NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES CHEVROLET NOTES & QUOTES-UAW-GM QUALITY 500
LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY
October 16 2004
BRIAN VICKERS, NO. 25 GMAC CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - "It probably looked a lot worse than it was. I hate is for GMAC and all the guys. We had a decent car. We were pretty tight in the beginning and the No. 31 (Robby Gordon) and I were racing. We kind of spread apart and he was at the top and I was at the bottom between (Turns) 3 and 4 and coming off the corner we came together and made a little bit of contact and the car went sideways. I probably just should have spun it out. If I had to do it all over again I'd go to the grass. I ended up trying to save it. I should have just spun it out if I had to do it all over again. I guess hindsight is 20/20. We had a great car. I thought we were going to be good tonight.
KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 29 GM GOODWRENCH CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - "Something just let go at the end of the straightaway. We had no indication. We had just gotten ourselves in position to get our lap back there and Todd (Berrier, crew chief) had made some good adjustments on the car and we were getting back running. But we've been struggling with our motors all year and it blew up. It's just par for the course, I guess."
(ARE YOU STILL HOPING TO GET INTO 11TH PLACE IN THE POINTS?) "We can't even get our stuff together to run a whole race. So we'll be lucky to finish 15th."
CHAD KNAUS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 LOWE'S CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO: "Last night I was reading notes from 2002. I'm really proud of Jimmie. He's just incredible here. These guys did a great job. We had great pit stops. It was a great day."
JOE NEMECHEK, NO. 01 U.S. ARMY CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO: "This was Ryan Pemberton's day here. He made a good call and we got two tires there and track position. We were stuck back there in about 10th or 12th spot and we couldn't go. He called two tires. I said, 'Man, I don't know about that.' But the call was pretty good. I was a little bit too tight in the middle to hold off Kurt Busch there. He raced me hard. He raced me clean. I gave him room and we came home 5th. We'll take that. It's been two really good weeks."
JEFF BURTON, NO. 30 AOL CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - 9th: "It was a good finish for us. We were real good at times. A couple of times when we had a couple of runs there where we really lost track position because we weren't as good as we had been. It was kind of inconsistent. We're learning every week. We get smarter. That'll pay off later on."
JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - 2nd - PRESS CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS: "It was really an up and down day. We started off the race and that wreck happened in Turn 1. We seemed to get the worst of it. All the points guys were right there around us. We seemed to get the worst of it. That was disappointing to fall that far behind to fix some damage. We took off really good and then got completely loose and sideways. I couldn't drive it. We needed a caution really bad. I didn't realize we were going to be the caution. But I just couldn't hang onto it anymore. The car came around on me there coming off Turn 4 and I just tried to hang on to it. I hated that Rusty got caught up in it. But we were able to make some big adjustments and the car really came to life. We drove from a long ways back. This team deserves so much credit. All year long this is the kind of fight and effort that they've put out. That's why we've been in this position for the championship. We just never give up on it. I just love the fact that they believe in me and I believe in them. There were so many moments today when we could have crumbled. But we stayed calm and came back.
"What an amazing finish. I was just happy to be in top ten at one time. The last pit stop the guys made was phenomenal. And then I thought we might have a shot at winning it. Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson to finish one-two for Hendrick Motorsports."
(WERE YOU FOCUSED ON THE POINTS SITUATION AS YOU BATTLED BACK?) "Oh, yeah. We want to make up points. But today, it was looking like today that we were going to lose so many and that could be the difference of taking us out of the championship. Now we're still in the thick of things. We gained a few points, but didn't gain as many as we would have liked to. But we did finish ahead of those guys and I think we made a statement. We did what we came in here to do, but we didn't know we were going to have to work that hard for it."
(DOES YOUR EXPERIENCE HELP YOU TO OVERCOME EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED TONIGHT?) "I guess so. A lot of the members of this team were here when we won the championship in 2001. The chemistry on top of the experience we have allows us to be a very good team and make comebacks. We would love to win this thing, but it's hard to pick anybody who is a favorite right now. I know the past experience plays a role, but when you look at the way the championship is this year, I just think it's putting the best car and team out there week in and week out."
