Castroneves Paces Final Practice Before Indianapolis 500

INDIANAPOLIS, May 22, 2009: Helio Castroneves paced the final practice before the Indianapolis 500 and Wade Cunningham became the first two-time winner of the Firestone Freedom 100 Firestone Indy Lights event Friday on the final day of on-track activity before Sunday's Indianapolis 500.

The 33 starters in the field for the "500" combined for 1,224 incident-free laps on the 2.5-mile oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Castroneves, a two-time winner who will start from the pole, recorded the best lap at 40.1929 seconds, 223.920 mph.

Will Power was second fastest at 223.560 mph, Mario Moraes was third at 222.951, Dan Wheldon was fourth at 222.386 and Ryan Briscoe was fifth at 222.374.

Cunningham won the 40-lap Firestone Freedom 100 by .1046 of a second over J.R. Hildebrand in the closest finish in event history. Cunningham, who started from the pole, Hildebrand and Sebastian Saavedra swapped the lead nine times.

Hildebrand led laps 17-38 before Cunningham made a pass entering Turn 3 of the white flag lap.

Cunningham also won the event in 2006.

Also on Friday, Castroneves and Team Penske won the Indianapolis 500 Pit Stop Challenge for the third consecutive time. Castroneves edged Marco Andretti 7.962 seconds to 9.456 seconds in the final.

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INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY CENTENNIAL ERA FACT OF THE DAY: On May 22, 1909, track co-founder Carl Fisher becomes the first person to leave the grounds in a balloon, one day after driving the first "official" lap in a passenger car. Postponed until later in the day because of strong winds, Fisher and Capt. George Bumbaugh make the ascent in Bumbaugh's Kathleen, named for his young daughter. They make three landings during the late afternoon, putting down west of the track in the village of Bridgeport, then some five miles to the south of Bridgeport, and finally at Valley Mills. Fisher is still going through the process of "qualifying" for his Aero Club of America pilot's license with Bumbaugh as his instructor. Fisher needs to successfully complete a total of 10 ascensions in order to be eligible for the rapidly-approaching June 5 championships.

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Indianapolis Motor Speedway Executive Vice President, Communications Fred Nation announced in the Media Center today the creation of a scholarship in the name of retiring Associated Press auto racing writer Mike Harris. The scholarship will be available to college students attending the Indiana University School of Journalism's new National Sports Journalism Center, location of the Associated Press Sports Editors headquarters, and the winner of the annual scholarship will also have the option to serve as an intern with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or Indy Racing League.

Indy Racing League Vice President, Public Relations John Griffin and IMS Director, Public Relations Ron Green also presented Harris with a helmet signed by all 33 starting drivers for the 2009 Indianapolis 500.

Contributions to the Mike Harris Scholarship can be made to:

Indiana University Foundation

Mike Harris Scholarship c/o Fred Nation Indianapolis Motor Speedway 4790 W. 16th St. Indianapolis, IN 46222

MIKE HARRIS: "The scholarship is certainly one of the greatest things that's ever happened to me, I think that's wonderful. I like the idea of giving back to journalism in some way and I think I'll probably do a little contributing myself to that one. Thanks, everybody, for all the things that have been going on recently. It's kind of embarrassing to have this many people saying nice things about me."

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Facts about the bands participating in the IPL 500 Festival Parade on Saturday, May 23 in downtown Indianapolis:

•7 - number of states from which bands are coming

•16 - number of marching bands

•25 - number of support vehicles used to carry equipment

•45 - number of volunteer band committee members (including attorneys, a doctor and a superior court judge)

•69 - number of buses carrying the marching band students, directors and chaperones

•1,025 - number of students attending the Band Party Luau at the Children's Museum on Saturday night, May 23

•2,526 - number of marching band students

•$3,192,864 - Economic impact generated by the marching bands visiting Indianapolis

•13,640,400 - Number of steps these marching bands will take on the parade route

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Anna Chatten, from Peoria, Ill., will operate the jack on Race Day for the No. 23 CITGO Dreyer & Reinbold Racing entry driven by Milka Duno. She is one of the few women ever to work in an "over the wall" role during Race Day at the Indianapolis 500. Chatten's daily role with the team is a gearbox specialist.

