40 and 41 California Speedway qualifiying report

Contact:  Nealie Hamilton, Chip Ganassi Racing, 704/662-9642, nhamilton@ganassi.com
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       April 26, 2002
 
 
STERLING MARLIN / JIMMY SPENCER
CHIP GANASSI RACING WITH FELIX SABATES
NAPA AUTO PARTS 500 QUALIFYING RESULTS
 
FONTANA, Calif. (April 26, 2002) - The No. 40 Coors Light and No. 41 Target teams of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates secured top-25 qualifying positions during Friday's qualifying for the NAPA Auto Parts 500 at California Speedway.  
 
Jimmy Spencer, driver of the No. 41 Target Dodge Intrepid R/T, qualified 22nd fastest with a time of 38.996 seconds (184.634 mph).  Spencer was 13th fastest during practice Friday morning with a best time of 39.591 seconds (181.860 mph).
 
"We just didn't pick up as much as we should," Spencer said.  "I'm not sure what was wrong. We'd been qualifying in the top-10 at all of the non-restrictor plate tracks. It was very tight out there. We could have made some adjustments, but we never got in a qualifying run in practice. This is the car we had at Vegas, and it qualified in the top-5 there.  We led some laps there, and we think we'll be in good shape. It's going to be hard trying to get to the front. It's just no fun to start that far back."
 
Sterling Marlin, driver of the No. 40 Coors Light Dodge Intrepid R/T, will start in 25th on the grid for Sunday's event.  His lap speed was scored at 184.280 mph (39.071 seconds).  With a fast time of 39.670 seconds (181.497 mph), Marlin was 21st fastest in Friday morning's practice session.  
 
"It started raining on us," Marlin said.  "I took it easy in one and two because it was raining pretty good.  It bottomed out real bad.  You don't want to sail off down in the corner when it's raining.  We'll be all right for the race.  The car was a lot faster than we qualified."
 
The NAPA Auto Parts 500 from California Speedway will be broadcast on FOX on Sunday, April 28 at 3 p.m., e.d.t.  
 
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