Cruz Pedregon Qualifying Wrap Up

NHRA 2005 NOTES & QUOTES

Sixth Annual NHRA Nationals
The Strip At Las Vegas Motor Speedway- Las Vegas, Nevada
Advance Auto Parts Nitro Funny Car - Pedregon Racing
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series

Cruz Pedregon Grabs Ninth in Las Vegas
Pedregon To Face Off Against Jeff Arend in Round One

Las Vegas, Nev. (April 16, 2005) - After one more day of warm temperatures
at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, driver Cruz Pedregon rounded up
Saturday qualifying by grabbing the No. ninth spot.

Pedregon, driver of the Advance Auto Parts Monte Carlo Nitro Funny Car, held
on to Friday's 4.907-second elapsed time at 303.16 mph.

"We struggled a little bit today, but we're in the field and we have a solid
car for tomorrow," said Pedregon. "Wes Cerny (crew chief) reviewed the data
and discovered that the motor was a little too powerful. I think the engine
was too aggressive for this track, the motor had more power than
anticipated. We overcompensated from Friday night when the car was
underpowered, we ran in the 4.90's and we were looking to run in the 4.70's.

"We did some work in the supercharger, the blower and some other things. It
really brought the car alive, but the track and warm temperatures did not
allow us to run quite as fast as the car was capable of," added Pedregon.

Pedregon is confident of his team ability to reach the right balance between
the car and the track for Sunday's eliminations.

"We're in the ninth position and I'd rather be closer to the top, but last
weekend (in Houston), we recovered from the 13th spot and made it all the
way to final. We have a good car for tomorrow, I just need to do my job and
the car will be ready as well," concluded Pedregon.

Cruz Pedregon will face Jeff Arend, No.8 qualifier, during tomorrow's first
round of eliminations.