Indianapolis, or be as fast and competitive as anyone. And with Montoya having the reputation that he had coming in, I wanted it in the worse way to show that some guy from Greenfield, Indiana, could do whatever it took to beat this guy, and I blew it. I haven't forgiven myself for that since. It's behind me and it's not something that I dwell on, but I was definitely disappointed in myself for doing it. My season so far hasn't been as good as we planned, but I've been really happy with the setup of the car, so we have high hopes for Indy. Winning is absolutely a possibility."
BRANDON ERWIN (No. 30 WorldBestBuy.com/McCormack Motorsports G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone): "To get the chance to compete in the Indy 500 means everything to me. Indianapolis is where I've always wanted to be. To qualify a car for the Indy 500 and to be one of the 33 drivers in the race wouldn't just make my day; it would make my life. During the Indy rookie orientation program, I really noticed the speed. Indy is fast. Once you get the feel of the speed of an Indy car at over 200 mph, it's all relative, but in the corners and in the short chutes here you can really feel the speed. Johnny Rutherford and Al Unser both told me to respect this racetrack, and I do. I got chills just walking around to get into the car during rookie orientation, and I'm sure this entire month will be an amazing experience. I'm so thankful that I'm getting this opportunity, and I appreciate everything McCormack Motorsports and our sponsors are doing."
SARAH FISHER (No. 15 Walker Racing Kroger Special Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone): "Our main focus is going to be getting in the race first of all. This year is going to be extremely tough with all of the new competition showing up. It is all about focus, patience, leadership and endurance. With the preparation we are putting into the month, I expect us to come out on the positive side." (About new sponsor Kroger): "Kroger has been wonderful in making our presence known throughout the city, and we for sure want to provide them the return on their involvement." (About expectations): "The team started out the season with a few new people, but we have had three races to start jelling and a lot more experience since the last time we were heading into Indy. The 2001 Indy 500 will be my 13th race in an Indy car, and I am extremely anxious for the month to start. It will be fun, stressful and rewarding, all at the same time."
SCOTT GOODYEAR (No. 52 Cheever Indy Racing Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone) (About confidence level entering Indy): "We had an excellent test in Atlanta a few weeks ago, and we are now going into the month of May knowing that our new engine package -- which we received in March -- will finish the 500-mile race and then some. It's always a great feeling going into the Indianapolis 500. To go to Atlanta and be able to punish the engine at high-speeds with full throttle for over 600 miles gives us great confidence for the month of May." (About working with team owner Eddie Cheever Jr.): "In some ways we are the same, and in some ways we are very different. Our understanding of what's going on in the car, we might approach in different ways or from different avenues. He calls us the odd couple. I don't know why that is. But I've always enjoyed having a teammate, and I think that you can learn and benefit from it. I don't think either one of us has to worry about our abilities, which is different than when you're going through the ranks. Then it's go fast and make the other guy go slow and get ahead. With Cheever Indy Racing, it's obvious that two drivers, or two heads, out there are better than one. That's the philosophy we have right now." (Do you miss racing full time?): "I'm so focused in on the (Indianapolis Motor) Speedway right now and what we need to achieve to reach our goal there. It feels weird, but I find myself learning and growing and playing a different part in a team. I think I'm learning a lot now. I'm now listening and learning and seeing more of what goes on. I'm able to put all these dots together in a sense, and it's going to be an advantage at Indy."
ROBBY GORDON (No. 41 A.J. Foyt Racing Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone): "My approach for Indy is the same the way I entered the last two years, I'm there to win. A.J.'s there to win and now so is Richard Childress. I think that's great that he's become a part of our team. I have always wanted to be the fastest, but I have a pretty good finishing record at Indy. I approach it more like a NASCAR race than a regular Indy-car race. Indy's long like most of the NASCAR races. You bide your time, take care of your equipment so you can be around for the last 50 miles. That's when you really run hard." (About return to three-week schedule): "I like the longer schedule. That's what Indy's all about. I think it's good that they are going back to their roots and returning it to the way it's always been. Normally you have a couple of hours to figure out your setups before you qualify. Here you have six days, and if you can't figure it out then, shame on you. There are a lot of mind games and pressures that go on during those six days, but I don't feel it as much now. I think with my experience, age and some maturity, I've learned to accept things at Indy, like the way the track can change so much. I don't feel the pressure as much these days." (Indy anecdotes): "Coming back to drive for A.J. at Indy after seven years is special. He won Indy with Kenny Brack when we ran out of fuel in 1999. That gives me confidence because it tells me he provides a well-structured race team that can get me to Victory Lane." (About driving for Foyt in 1993, when Foyt retired at Indy): "I'm the one who made A.J. retire in '93, so that means I also got a chance to see him drive at Indy. We compared our driving styles on the computers, and A.J. was very, very smooth in his throttle control and steering. The computer showed the steering traces and when he was on and off the gas. I remember my engineer being amazed at how smooth A.J. was. So that really helped me -- to actually see that comparison on the computer, it served as a guideline for driving at Indy. I also saw the way he communicated what the car was doing to his crew, and I learned to do that, too. We both know what we want in a car, and A.J. taught me a lot about how to get it."