The first woman believed to work over the wall was Anita Millican, who held the vent hose for driver Larry Dickson in the 1981 and 1982 Indianapolis 500 Mile Races.

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She never went over the wall as part of a pit crew, but Eloisa Garza was the "point person" on one of the biggest changes ever in the building of Indy cars.

Garza was hired by Jim Hall when the veteran Indy car owner wanted to bring the building of his machines in-house. Today, she owns EG Composites, an Indianapolis firm that employs eight people to do carbon fiber and composite work on all kinds of projects.

Garza resided in Midland, Texas, at the time, where Hall had his shop.

"I didn't know anything about a race car because there's not a lot of racing down there," she said. "When I saw his car, it was a real eye opener. I was very young. I told him I'd never worked on a race car before, and he said fine; he'd never hired a woman before."

Garza stayed with the Hall team until Hall retired, then joined VDS, which took a year-old Penske chassis and won the Michigan 500.

"A lot of the teams were talking to me, and I moved here in '85," Garza said. "It has gone so many directions. We've worked with so many teams from skid-plate materials to sports cars, dragsters, drag bikes ... we made some pieces for NASA … we did a bobsled, it must've been '88, for the U.S. bobsledding team, both two-man and four-man."

For a long time, a crash at the Speedway meant a trip to Eloisa's place for a race car.

"We don't do very much of the repairs any more because the teams are doing more of it themselves," she said.

Unlike others, she was in the pits but never over the wall. "I worked in the pits. I held the fuel line," she said. "It's exciting. I love it. But that part of my life is complete. But as far as being around it, I love it. Once you're involved, you pretty much stay involved.

"We do some restoration work, too, and we had Mario Andretti's Formula One car. I was underneath it and saw all those beautiful tunnels, and it brought back a lot of memories.

"I'm proud of Anita (Millican) and Anna (Chatten), and proud that young women are becoming a part of our sport."

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She didn't actually work a pit stop, but Kay (Mrs. George) Bignotti played a key role in Janet Guthrie's role in the history of the Speedway: Kay Bignotti fired Guthrie's car on the starting grid in 1977 when Guthrie became the first female driver to start the Indianapolis 500.

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ESPN will use 59 cameras to televise the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday on ABC fully in high definition, including a 360-degree rotating onboard camera mounted behind the driver on multiple cars. Unique views will be provided by Track Cam, a high definition camera running on a cable over pit road and the frontstretch that can move at more than 80 mph.

All 33 cars will carry GPS boxes for the Sportvision RaceFX system to provide telemetry and pointers to help identify the cars for viewers. And ESPN will use a radio replay system that can record, playback and edit radios from any of the 33 drivers.

The one-hour pre-race show will include interviews with many of the 33 starting drivers as well as four special features, including a look at the roller-coaster year of polesitter Helio Castroneves; the special relationship between Danica Patrick and her father; the "Super Team" of Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti; and the Allure of Indy - why drivers will risk everything just to be able to compete in the Indy 500.

ESPN International's networks and syndication of Indy 500 will reach 213 countries and territories and more than 292 million households. In addition, U.S. troops serving overseas and on Navy vessels around the world will watch via a broadcast agreement between ESPN and the American Forces Network.

ABC Indianapolis 500 anchor Marty Reid and analysts Scott Goodyear and Eddie Cheever Jr. met with the media Thursday in the Economaki Press Conference Room.

SCOTT GOODYEAR: "Indianapolis is a little bit like Wimbledon or something of that nature, maybe like the Daytona 500, where the viewer is sort of a fan but not really understanding the terminology of what is going on. When something happens on the track, either visually or something said over the air, it's our job to be there and help to explain so that they know what is happening."

EDDIE CHEEVER JR.: "It's very difficult when you're watching a race to give the exact technical reason why something is happening. I think among all of us in the booth there is enough respect for this place, enough reverence for what happens here, that we are able to add hopefully a little bit of salt or spice to it."

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ABC Indianapolis 500 anchor Marty Reid paid tribute to 1978 Indianapolis 500 co-Rookie of the Year Larry Rice, who died Wednesday at age 63. Rice was the color analyst along with anchor Gary Lee for many years during ESPN International's telecast of the Indianapolis 500. Reid also worked with Rice on telecasts of off-road racing and ESPN's popular "Thunder" series of short-track racing.