(ON GOOD MOMENTUM GOING TO MARTINSVILLE) "That's what we really accomplished here today. My guys had the biggest smiles on their faces today. They couldn't have been happier. This was a confidence booster. We have been down the last few weeks. We haven't performed or we haven't had things going our way. We needed a top five and to get up there and battle like that. The way we did it today was even better for us. To take that momentum into Martinsville is great. I wish they hadn't repaved Martinsville so early because I think we had a big edge on the competition with the old conditions. The new conditions are closing the competition up on us a little bit. And I'm hoping we can still have the kind of performance we've had there in the past. But this will really give us a shot in the arm going there next weekend."
(DO YOU THINK THE TEAM HAS REACHED ITS POTENTIAL?) "That was the greatest comeback in second place finish I've ever experienced. I think they exceeded their potential tonight. At the same time, it was disappointing to start the race out the way we did. We can't afford to allow that to happen. I'm a part of that too. We've got to qualify better. We have some things to do, but this will hopefully give us what we needed morale-wise. When you look at the intensity level and pressure on everybody, this was an important race for us."
(ONLY THREE DRIVERS ARE WITHIN 100 POINTS OF EACH OTHER. HAS THIS BOILED DOWN TO A THREE-MAN RACE?) "It depends on whether any of us have trouble. Right now, I'm 74 point off and I feel like I'm a long way out. Busch and Junior are strong every week. They're out front leading laps and battling for wins. It only takes one slip or one mistake or accident. I'm not thinking about that a lot. I'm just trying to focus on what we need to do and try to finish ahead of these guys like we did tonight."
DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 8 BUDWEISER CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - PRESS CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS:
(KURT BUSCH AND JEFF GORDON BOTH HAD TROUBLE. ARE YOU WONDERING WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR YOU TO GAIN ANY GROUND?) " Well, I've just got to keep finishing ahead of them. That's one thing. Aside from that, that's all you can do. Kurt's got his A-game. We've got our A-game going on right now. We've just got to keep having the same kind of weekend. Every race I just focus on a top 10 finish. It's hard but I try not to think about where they are on the race track. You just try to get what you can get. There were a couple of times tonight when you've just got to try to pull the reigns when I got to racing too hard. There's a point when you don't want to make any mistakes. We had a pretty good car. I had second place car to the No. 9 car most of the night. We got to try some things. I wouldn't let them free the car up enough. I kept telling them it was a little tight but not to get me too loose. But we had a good car when it counted there at the end. We had a great pit stop there with 20 to go. I'm happy with tonight. This is the type of track we've struggled on and have been going backwards here. We've kind of improved."
(ON KASEY KANE'S RUN) "He was much faster than anybody. I would assume that if he hadn't had his problem, he would have gone to victory lane pretty easily. When he was out of the race, everybody was back into it. I knew I had a second place car. When he falls out, it opens it up for everybody. We hadn't had the car as good at that point and it was earlier. We were working back toward that point. I had a pretty good car right there at the end, but I needed a bit more."
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE'S CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO:
(ON KASEY KAHNE'S PROBLEMS) "I feel for that team. Those guys have been the class of the field at many races. When they figure out how to make it to the end, they're going to be awfully tough. They've been strong at many of the race tracks. The hard times are tough to deal with. It's easier when you're up front and leading to a point. I've been lucky not to experience a lot of that. Usually when I'm running bad I end up crashing. He's had bad luck in that respect. It's had an impressive run as a rookie."
(ON HIS RESPECT FOR RICK HENDRICK AND THE POWERHOUSE ORGANIZATION HE'S BUILT OVER THE YEARS) "I'm so lucky to be able to drive for Rick. There are a lot of people who have watched Rick and have dreamed about driving for him. To be able to be here and be a part of it is really special. There isn't anyplace else I'd rather be. I can't tell you how blessed I feel to be a part of the team. It's a family atmosphere. But it's a very serious business. Facing Rick after poor performances is sometimes an easy thing because he's an understanding man, but he wants to win so bad and has such desire that it's also difficult. His dedication to the sport is unmatched by any team."