STEPHAN GREGOIRE (No. 7 Jack K. Elrod Co./Tokheim/NADA Guides Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone): "This is our fourth race of the season, and I hope this time that everything will be fine and that I will be in contention to win the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. I have been racing here since 1993, and I love the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. There is no better place on Earth to race, and I enjoy every minute of it. I know that this place can bring you the ultimate success, but it also can beat you. I have always respected the track, and most of the time that has paid off. Winning Indy, for me, like many drivers, will be the greatest career achievement. I think our team is strong enough to do it, and this is our goal. Three French drivers won it before, (Jules) Goux in 1913, (Rene) Thomas in 1914 and (Gaston) Chevrolet in 1920, and I can be the fourth one. I came here for the first time in 1993 and became the fastest rookie qualifier and the youngest starting driver. I also led the race that year. This is my sixth time at the speedway, and I am ready for it. This year for the first time since the 1930s, there will be three French drivers: (Nicolas) Minassian, (Didier) André and myself. I am proud of that." (About car selection): "Dick and Richie Simon, and Hayden, our engineer, have decided to work with two cars, the Dallara and the G Force, before qualifying. We believe both cars are competitive here, and we want to practice in the G Force to make sure it's a fast car and if we have any problem with our Dallara, we know we can ultimately switch to the G Force." (About return to three-week schedule): "We have great expectations for this race. Our team is motivated and focused. I think the return to a three-week schedule is great because if you are lucky enough to be solid in the show during the first weekend of qualification, you have one more week to concentrate on race setup, and that is crucial because here the race is 500 miles and you need to have a great, reliable car. I am confident our Roush engines will be competitive in qualifying and in the race. I am also very excited because we worked 24/7 on finding a new sponsor, and I think our team is almost ready to make a big announcement on Sunday where I will be first on track again. This is a tradition here; Dick is always the first on track and really likes that. This year Dick will celebrate 40 years in racing, including 32 consecutive years at the Speedway. And more than anyone else here, he deserves to win the race. I wish he could kiss the Borg-Warner Trophy with me on Sunday, May 27."
DAVEY HAMILTON (No. 99 Sam Schmidt Motorsports Racing Special Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone): "I like all the hype. It's the Indy 500, which always is big, but this year with everyone being back, having those guys back, makes me want to win worse than ever. Everybody is here, the best of the best, you can't say it's only the IRL guys, which is stiff enough competition. So the guy who wins, well he's not going to have it easy. This is one of the best years to win. I'm looking forward to getting going and having a good month."
SAM HORNISH JR. (No. 4 Pennzoil Panther Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone, Indy Racing Northern Light Series points leader): "I'm really excited about it. The two tracks that we've been to this year have been handling tracks, we've done pretty good at them. We're really excited to get to Indianapolis to have Michael (Andretti) be my teammate, helping me out wherever he can. And I can try to help him out as much as I can." (About hectic schedule entering Indy as points leader): "I think I have more things to do in the first week this year than the whole month last year. I just can't wait to get out there. All of the other races have meaning, but there's nothing compared to Indianapolis." (About the three-week schedule): "It doesn't matter either way to me. If we're struggling and need more time to catch up, we're good. If we're fast off the bat, it just gives other people time to catch up." (About entering Indy as a favorite to win and points leader in just second season): "No pressure. It's a whole lot different. That makes it all the more exciting, all the more harder to wait for it. I would have never guessed last year at this time that I'm in the position that I'm in now. It's a little bit unbelievable. Hopefully we'll make it a little bit more unbelievable on Race Day." (What's the key to success at Indy?): "Patience and make sure the car handles good in traffic." (About qualifying): "We just have to make sure that's not our biggest priority. I know Scott Goodyear came from 33rd to finish second. I'd like to start up front, but I'm not going to kill myself doing it. First two rows, I think I would be happy with." (About return of more CART teams to Indy): "Yeah, they've got big names, but it's just a couple of more guys I have to beat. I'm sure they're tough competitors, but I race against tough competitors in my own series." (About mystique of Indy): "Growing up where I did, two hours away from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and being there as many times as I've been there, that was always my goal, being in the Indianapolis 500. That makes it just that much sweeter. It's not only the biggest race in the world, but it has all the prestige. It's hard to put into words. I never thought I'd be here. Even though it's my second year, it's still hard to come to grips with sometimes that it's going to be reality." (Who are the main contenders for victory this year?): "Other than myself? Greg Ray will be fast. I'm sure Michael (Andretti) will be fast. I'm pretty sure that Penske's guys won't be slouching off, either. I think we've got as good of a chance as anybody out there to go out and win."
