Chevy Notes - Practice & Qual. at Pocono,
July 30
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CHEVROLET NOTES & QUOTES
NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES
PENNSYLVANIA 500 ADVANCE
POCONO RACEWAY
July 30, 2004
POST PRACTICE NOTES:
DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 8 BUDWEISER CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - UPDATE Per Budweiser Team Rep: Junior got in and out of the car on his own power, and was 19th on the sheet at the end of the first practice session. The plan for Sunday's race is for Junior to go the distance - assuming he feels up to the task. He still feels more comfortable sitting in the car than he does standing.
John Andretti will stand by as the relief driver if Junior requires one. The team has a foam seat insert on hand for Andretti, and they will again use the special belt configuration. Surgical tubing is attached to the seat harness that works like a spring to make unhooking, hooking, and adjusting the belts a much easier and quicker process. It's the same set-up that was used last weekend at Loudon when Martin Truex Jr. and Junior swapped seats during the race.
JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - "It's certainly exciting for us with the momentum we've got and the way the chemistry is working for the team right now. It's important for us to keep that going for the next seven or eight races so that when we go into those last 10 races we've got that momentum on our side."
(DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE GOT THE SAME CHEMISTRY WHEN YOU WON CHAMPIONSHIPS?) "Yeah, I think so. We're winning races. We're upfront. The point system is so much different now. I would think that if anybody has that kind of chemistry and momentum to this point in the season, I would have to say it is Jimmie Johnson. He's got a good points lead. If the point system weren't different this year, he would be in a very comfortable place to win the championship. I'm not really looking for that same feeling I've had in the past. I'm really looking to put solid finishes together and really utilize the tests we have coming up and really charge hard like we never have before in those last 10 races."
(EVEN IF YOU'RE IN NINTH OR 10TH PLACE, YOU STILL HAVE A SHOT AT IT NOW) "The guys who are sixth through 10th - or maybe even 12th or 13th right now - their main goal is to be in the top 10. That's a fight in itself. Once they get in the top 10, any one of those guys has a shot at the championship. There's no doubt about that."
(IN THE FINAL TOP 10, ARE YOU RACING FOR POINTS OR ARE YOU RACING FOR WINS? IF YOU HAVE ONE DNF, ARE YOU DONE?) "One DNF and yeah, you're in trouble. I think you've got to race extremely hard - with hard work, dedication, and effort every time you're in the car. You've really got to be on top of your game. As far as taking extra risks, no. I think top five's are still going to do it."
(HOW WAS DELAYED PRACTICE WITH THE WEATHER AND FOG - AND HOW WAS THE CAR?) "During the one-hour practice it was very overcast and foggy when we first went out there. The track was really fast as the track temperature warmed up a little bit and my car got really loose. We made some adjustments there. We are pretty solidly in the top five in practice and I want to make sure we get into the top five in qualifying. We drew a great number - a late number (39th) - so everything is going to get pushed back. We'll just keep an eye on this weather."
(SHOULD THIS RACE BE SHORTENED?) "This is one of the biggest race tracks we have. If you look at the lap times we run here, they are the slowest lap time that we have on any oval track that we run. When you take 500 miles at a long race track that takes you longer to get around, it's too long of a race. Attrition becomes an issue. Fuel mileage sometimes becomes an issue. I think it would be a much better race if it was 400 miles."
(WITH THIS BEING KIND OF A FUEL MILEAGE RACE, DOES THE POSSIBILITY OF A GREEN-WHITE-CHECKERED FINISH ALTER YOUR STRATEGY?) "I don't think we can really bet and gamble on that. We've really got to play it out as a 500 miles race. You're always saving and conserving as much fuel as you possibly can, but if you come into your fuel window at a point where you've got to pit, and that's the only caution you know of that's going to be coming out and that's going to get you to the last lap of the race, you've got to take that strategy and gamble on the fact of whether there's a green-white-checkered. If it does happen, you've got to hope that you've conserved enough fuel somewhere along the way to make it."
(ON GOING TO INDIANAPOLIS NEXT WEEK) "I've felt like last week was one of the better tests we've had at Indianapolis. I didn't test there last year when we regretted it when we went back there. We were really far off qualifying.
"I thought we made a pretty good qualifying run there before we left. We've always been pretty good there in the race. I'd like to get a better starter position, which is why we really focused a lot on the qualifying while we were there.
(DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL MEMORIES OF THE BRICKYARD?) "Nothing will ever stand out more than that first win back in '94. It was just incredible being there. The atmosphere was something you just couldn't describe. Being at that race for the first time, being the driver and wanting to race on that race track for so many years, watching your heroes race on that track and then getting a chance to race on it and then winning. It's just mind-boggling.