MARTY REID: "We lost a friend of ours at ESPN, and a friend of the Speedway Wednesday. We would be remiss in not remembering Larry Rice, the 1978 co-rookie of the year. In my days of working with him in off-road racing, the great 'Thunder' days of sprint car racing. What a gentleman, what a class act. He was a great part of the ESPN family."

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Chip Ganassi, whose Target Chip Ganassi car Scott Dixon drove to victory in the 2008 Indianapolis 500 met with the media at the legendary Yard of Bricks Friday morning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The last two Indianapolis 500 winners and series champions, Dixon in 2008 and Dario Franchitti in 2007, will drive for Ganassi in this year's race. It's the first time in history that the last two season champs and "500" winners are paired on the same team.

CHIP GANASSI: "Hell, yes, I want to keep it going. I'm coming back here with two co-defending champions (Franchitti missed defending his 2007 title when he drove in NASCAR in 2008). I'm looking forward to Sunday. The great thing about it is that it is an unselfish, sort of open-book thing between the two of them. I would say they work as well together as any two we've ever had. They're both as cool as cucumbers about the whole thing. That's a lot different from me right now." (About rivals): "There are a lot of threats out there; a lot of time passes between qualifying and the race. You never know who has stumbled onto something and who is a dark horse. All this business about 'It's Penske and Ganassi,' can be a very rude awakening. If you're not prepared, it can be a tough day."

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Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing driver Graham Rahal announced today he will form a personal foundation to help benefit The Hole in the Wall Camps. The Hole in the Wall Camps was formed by the late actor/race team owner Paul Newman. The organization is world's largest group of camps to help raise money for children with serious medical problems and needs.

Rahal will raise money through his organization, The Graham Rahal Foundation, to benefit Newman's life-long project. Rahal became close to Newman in Newman's late years.

The organization will be a (501)(c)(3). It will accept donations from both corporate foundations and individuals.

For more information or to donate, visit www.grahamrahal.com or www.holeinthewallcamps.org.

GRAHAM RAHAL: "To kind of kick things off, we're going to try and put some events together. One of those will probably be a golf tournament of some sort. Hopefully we can get one here next year to try and cut down track time and get a little bit more time for golf." (On the building of building more camps): "The Hole in Wall Camp is in the process of building a camp, adding on to the 10 they already have. They're building one outside of Columbus, Ohio, which is close to home for me. Obviously, I'd really like to help in that process over the next year or so. That's one of my main goals here, try to continue to keep working hard here and raise as much money as we can." (On why he felt he needed to start the foundation): "Being that Paul was such a huge part of my career, I kind of felt that, when he passed away at the end of last year, the Hole in the Wall Camps wasn't represented properly in open-car racing, or racing as a whole. This is my personal way of turning that around." (On how he and his family have become close to Newman and the camps): "Initially, I think me coming to Newman/Haas really started with Paul. Obviously, I drove for Mike in Atlanta. One moment I remember in particular was when I won in Montreal. Before the car even stopped in victory lane, he was leaning over the car. That was only five races into that championship. That was when the wheels started turning for him at that point. That's how everything really kicked off. Not only a part of my life, my Dad drove for him in 1980. He was very close to Mom. My mom is heavily involved with the Hole in the Wall Camps, in particular 'Flying Horse Farms.'" It's right outside of Columbus. She's been doing a lot raising money for that camp already."

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The IMS Radio Network will broadcast the Indianapolis 500 to more than 350 affiliates, along with Sirius XM, American Forces Radio Network, shortwave radio worldwide and www.indycar.com and www.indy500.com.

The IMS Radio Network Race Day lineup:

Mike King, anchor; Johnny Parsons, driver analyst; Donald Davidson, historian; Paul Page, analyst; Dave Wilson, stats & garage/medical center; Jerry Baker, Turn 1; Jake Query, Turn 2; Mark Jaynes, Turn 3; Chris Denari, Turn 4; Kevin Lee, Kevin Olson and Dave Argabright, pits.

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FIRESTONE INDY LIGHTS POST-RACE NOTES:

· Wade Cunningham is the first two-time winner of the Firestone Freedom 100. He also won the event from the pole in 2006.