BUDDY LAZIER (No. 91 Tae-Bo/Coors Light/Life Fitness/Delta Faucet Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone, 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner, 2000 Indy Racing Northern Light Series champion): "The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has no equals in terms of other tracks around the world. The facilities are absolutely the best. I remember as a rookie everyone spoke of the 'year of May,' and I never quite understood it. As a competitor, it is an emotional roller coaster. One day everything can be perfect and you think you have a handle on the track and your race car. The next day you could be totally lost. With so many emotional ups and downs during the month of May, I now understand how it seems to turn into a year. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a most outstanding racing facility. It is fast, relatively flat and very smooth racing surface. The level of grip in your race car actually changes with temperature and sunlight. Changing conditions of this nature present a particularly difficult challenge for drivers and teams dialing in their race cars. In a racing field this closely matched, track position is a critical ingredient for success. The speed and efficiency in a team/driver's pit stops can gain track position. The Indy Racing League has created such a parity of competitiveness among its participants that to win or to finish on the podium, a driver and a team cannot afford even the smallest of mistakes. I'm fortunate to have a very talented and quick team capable to gain track position through amazing pit stops. The Tae-Bo/Coors Light/Delta Faucet/Life Fitness Dallara/Oldsmobile No. 91 Hemelgarn team looks forward to racing hard and having a good race at Indianapolis. Our team has a lot of continuity, which is a credit to team owner Ron Hemelgarn. Our team has remained virtually unchanged for several seasons. We have a steady platform from which to work from and improve each season. In the offseason, we spend a great deal of time searching for and isolating even the smallest area of weaknesses. This allows us to constantly improve our racing package. We really look forward to each racing season because we know we're going to be better than the last. Indianapolis is the biggest race in the world. We expect these improvements to pay huge dividends. With over 50 driver-car combinations, qualifying will be intense. We have so much practice time with the return of the three-week schedule, I believe there will be great qualifying and race setups achieved by all the teams."
JAQUES LAZIER (No. 77 Jonathan Byrd's Cafeteria TeamXtreme G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone): "There are so many variables that the Speedway presents. She commands a great deal of respect. There really is no three-week schedule because we have been preparing for this race the entire season. Its presence is overwhelming and always lingers in the back of your head as you approach the month of May. I look forward to racing with my old teammate, Airton. We were teammates in the Indy Lights series, and then we worked together once again at the Texas Motor Speedway in the last race of the 2000 season. Being able to be a part of Jonathan Byrd's winning race history and joining Airton and the team that produced the 2000 Rookie of the Year is quite an opportunity for me. I am excited to be back in the driver's seat, and being able to do that at the Indy 500 amplifies that excitement."
ARIE LUYENDYK (No. 5 Meijer G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone, 1990 and 1997 Indianapolis 500 winner): "People keep asking me why I am coming back, and the answer really is fairly simple. I never lost my desire to compete at Indianapolis. I realized how much I was enjoying myself during May two years ago and started to question my decision to retire. I never was able to get over that feeling. It really hit me during the race last year, when I was in the broadcast booth for ABC and realized that really wasn't where I wanted to be. It was then I started planning to race again at Indianapolis. Thanks to the Treadway-Hubbard team, I'm back in a comfortable situation, with many of the people I raced with before, including crew chief Skip Faul and engineer Tim Wardrop. We had a really good test at the Speedway last month. I felt comfortable, and I think everyone realized I was still competitive. We were the fastest at that time, almost 223 mph. (Greg Ray later went faster.) There should not be any doubts as to my motivation. I'm coming back for the love of Indy, you might say, and to be competitive and try to win. If I just wanted to somehow be a part of Indy, I would have stayed in the broadcast booth."
