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AGR QUALIFYING NOTES - SURFER'S PARADISE - October 26, 2008


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Danica Patrick, #7 Motorola Dallara/Honda/Firestone "I was really hoping to get a strong qualifying run for the Motorola car today, but as soon as we went out the rain came and I spun out on the first lap. I was hoping that I would be able to come in and get rain tires and get back out, but my car stalled so we lost quite a bit of time. Long story short, I was unable to get a full lap completed so I'm starting 23rd. I'm disappointed that this happened, but tomorrow is a long race and hopefully luck will be on our side."

Tony Kanaan, #11 Team 7-Eleven Dallara/Honda/Firestone "The Team 7-Eleven car should have been in the Firestone Fast Six but the league said I crossed the finish line and took the checkered flag, so my last lap didn't count. It is completely unfair because I was right behind Dario (Franchitti) and they gave him the lap so I don't know what to say. We'll take eighth but we're not happy about it."

Marco Andretti, #26 Blockbuster Dallara/Honda/Firestone "I'm sure I'm speaking for a lot of drivers but I wish we would have gone to a new set of wets before our last lap because maybe then we could have advanced to the second round. I can't really complain, though, because I'm not sure we would have been a whole lot better in the dry. We have been working on the Blockbuster car and this is a tough course, especially for the newcomers."

Hideki Mutoh, #27 Formula Dream Dallara/Honda/Firestone "Given the fact that this is my first time here and the wet conditions, I think we did an okay job. The Formula Dream team did a good job on the qualifying setup, but I couldn't find the right line to get in. But tomorrow is a new day and hopefully we will do better and the weather cooperates."