· This is Cunningham's sixth career victory and his first since Watkins Glen 1 in 2007.

· Cunningham made his fifth start in the Firestone Freedom 100, most of any driver.

· This is the third Firestone Freedom 100 victory for Sam Schmidt Motorsports. The team also won in 2004 with Thiago Medeiros and 2005 with Jaime Camara.

· The margin of victory of .1046 of a second is the closest in Firestone Freedom 100 history. The previous closest was .1319 of a second in 2005 when Jaime Camara defeated Wade Cunningham. It is the 21st-closest margin of victory in series history.

· There were nine lead changes, most in race history. The previous high was seven in 2005.

· Cunningham is the fourth different race winner in five Firestone Indy Lights races this season.

· J.R. Hildebrand finished second, his best finish of the season. His previous best was third at St. Petersburg 2 and Long Beach.

· Mario Romancini finished third for the second consecutive race (Kansas).

· Jay Howard finished a season-best fourth. He has finished fourth and second (2006) in two starts in the Firestone Freedom 100.

· Sebastian Saavedra finished fifth, his third top-five of the season.

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FIRESTONE INDY LIGHTS POST-RACE QUOTES: WADE CUNNINGHAM (No. 11 Lucas Oil/Sam Schmidt Motorsports, first): "The whole race was to and fro. I got to the front early and knew I couldn't lead all 40 laps, so I fell back because I didn't want to be leading at the end. I knew I had a fast car, and it was a matter of being at the right place at the right time." (More Cunningham quotes in transcript)

J.R. HILDEBRAND (No. 26 ARPRO, second): "I really didn't want to be leading the race toward the end, but there were enough fast cars there in the front that I tried to keep it up there for as long as I could. Wade (Cunningham) got a good run, and I thought if nothing else, I could just work with him, maybe get by him there at the end. I just picked up too much understeer when I was back in traffic. I set the car so I would be quick up front, but once I got behind guys, I just couldn't adjust it fast enough. Great job by Wade. I'm really happy for the boys. We got back on track. I think we're looking good in the points right now." (More Hildebrand quotes in transcript)

MARIO ROMANCINI (No. 5 Revita/Win Brazil/Allied, third): ""I'm speechless. I don't know what to say. The team did a phenomenal job. We did not do well in qualifying yesterday. I started 18th. But today I was able to pass the guys. The car felt really good. I felt really comfortable in traffic. I am very happy to be on the podium here, and now I'm just thinking about the next race. The car was really good. This is just my second oval race. My first was in Kansas, so I'm still learning every lap. With this team, there is nothing to say - they really help me." (More Romancini quotes in transcript)

JAY HOWARD (No. 37 Palm Beach International Raceway, fourth): "It was actually a really fun race. It was crazy. Every time we went into (Turn) 1, it was side-by-side, and two people side-by-side don't go through Turn 1 very well. There were a few white-wall incidents out there. But overall, it was really good. Considering we decided yesterday morning at the last minute that I should come and race, I think it's a really good result for Palm Beach (International Raceway) and everyone involved." (On the track conditions): "It's kind of strange. It started off pretty good. Then it felt to me like it got more slick as the race went on. We have our adjustments we can make in our car, and I made some adjustments. But it didn't really make any difference. I haven't personally looked at the tires to see if that was a factor. For me, everything was good, and that's about the best we could have expected this weekend."

SEBASTIAN SAAVEDRA (No. 27 Automatic Fires Sprinklers, Inc., fifth): "In the beginning, we had a great car. I was very happy with it. AFS (team) did great work. I was waiting for the last moment. When they say three laps to go, I got three-wide in corner 1. I touched the wall with one lap to go. I had pretty heavy damage to my front right (wheel). After that, I just wanted to bring it home for the points. It's a (season) championship. I was just focused on getting the points. I had the car and the equipment. Hopefully it's our race the next time."

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INDYCAR SERIES POST-PRACTICE QUOTES:

HELIO CASTRONEVES (No. 3 Team Penske, fastest): (On being the fastest car in the final practice session): "It felt really good. It felt awesome. I'm very confident and comfortable in the car. It was nice to have that right before the race. The weather on Race Day is going to be very similar to what it was today. It was important for us to run today. I feel very confident. I can't wait for Sunday, I'll tell you that. It's going to be a long race and a lot of things can happen, but I can't wait for Sunday."