ROBBY McGEHEE (No. 10 Cahill Racing Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone): After a really bad night for Cahill Racing in Atlanta, we have to look forward to Indy. It is going to be tough on the team to get both chassis back together, as they are the only ones we currently have. We are going to have some personnel changes that I am very excited about that will really increase our opportunity to do well at the Speedway. We are bringing in some big guns with a lot of experience here. Indy is very special to me. I am one of the guys out there that is racing because of Indy. I have watched it since I have been able to walk and have dreamed of being there ever since. This will be my third try at it, and we have been strong each time. The first time, our strength showed, finishing fifth and getting named Rookie of the Year. Last year, I don't think many realized how close we were to an awesome finish, sitting in second place at Lap 100 before we lost a cylinder in the engine. We will show up this year with strong equipment and a good team. I have run this race in my head over and over. Each time I think about the idea of sitting in winner's circle, I get goose bumps. I am ready.
GREG RAY (No. 2 Johns Manville/Menards Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone, 1999 Indy Racing champion, 2000 Indianapolis 500 pole winner) (About being sole driver for Team Menard at Indy): "I'm pretty excited this year because we're fully committed to running just one car. All the focus is going to be on a one-car effort. We'll do a lot more mileage. Last year before qualifying, I did 200 miles total over five and one-half days, and that's the fewest miles I'd ever done to be in a car practicing before qualifying and before the race. We have a pretty torrid schedule. We're taking this pretty serious." (About more CART teams returning to Indy this year): "Certainly, no doubt, it's an honor for me to get to race against a bunch of great drivers. I think (Juan) Montoya certainly was respected as one of the hottest shoes on the planet, and that was a fun day. Whether it's Scott Sharp, Scott Goodyear, Eddie Cheever, Buddy Lazier, Jeff Ward, (Michael) Andretti or (Gil) de Ferran - it doesn't matter who it is - it is great to have so many great drivers there at one time. And I'll do my best regardless of who shows up." (About goals for Indy): "It's not about second. It's about trying to do your best job and see if you can win that race. I'm way pumped, that's what I am. The biggest thing, as a team we're united, very close, no excuses. Now we've got to get the job done."
ELISEO SALAZAR (No. 14 Harrah's A.J. Foyt Racing Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone): "My goals for Indy have to be to win the pole and the race. In the past five years, I have started on the front row and have finished third, fourth and sixth, so I've been there, done that. This year I want to win, and I feel I have my best chance to do that with A.J." (About return to three-week schedule at Indy): "I like it a lot. That's the way Indy was when I came here for the first time. It gives a sense of calm because you have time to try stuff and recover from a bad first weekend. Last year it was too rushed for the Indy 500. By returning it to the three-week schedule, no one can say they didn't have enough time. Everyone can be very prepared and it just comes down to the execution." (About the magnitude of Indy): "I have raced in all of the big races of the world. I've done Formula One races, including Monte Carlo and international sports car races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I remember Emerson Fittipaldi telling me in the early '90s that I had to see Indy. And quite honestly, I watched it on TV and didn't think much of it. But when I came here in '95 and experienced it for the first time as a spectator, it reminded me of a Roman circus. And the drivers were the gladiators who came to do battle at such high speeds and tremendous risk. I think of the Indy 500 as almost a religious experience, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the cathedral of motor racing. It is very, very special."
JERET SCHROEDER (No. 9 Purity Products Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone): "The Indianapolis 500 is the greatest race in the world. I've been lucky enough to be in it twice; first with Cobb Racing and last year with Tri Star. Both times we ran well. Our finishing positions haven't been reflective of how well we ran because something happened to the car near the end each time, so I hope the third time is the charm for me at Indy this year with PDM. The PDM Racing team is made up of professionals who can get the job done. We've had some bad luck so far this year, but we're all working hard and I know that sometime soon the tide will turn, and we'll have a finish that is reflective of our abilities and our effort. It would be great if that time is this month at Indy. Even people who don't normally follow racing know all about Indy, which just proves how big of an event it is. Michael Andretti is running at Indy this year, and he's from Pennsylvania, but for a long time I've been the only driver from the Northeast running in the IRL. I really appreciate all the friends and fans who support me and have wished me well for Indy. My friends throw me a party each year before Indy to send me off and our local newspapers are very supportive. The party is always a great time, and I appreciate everyone who makes that night happen and who attend. I'll do my best to represent them, New Jersey, the entire Northeast, my team and my sponsors - Purity Products, Summit Packaging and Graph to Graphics - this month at Indy. I have no idea what will happen this month because Indy is as unpredictable as the weather in Indiana in May, but one thing you can be sure of is that I'll be trying my best as will every other member of the PDM Racing team."
