Tony Pedregon Takes Home Seventh in Gainesville

NHRA 2005 NOTES & QUOTES

36th Annual Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals
Gainesville Raceway ­ Gainesville, Florida
ŒQ¹ Racing Nitro Funny Car - Pedregon Racing
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
 
Tony Pedregon Grabs Seventh-Qualifying Position
ŒQ¹ Racing Monte Carlo in Top Half of the Field for the Third-Straight Race

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 19, 2005) ­ Gainesville Raceway showed its sunny
side today with warmer air and track temperatures. Tony Pedregon, driver of
the ŒQ¹ Racing Monte Carlo Nitro Funny Car, took advantage of the conditions
securing the eighth slot for Sunday¹s Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals.

Pedregon, who won this race in 2002, fueled his car down the track
clicking-off a 4.834-second elapsed time at 313.91 mph. Tomorrow¹s goal for
the ŒQ¹ Racing team is to stay focused and consistent.

³We had a good first run today,² said Pedregon. ³A little bit on the
conservative side, but we were able to adapt to the different conditions
from yesterday¹s sub-50 temperatures. I think we had the third-quickest run
of the third session, and that made us even more aggressive going into the
last-qualifying round.

³At this point, we know that the car is ready for tomorrow and all we need
is a few adjustments,² added Pedregon. ³This year, the team has more depth
and experience and that we¹ll make a big difference in my second year around
as team owner.²

Pedregon will take on Bob Gilbertson in the opening round.