(ON HIS CHAMPIONSHIP HOPES WITH 5 RACES TO GO) "We still have hopes but it's out of our control. It's going to require the No. 8 and the No. 97 to have some bad luck. Right now, with a lot of the drivers having one bad race, maybe a top five is a realistic goal that we can control as a team by our performances on the race track. We need to finish as high as we can in points and do the best we can. If these guys bobble up front, then we have a chance. But with two bad races like we've had, I don't think it's in our control."
CHAD KNAUS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 LOWE'S CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO: (HAS IT BEEN HARD TO KEEP THE TEAM FOCUSED?) "No, not at all. These guys are very focused and determined. It's not been an issue to keep them motivated. But yeah, we've had some problems and crashed and blown engines, but we know week in and week out we run competitively."
RICK HENDRICK, OWNER, HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS: (ON A ONE-TWO FINISH AND ON THE NO. 48 SWEEPING AT LOWES MOTOR SPEEDWAY THIS YEAR) "It was a heck of a night for the No. 24 car with all the adversity and all that went on. To see that car come back is the kind of championship effort by them. We felt like Jimmie was our best shot in final practice last night. Jimmie just gets around this place. We were just fortunate tonight. I felt like this was the night. He has a knack for figuring this place out. And so does Chad and that's why they've been consistent every time they come here."
RICK HENDRICK: (ON THE ROLE THAT LUCK PLAYS IN A 36-RACE SEASON) "Well, I like the old program. I know it's interesting in the last 10. But it's almost like a throwaway lap to get into the top 10. I personally believe there ought to be a 200- point spread between first and 10th going into the 10-race deal. It's just hard. It's not like basketball or baseball. A lot of things can happen. It's awful tough when you've been there all year long. It's the format and we accept it and that's the way we've got to race. But I do believe there could be some adjustments for winning and the guy who goes into the 10-race stretch with the most points ought to have at least 200 over the other guy."
(ON CHEVROLET WINNING THE MANUFACTURERS' CHAMPIONSHIP)
RICK HENDRICK: "Chevrolet came down and presented me with a car that had the 20th anniversary on the hood. We had all our cars painted silver this weekend. Being a Chevrolet dealer and racing Chevrolets all the way, GM in Detroit puts an awful lot of emphasis on winning that deal. To clinch it tonight with us doing it is really special for me."
JIMMIE JOHNSON: "I have to agree. It's been a very special ride for me with Chevrolet. When I was 16 years old, they took a chance with me and put me in their off-road program and have really guided my career and helped me meet the right people and bring me though the ranks. They helped me meet the right people and bring me though the ranks. They helped me get involved with Herzog Motorsports and they brought my name to Rick's attention. They've really helped me out in so many ways it's hard to explain. Last year I think I won their 400th win and that was very special for me with the history I've had with Chevrolet. And then to be able tonight to win the race and clinch the Manufacturers' Cup for them this year is just really cool for me. I remember being the young guy under the umbrella and watching all these marks be taken by guys like Jeff Gordon and numerous other top-notch guys and it's pretty cool to know I'm in that company now."
(CAN YOU HANDICAP THE FIELD OVER THE FINAL 5 RACES)"In the short format, I think all 10 drivers stand a chance. That's what is so dangerous about the perspective I take on the championship with a 10-race shootout. All the teams are capable of putting together 10 races. That's a short program for what we're used to doing. Now that it's looking like a three-man race, I stack the odds in Jeff's hands. The man has so much experience and knows how to win championships. He's had that pressure on him. He's got four of those trophies already. If you look at what he did tonight and what the team did, they were able to rally back from two incidents and finish second. Those guys know how to do it and if I was in Vegas, I'd put some money on them."