SCOTT SHARP (No. 8 Delphi Automotive Systems Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone, 1996 Indy Racing co-champion): "My biggest memory of the Indianapolis 500 was when A.J. Foyt got out of his car and started beating on the back of his car with a hammer. That's forever in the back of my mind. Another '500' that I remember is when Rick Mears duked it out with Michael Andretti by going around the outside, passing him around Turn 1, and going on to win the race. I think I was pretty awed by that. Mears was very strategic and patient, and it's hard to find someone with patience in racing like he exhibited. At the same time he was on the pole and had a lot of speed to him. Most of the time, if you're on the pole at Indianapolis, you want to lead that race like you've seen Michael Andretti and all of those people do who end up not getting to the finish. But Rick (Mears) was much more strategic. He didn't need to do that. He felt he proved it and felt he could really take his time, be patient and not take chances in traffic. He'd work with the car all day and, all of a sudden at the end of the race, he's the fastest guy out there and goes on to win the race. His mode of operation is what's so impressive to me. I didn't really meet Rick until '95 after I already had a year at the Speedway and was doing a little bit of testing for Roger (Penske). I had a chance in a casual setting to really talk to him, and I was pretty impressed. We didn't get too specific, but back in '99 prior to the race, I called him just to pick his brain a little bit about psyche, the way he approached the race, some of the things he looked for in the car and how he set himself up for the later stages in the race. Now I've rented a condo in Florida for a couple of months the last two winters, and it's in the same development that he lives in. So I've gotten to know him a little bit more."
AL UNSER JR. (No. 3 Galles Racing Starz SuperPak Budweiser G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone, 1992 and 1994 Indianapolis 500 winner) (About returning to Speedway last year): "My unfinished business was to prove to everybody and myself that we can make the show here. The last laps I ever turned here were when I missed the show (in 1995), and I never came back here testing or anything like that. So I definitely had some unfinished business. And we got that out of the way. So this year we can concentrate and work on the race more so than we did last year." (About strategy): "We definitely need to get further up the grid so we're not playing catch-up as bad all the time. We'll attack the same way we always have. The 500 miles here at Indy is a long race, and anybody can win it in the field, but the main thing to do is make the show. Hopefully, we can qualify near the front and be more competitive all day long instead of playing catch-up and trying to do pit strategies and stuff like that." (About return of Michael Andretti to Indy): "I think it is great that Michael is here. It'll just be another day. He's just another car I've got to pass in order to win the race. I think Michael himself is going to feel real good about himself and feel real proud that he is back representing his family at the Indy 500."
JEFF WARD (No. 35 Heritage Motorsports/Firestone/Menards G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone): "I've finished second, third and fourth, and I'm hungry to finish first. In the past, my teams have been running consistently in the front at the end of the 500 miles, but we had the wrong scenarios for the (winner's) circle. One year it was poor pitting strategy, another time I got in traffic, but the key is to be there, up front at the end. Of course that's the toughest part, but this team has what it takes to keep me in contention for the trophy. My confidence in this team is tremendous. I believe in what we're trying to prove, and we have a chance run on the pole or the front row, for sure. We're a threat to win. We have to go out there with the best car we can develop, hope for some luck, and we'll get the results." (About Heritage Motorsports history at Indy): "It's exciting to be in Indy with Jim Rathmann Sr. and John Mecom Jr. They created legacies at the track, and I'm really looking forward to sharing that energy with them. Their history at the track brings something to this team. I guess, it's their confidence and energy and their experience. It's a boost to have these legendary guys in our corner." (About competition at Indy): "This race is always competitive, no matter who's racing. Everyone comes to win. I've raced the CART guys before, and they're good competition, but the IRL has plenty of talent. Our races are always hot and competitive. The real key, though, is the cars. The best car will win no matter who's there." (About three-week schedule at Indy): "We'll have four more days for practice, which can be vital in Indiana. The weather here is always iffy, so that extra time can really help the team. It does mean a little more work for the mechanics, but it also takes a little pressure off of them. We have more time to practice and more time to improve the things we need to."
Text provided by Paul Kelly
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