WILL POWER (No. 12 Team Verizon Wireless, second): "I came here last year with no experience, and the team did, as well. We were learning on the job. This year I was a bit more composed because I knew what to expect. If I come here again next year, we would do things differently again. It's just a process where you learn and you experience from everything going on around you. This has been a more comfortable month for me this year, for sure."

DAN WHELDON (No. 4 National Guard Panther Racing, fourth): "We have a few things that we can fix. We're certainly in a better spot from where we were. My car felt nice. I hope we have similar conditions (Race Day). This is the closest field in Indianapolis 500 history ever. I expect it to be close. I expect there to be some surprises, too. The weather conditions will change up some stuff. I'm not the easiest character to be around when it's difficult because I love this place and to perform well here."

RYAN BRISCOE (No. 6 Team Penske, fifth): "The Team Penske car felt good out there this morning. Everything feels like it did in the T car when we left it last week. I think we're in good shape. I'm excited about Sunday, and we're ready to go racing."

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Two-time Indianapolis 500 starter Willy T. Ribbs, the first African-American to compete in the race, attended Carb Day activities.

WILLY T. RIBBS: (About owning a race team for the 2011 Indianapolis 500): "It's in the talking stage right now. There's a lot of chin music in this business. It is definitely being talked about. In 2010, it would be too soon. But in 2011 it could be done real well. It would be perfect because the 75th anniversary was when I was here. So, to come back as a team owner in the 100th -- mind blower. Indy is really my second home. The energy here is incredible. When I was here in '91, it was a tough month, but you could just feel the energy. The energy kept me going. And this is the biggest race on the planet. It was then - it is now - and it will always be the biggest race auto race in the world."

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Van Heusen Corporation announced today that its IZOD brand will be the primary sponsor of Vision Racing's #21 car for the Indianapolis 500 and the May 31 race at The Milwaukee Mile. The IZOD car, driven by IZOD spokesperson and 2008 Indy 500 Chase Rookie of the Year Ryan Hunter-Reay, made its debut today during Miller Lite Carb Day.

In July 2008, the IZOD brand became the official apparel of the IndyCar Series, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Firestone Indy Lights. As the official apparel sponsor, the IZOD team designed custom uniforms for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indy Racing League, inspired by the uniquely American heritage of IndyCar racing and designed to address the performance needs on and off the track.

In celebration of the Centennial Era of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indy 500, PVH launched its IZOD collection of vintage, race-inspired and modern performance clothing commemorating the anniversary. In addition, with access to 100 years of Speedway and Indy 500 artwork, the IZOD team designed distressed, vintage look-and-feel short sleeve polo shirts and tees.

MIKE KELLY (Executive vice president of marketing, PVH): "We are thrilled to be expanding our role with Ryan and the IndyCar Series. Partnering with Vision Racing as the primary sponsor for the #21 car was a natural evolution in our ongoing involvement with IndyCar racing. We're excited to see the IZOD brand being driven on the most historic track in auto racing this weekend at the Indy 500."

RYAN HUNTER-REAY: "I couldn't be more excited to have IZOD as the primary sponsor of my car for the Indy 500 and Milwaukee Mile. Having my personal sponsor take a more prominent role in my team just reinforces the successful partnership we have together. I'm proud to be driving the #21 IZOD car for Vision Racing."

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Drag racing legend and current NHRA car owner Don "The Snake" Prudhomme watched Miller Lite Carb Day practice from the Team Penske pits today. Prudhomme, a four-time NHRA Funny Car champion as a driver and two-time champion as a team owner, has been coming to Indy for years and enjoys getting out to watch "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Visiting the track with Prudhomme was his current Top Fuel driver, Spencer Massey.

