Chevy Pocono Red-Flag Notes

CHEVROLET/TEAM MONTE CARLO NOTES AND QUOTES
PENNSYLVANIA 500
NASCAR WINSTON CUP SERIES
ROUND 20 OF 36
POCONO RACEWAY
SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2002

RACE NOTES
The race was red-flagged after five laps to repair guardrail following a
crash involving STEVE PARK, NO. 1 PENNZOIL CHEVY MONTE CARLO and his
teammate DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 8 BUDWEISER CHEVY MONTE CARLO.  Both
drivers were taken to the medical center and released, with no injuries.
The track reported, however, that Park, after meeting with the media, will
remain in the treatment center for additional observation only (because of
his previous injury).

DALE EARNHARDT JR.: "I was trying to do my damndest to get off of the side
of Steve¹s car because I knew once we hit the wall my car was going to
probably push him over the guardrail into the infield.  It¹s a bad deal.
There was nothing I could really do.  I was kind of in a bad situation."
WHAT HAPPENED?  "Steve and Rusty got together on the back straightaway.
Rusty really wouldn¹t clear, (he) came up the race track.  Steve came back
down and passed my car and I drove him into the guardrail.  There was really
nothing I could do on that wet grass.  I was trying to get away from him,
because I knew it was going to be a bad wreck once he got into the
guardrail.  I¹m just glad he¹s OK; we¹ll be able to go next weekend.
Hopefully we can get the Bud car fixed and get back out there, but it¹s
going to be a long day."

STEVE PARK:  "I was on the outside of Rusty and it was the first lap and he
started moving up.  I backed off and then he pulled back down like his
spotter might have said someone was on the outside.  I got back up on the
outside of him; and he just he came up on me.  It was just a first lap
deal."  WHAT DID THAT FEEL LIKE? "It didn¹t feel good, I can tell you that.
The main thing is I don¹t like getting trapped in a race car.  When a race
car gets upside down with the head braces that we have and the window
openingsŠ I was trapped.  LuckilyŠI want to thank the safety workers.  They
came and made sure the car didn¹t go on fire and helped me out.  I¹m real
thankful for them.  I think Pocono has a first-class safety crew out there."

ON DALE JR. BEING FIRST THERE:  "He was just elated I was OK.  I got out of
the race car and he was happy.  I got out of the car and the first thing he
said (was), ŒYou OK?"  I looked him straight in the face and said ŒYeah, I¹m
OK.¹  Just don¹t like the fact that I was trapped.  So I¹m trying not to
have panic set in, just tried to get out of the race car.  The safety
workers made sure the car didn¹t go on fire and helped me get out.  Dale Jr.
was definitely a welcome sight and I was glad he was OK too."

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN UPSIDE DOWN IN A WINSTON CUP CAR BEFORE?  "No, not
really.  That was the first time.  I know how to react when it does go
upside down.  You don¹t want to just release your seat belt and then hit the
roof of the car.  I tried to stay calm and do everything I was supposed to
do to get out of the race car.  I was just disappointed that I was kind of
trapped because of the way the safety devices are in the car and the window
opening and stuff.  I was very, very fortunate that the safety workers were
there to one, prevent a fire, and two, to help me get out of the race car."

ROBBY GORDON, NO. 31 CINGULAR WIRELESS CHEVY MONTE CARLO:  ON THE ANKLE
INJURIES:  "It feels pretty good driving the car today.  We passed a few
cars there.  I was all the way up, just next to Jeff Green there, when that
caution came out.  Let me tell you, I was sure glad to see Steve Park and
Dale Jr. walking together on the big screen when I drove by.  That means he
got out of the car OK."  HOW¹S THE CAR THIS WEEKEND?  "I think the car is
going to be pretty good.  Our goal is top 10 finishes and we were real good
the last two weeks.  I think that we¹ll be good here.  The most important
thing it to score some points and if you got to position yourself to be
there at the end, and that¹s what we¹re going to do all day."