NASCAR Chevy Qualifying Notes - Ford 400
CHEVROLET NOTES & QUOTES NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES FORD 400 - QUALIFYING HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY NOV. 19, 2004 JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO (Qualified 5th) "I've really got to hand it to this DuPont team. That was a great lap for us. When we came here and tested, we didn't run any qualifying set-ups. This will definitely give us a good starting spot." BOBBY LABONTE, NO. 18 INTERSTATE BATTERIES CHEVROLET (Qualified 6th) "The car was pretty good. We didn't start off very good but we got better in practice and then qualifying backed up our speed. Some guys picked up. A lot of guys lost. I think as far as average goes we were better than average. The car felt pretty good on the lap that we ran." (DID THE TRACK CHANGE?) "The track lost a little bit grip from the time we qualified. Some guys got faster so it helped them out." (ON GOING INTO SUNDAY AS THE WINNER OF THIS RACE IN 2003) "I think we'll be alright. We got our work cut out for us. A lot of the guys are pretty good. We're not the best car yet that's for sure. We got to get better tomorrow in practice and then we'll see how it turns out for Sunday." (WILL YOU LEARN ANYTHING IN TODAY'S TRUCK RACE THAT YOU CAN APPLY ON SUNDAY?) "I think so. If we run good and finish good, that will give us some confidence for tomorrow and that would be a good thing." KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 29 GM GOODWRENCH CHEVROLET (Qualified 9th) "It was a good lap for the GM Goodwrench Chevrolet. The car was good through Turn One and Two on the first lap, but I got too tight in the throttle in (Turns) Three and Four. That probably lost us a top-five starting spot, but I'm still pretty happy with it. We've been strong with our qualifying set-ups recently. It's good to end the season with one like that." MIKE BLISS, NO. 0 NETZERO CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO (Qualified 12th) "This NETZERO Chevy is a good piece. I'm just having lots of fun right now." JOE NEMECHEK, NO. 01 U.S. ARMY CHEVROLET (Qualified 19th) "It wasn't that bad. I think I lost a lot of time off turn four. My first lap, one and two I thought was really good and three I got in good but then I lost the front end more than the back coming off. We definitely gave some time up there. I sure didn't think it would slow down that much. Kasey Kahne had a heck of a lap there." (HOW HARD IS IT TO FIND THE BALANCE HERE?) "I had the U.S. Army Chevy balanced good this morning. The big difference is the track sat there and cooked and track temp is way up than what is was when we practiced this morning. That kind of threw us for a loop. We didn't really practice any qualifying runs when we were down here a week ago testing. I'm looking forward to the race. I think we have a good shot of winning this race. If the car drives good we're going to be in the front." MICHAEL WALTRIP, NO. 15 NAPA CHEVROLET (Qualified 24th) "I just didn't get in the corner right. I've been loose in and when I'm loose in I guard against that, wind up getting a little too low and then make it push off. I'm afraid of my entry not being right and it hurt me on my exit. I thought I would do better than that. I was hoping to run better than we practiced yesterday. That's a good goal to have but today it didn't work for the NAPA Chevy. The boys did a good job with the car and we'll be ready for tomorrow." (HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THE TRACK HAS CHANGED?) "I think it's just lost a little bit of grip. I don't think the balance has gone anywhere. I think if you were loose you'll be looser and if you're tight you'll be tighter. It just doesn't stick as well. I just didn't put together a good lap. I had a good three and four on my second lap and a good one and two on my first (lap). It didn't click for me. I didn't get the line that I needed." SCOTT RIGGS, NO. 10 VALVOLINE CHEVROLET (Qualified 25th) "It seemed to be a little slower. It was pretty slick out there to me. We slowed down about three tenths. The car felt so good I thought we were going faster than what we did in practice. I just hope everybody else slows down." MARTIN TRUEX JR., NO. 1 ENTERPRIZE RENTAL CAR CHEVROLET (Qualified 35th) "We changed a bunch of things trying to get it better. It's just sliding around. We can't get a hold of the race track. We'll see. Hopefully we'll make the race. It's disappointing anytime you slow down. It has gotten hotter and maybe a lot of other guys will (slow down) too. We'll see." JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE'S CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO (Qualified 39th - will use provisional) "The car was really, really loose."