Dodge post-practice Brickyard Quotes

Friday, Aug. 6, 2004
Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
11th annual Brickyard 400.   
 

CASEY MEARS (No. 41 Target Dodge) - Second fastest in practice

"We took the same exact setup we had at Pocono and used a little bit
different car. This is the Dodge we've got all our top 10s with and
usually run real good with. At Pocono we qualified well (pole), but we
didn't race real good. This Dodge has been real good in the races, so we
thought we'd bring it back to Indy and put the Pocono qualifying setup
in it. The car is awesome. I gave up a little bit in one and two, but I
felt like I got through three and four probably the best I could. I
think we'll have a good shot at it tomorrow.

 

"Two poles in a row would be unbelievable. It was cool to get my pole
last week at Pocono. To get a pole here at Indy would be indescribable.
I don't feel like it a lot of times, but just being around here and
talking to everybody and knowing how much impact my family has had here,
it would be really special to do well. My grandfather and dad and
brother were here today. My uncle couldn't make it out, and my mom
stayed at home, but the majority of the family is here.

 

"We go out 24th tomorrow. The earlier the better because it's cooler,
but it's middle of the road. It's not going to affect it as much as it
has in the past if it stays cool like it was today. Jason Leffler
qualified good, and he's always qualified well in the Busch Series. He
ran in the top 10 all day in practice, and if you do that, you've got a
shot to put it up to the top. I was hoping nobody would beat me, but it
didn't surprise me that Jason beat me."

 

STERLING MARLIN (No. 40 Coors Light Dodge) - Third fastest in practice

"We left here after testing, and I think we were the second fastest. We
brought back a different car, and I think it's pretty hooked up. It
drives good, and it's got a good grip to it. The boys did a hell of a
job on the motor. The motor really runs good. It drives good and it runs
good.

 

"We're going out 45th tomorrow, so that's not good. They need to look at
that. That's ridiculous. They need to start at 1 o'clock or something
where it's fair for everybody. The track could slow down seven or eight
tenths from the first to 45th guy out. You tell me who changed the
schedule? I think the one we've used all year as been working pretty
good. We could have run today from 2-4 and qualified at 5. It might not
be real hot, so it might not be a big deal tomorrow. We'll just have to
wait and see."