QUALIFYING NOTES:
BOBBY LABONTE, NO. 18 INTERSTATE BATTERIES CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - Qualified 17th: "The guys did a great job today. They worked on the car all day long. They worked really hard to give me a good solid race car. And they did that. We were able to pick up a little bit. Going out early might not be the best thing. Still, to pick up a little bit and we were in the top 10 in practice so we should get a good starting spot Sunday."
(HOW DIFFICULT - MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY - IS IT TO RACE 500 MILES AT POCONO?) "It can be tough if your car isn't handling good. If your car is handling pretty good, it's not as bad. It's not like it's any worse than it was three or five years ago when it was 500 miles. It's still tough. It can be a lot of racing if there are a lot of cautions. But for the most part you can get grab a sandwich down the straightaway too. You've got a little bit of time to rest every now and then. You're shifting too, but for the most part you can get a little rest down the straightaways."
WARD BURTON, NO. 0 NETZERO CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - Qualified 27th: "All the guys have worked really hard on this car. We've changed a little bit of our aero package this week. We've got to get the car to turn a little bit quicker right before the center and I think we can get the car to run a little bit faster."
(HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE HAS BILL INGLE MADE AS YOUR CREW CHIEF FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS?) "Bill has a different approach to the teamwork and using all the assets and a different approach with the way the cars are built from the ground up and I'm really excited about working with Bill. He's got a super philosophy and he's a great role model for all of us. He's got everybody steered in the right direction."
BRIAN VICKERS, NO. 25 GMAC CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - Qualified 6th: "The fans are very outspoken here and the track is very unique and a lot of fun. The GMAC Chevy crew did a great job. I think I did the best job I could. It's an awesome place. I can understand why the fans love it so much."
(HOW IMPORTANT IS PATIENCE HERE IN RUNNING 500 MILES?) "It's very important. It's a long race and it's hard on equipment. We have to shift. It's a long track in general. Patience is very important. If you get wound up or lose your cool or something, it's very easy to miss a shift and blow a motor and then you're out of the race. So you have to be very patient and take your time. But it can be done."
(IS THERE ANY ADVANTAGE TO STARTING UP FRONT AT POCONO?) "Yes. It's a big fast race track that's going to have an aero push - I don't care what you do. But you've just got to work around it as best as you can. A good qualifying spot would be great to pick a good spot on pit road. It's real important." More to follow
JOE NEMECHEK, NO. 01 U.S. ARMY CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - Qualified 2nd: "I ran a 51.1 off the track and then we put stickers on it at the end of practice in the sun and we ran a 51.5. Those were very good laps and I had to get everything I could. I got into Turn 1 just a little bit too hard and all of a sudden it got loose in the middle and then it got tight and then it was all messed up. But the tunnel turn and Turn 3 I did just perfect and that's all I had. We'll take it. We're close. I think we qualified third when we were here six weeks ago.
"This U.S. Army team has been awesome. They are giving me top-notch equipment every week and we're right on the verge. If we have that little bit of luck, we'll be in good shape." More to follow
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE'S CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - Qualified 14th: "It's really weird. I've been watching on television. For a lot of guys, the first lap is the one. I don't know. We didn't roll in our tires like we have been in the past and I think that may have hurt me a little bit. I was really slow coming to the green and I knew that lap wasn't going to be that good. Turn 1 was kind of exciting too, to say the least. I made it around and put in a good second lap. Hopefully we'll make it into the top 10 and hopefully have a similar performance like we did before in this Chevrolet Monte Carlo."
TONY STEWART, NO. 2O HOME DEPOT CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - Qualified 8th: (IS THE TRACK NARROWER BECAUSE OF THE SAFER BARRIERS?) "It's just a little bit narrower on the exit of the tunnel. That's the only place that you really notice it. To be honest, we really appreciate all the tracks that are doing it. It wasn't totally completed when we were here six weeks ago. They just had the soft walls in Turn 1. But now they've added them to Turn 2 and Turn 3 has been a big effort by all the folks here at Pocono and we appreciate it." (ON HIS QUALIFYING EFFORT) "The first step in winning this race this weekend is to just have a solid run and have a good starting spot. Obviously pit selection is a big deal today so that's probably the most important part of the day is just pit selection."
DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 8 BUDWEISER CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - Qualified 16th: "Getting in this car is probably one of the few things that I can do. And we've been keeping them (his burns) clean and doing everything we can - trying to keep them from getting them infected. The doctor has been great. We're just waiting to heal up and be done with it."
(YOU RAN 60 LAPS LAST WEEK. ARE YOU READY TO GO THE DISTANCE THIS WEEK?) "I want to and I think I can. It was a lot easier to turn the car over (to Martin Truex Jr. at Loudon) because the car wasn't running good. I figured Martin would do a good job and he did with what he had. This weekend I've got John Andretti ready go get in the car. I've got a lot of confidence in John. If I feel like I need to turn it over, I will. I want to go all the way because I ain't had much fun sitting on the couch."
JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - Qualified 13th: "We just gave it everything we had with the weather and the draw on our side. I thought the car felt the best it had all day long. I felt like we had a heck of a lap going. I got into the Tunnel Turn and turned a little bit early and you don't want to do that there. I got a big push up off and pretty much killed the lap from then on. We've got a good race car and I hate it that we didn't qualify better than that but hopefully we can drive to the front on Sunday."
BRIAN VICKERS, NO. 25 GMAC CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - Qualified 6th / TOP ROOKIE: The GMAC Chevy team did a great job. We had a good qualifying and a good practice. Everything went well. I enjoy the race track. It's a lot of fun coming up here. The track is very unique and that's probably one of the biggest things I enjoy about it. It's very different. Every turn is different. Where we got beat in qualifying was just the time we qualified. We got everything we could out of the car. The track was still slick. It was still hot. It was still above 100 degrees when we went out. It's dropped dramatically since then and it's really hurt us a lot. But that's part of it. There's nothing we can do about that. I think we had a car capable of the pole. But we just needed a little luck to go along with it."
(WITH A SHORT PRACTICE, WHAT DID YOU CONCENTRATE ON DURING THAT TIME?) "We were just trying to make the car comfortable. We had a good qualifying package left over from last time. We just made a couple of adjustments and just tried to get the car as comfortable through the corners as possible. We focused on a couple of things that got us last time. We got those fixed, actually. I thought we were even better than last time. But you can see, it's just that the time of day got us."
JOE NEMECHEK, NO 01 U.S. ARMY CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - QUALIFIED 2ND - POST-QUALIFYING PRESS CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS:
"Our U.S. Army Chevy unloaded. The first lap off the truck was very fast. It seemed like the tires fell off every run we made but we didn't seem to fall off as much as everybody else. We put stickers back on when the sun was out and ran almost the identical time. I was hoping we were going to get a cloud out there during qualifying, but we didn't. The sun was out all the way around the race track. To run a 52.43 is pretty good with the sun being out. With Casey (Mears) going out late, I think a little luck of the draw played into that. But that's how qualifying goes. Next week, we're all going to be begging to get that early draw to go out on a cool race track in Indy. Here, if you can get a cloud you're going to pick up speed. My team did a great job giving me a good car. It was the same car we had here for the first race and led for the first eight or nine laps and had transmission failure in the first race. Hopefully we've got all that worked stuff out."
(WHAT LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE DO YOU HAVE AT THIS TRACK?) "I sat on the pole here in '97 and I've been close here quite a few times. It's a tough race track. You have to shift. Most of us are shifting on the front straightaway and on the Long Pont straightaway. There are up shifts and downshifts - four shifts per lap - plus getting through three different types of corners. It's kind of a compromise on how your car has to be set up to get around here. But I've been fortunate enough to know and have a pretty good memory of what you need to do to go fast here. I think we're going to have a great run on Sunday."
(WITH THE FOG, WAS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY OF THE TRACK BETWEEN PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING?) "It seemed like the first time we went out on the race track I ran my fastest lap. The majority of the guys ran their fastest lap the first lap on the race track. The asphalt temperature was cool from the cloud cover and from being overcast. We had pretty heavy mist from those clouds that were rolling through and that kept it cool. When the sun came out, it seemed like it made it a little slicker.
"We're very fortunate we have Hendrick engines in our cars and the motors are running awesome. They tuned them up a little bit and we picked up a little speed. I've got to thank those guys in the motor shop for working hard. My guys have been working very hard to improve the race cars. With every improvement they make, the cars go faster. You see how we race. My effort on the race track just reflects how hard these guys work.
(HISTORY SAYS IF YOU START IN THE TOP FIVE YOU HAVE A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE OF WINNING. WHY IS THAT?) "I'm not sure. Somebody asked me the question of whether it matters where you start. Yes and no. It's nice to start in the front, but with a 2.5-mile race track, you can start in the back. If you have a pretty good car that drives good, you're most likely not going to get lapped. But the way the racing has been lately, it's getting harder and harder to pass. Whether it's aerodynamics or whatever it is, it's getting harder to pass. Qualifying is playing more of an effort.
"You don't have those two-tire stops anymore to have all that tire strategy involved. So when you stop, you take four tires from now on. You just go. When you're up in the front and have clean air on your car, you have a better day."
(HOW DO YOU GET RID OF THIS CLEAN AIR, DIRTY AIR THING?) "I don't know. I don't know what the answer is. Last week, Kurt Busch was fortunate to win there at Loudon. He had a very good race car. I know the one point in the Busch race when our car was just kind of struggling, we got two tires and got out in front and man, I was four-tenths quicker than I had been all day by just keeping air on the front of the cars. We do some crazy things to our cars to make them go fast. All the teams are doing it because speeds are up. The compromise to that is that they don't drive quite as good. This is more of a handling race track. If you can make your car handle and make it drive right, you're going to fast. It's more important than having the aero part of it - especially in the race."
