AGR QUOTES - POST-HOMESTEAD

Danica Patrick, #7 Motorola Dallara/Honda/Firestone "I am glad that we got the first race behind us. It was not the result that I was looking for, but I keep getting reminded that it was my best finish there. I am looking forward to the race this weekend in St. Pete. In the past I have struggled with road courses, but last year I really improved and gained confidence on these particular circuits."

Tony Kanaan, #11 Team 7-Eleven Dallara/Honda/Firestone "Everyone on the 7-Eleven team thinks this will be our year at St. Petersburg. We've been in the hunt at all three Honda Grand Prix events and have always been able to finish on the podium. I think our performance at Homestead shows that we'll be a contender in the championship and hopefully we'll be able to get past our bad luck at St. Petersburg."

Marco Andretti, #26 NYSE Dallara/Honda/Firestone "This is exactly where we hoped to be coming into the Honda Grand Prix. We would have liked to have won at Homestead, but this is the best start to a season we've ever had and that's important. I like the circuit at St. Petersburg. Obviously I've had some success there in the past and the pressure is going to be high to finish well. We expect to win races in the Gillette car and I think we have a great shot this weekend."

Hideki Mutoh, #27 Formula Dream Dallara/Honda/Firestone

"First of all, I want to refresh my mind by working out at the beach and enjoying the sun before I prepare for the race weekend. I am not happy about my result at the Homestead race but I don't want to drag the negative feelings to the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. I have raced on this street course last year in the Firestone IndyLightstm Series and it is one of my favorite courses. The road course here is very exciting! We did some road course tests during the off season and they went well, so I am looking forward to the race this weekend."

Bryan Herta, #26 XM Satellite Radio Acura

"St. Pete has become a race I really look forward to each year. I personally really love the street races, and the venue at St. Pete proved to be great for sports cars last year in the first Acura Sports Car Challenge. Obviously with my team also promoting the race, Acura as the title sponsor, and XM being a major sponsor of the event, I am a little extra busy on the PR side but the atmosphere and excitement of the race are second to none."

Christian Fittipaldi, #26 XM Satellite Radio Acura

"The only experience I have of the St. Petersburg race course is from watching. Bryan (Herta) and I have definitely spoken about the race and the track, though. We have our track walk on Thursday evening so Bryan is going to try and help and that will definitely accelerate my process of learning the track. A race track is a race track and I've been doing this for 25 years so it isn't going to be any different than normal.

"I think, with all the data the team has, and with Bryan helping me, it's going to be relatively simple to pick up. I've always liked street courses but I'm especially excited because Bryan keeps telling me that the XM Acura is very, very good on street courses. It was good in St. Pete last year and Long Beach, as well, so I think we have two races ahead of us that look very promising. We were very quick in Sebring but I think we can be in a stronger position on the street courses than we were in Sebring."

Raphael Matos, #26 AGR/AFS Dallara/Firestone "I obviously have some great memories of St. Petersburg. I love the track and am really looking forward to the race weekend. At the double-header weekends, it is really important that you get two quality finishes. I'm extremely confident that the AFS Racing/Andretti Green Racing car will be at front all weekend."

Arie Luyendyk Jr., #26 AGR/AFS Dallara/Firestone "I think the Andretti Green Racing/AFS Racing team is really looking forward to St. Pete. We got off to a great start at Homestead. Stu (Kenworthy), my engineer, was able to get me a good car and it showed in the result. With two races at St. Pete, it's going to be very important for us to stay out of trouble and get two quality finishes."