DON "THE SNAKE" PRUDHOMME: "Well, I've been coming out here for several years. We have our race shop right over in Brownsburg, so it's a nice weekend to be out at the track. I know Chip (Ganassi), (Roger) Penske, Mario (Andretti), A.J. (Foyt) and all the guys back in the day." (Is it fun for you to get away from what you do for a little while and enjoy another form of racing?): "Yeah, I think so. I enjoy Formula One, NASCAR and IndyCar. But IndyCars have always kind of been my favorite, you know. Of all the open-wheel stuff. I like IndyCars a whole lot. Spencer (Massey) and I will come out here for Race Day. I just want to say, too, how impressed I am with the safety of the cars these days. When I first started coming out here, (the cars) were aluminum tubs, and there wasn't much to them. A lot of injuries. In today's world with the composite cars and the safety walls, it's really great." (On his feelings walking into The Speedway): "It's unbelieveable. It's a shame that a lot of people missed this during the '50s and '60s with everything that took place out here: A.J. Foyt, Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones; it was amazing times."

SPENCER MASSEY: (On comparing an IndyCar to a Top Fuel dragster): "I guess I'd go 50-50 on it. Of course, it's a little different with IndyCars because the drivers sit out front. But you could say the same about a dragster. Either way, racing is racing. I enjoy all forms of motorsports, and that's why I'm here. I love anything with wheels on it. Just being here with 'Snake' and getting to meet the Penske's guys and Ganassi and all them guys; I couldn't ask for a better weekend."

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INDIANAPOLIS 500 PIT STOP CHALLENGE NOTES:

· The winner of the Indianapolis 500 Pit Stop Challenge has gone on to win the Indianapolis 500 five times: Bobby Unser, Penske Racing (1981); Danny Sullivan, Penske Racing (1985); Jacques Villeneuve, Team Green (1995); Helio Castroneves, Team Penske (2002), Buddy Rice, Rahal Letterman Racing (2004).

· This is Team Penske's 11th win in the Indianapolis 500 Pit Stop Challenge. It is the winningest team in the history of the contest. It has won the last four contests (Hornish 2005) and Castroneves (2006, 2007). This is Helio Castroneves' fourth win overall and his third consecutive win. He also won in 2002, when he went on to win the Indianapolis 500.

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INDIANAPOLIS 500 PIT STOP CHALLENGE QUOTES:

TIM CINDRIC (Race strategist, #3 Castroneves): "It's a huge pride program for these guys. They're racing against all of their peers to continue the streak here for Team Penske. It was pretty disappointing last year to not be able to do it because of the weather. So they've been looking forward to this for two years. My hat's off to these guys. They do a great job. It gives everybody here confidence, and it gives Helio (Castroneves) the confidence that he's got the best guys behind him. Rick; if you look at his track record and the dedication that they (the crew) put into this, it's not an accident that they win it. It's a lot of hard work. I know that every time these guys go and do it, it's just like the first time. They're just as nervous as everybody else. They do a great job. It's not an accident that they win. With regard to Roger (Penske), without a doubt, there's not a competition out there he doesn't want to win. We're just glad to deliver for him." (After what Helio went through, have you noticed any difference in him?): "Before all of that went down, if you'd asked me if I ever met a more positive guy I'd tell you, 'No.' Now, I'd tell you, 'Yes,' because we've met a more positive guy than the guy we knew before."

RICK RINAMAN (Chief mechanic, #3 Castroneves): (On the nervousness that goes on despite years of experience): "This is probably the most gut-wrenching thing that I do every year. You go up against guys that are doing the same thing we are. Like Tim said, it's about execution. It's a credit to the guys behind me. They work hard. I can't say enough about Helio and the job he's done for us - and Roger (Penske), too. This is for Roger. This is what we do. Helio; the guy does so much for us, and we were able to give him something back. We still have another big event to go here. We want to perform, and this is a stepping stone."

HELIO CASTRONEVES: "They deserve it. I have to say I'm just there. This one for them is so special. For us as a driver, we're nervous. We're more nervous than anybody because you don't want to screw it up. If you screw it up, you're going to hear (about it) until next year. But again, they're incredible. They've been working (during the) off season, and every year it's like that. Some of those guys have been here 10 years. They know my style, they know what I like and they know what I don't like. The good news is that we're a team. We lose together, and we win together. The good news is we celebrate together. This one is very, very special for me. The month is falling into place. Everything is falling into place. I'm so thankful to have these guys because I know when I go back and sleep I can trust these guys here, and that's big for a driver." (About having the final charges dropped): "It feels awesome, there's no question. I just want to thank the team for always believing - for always being behind me all the time. As I said, this month is getting better and better. I'm just so thankful that I had a fair trial and the outcome was the way it was, and that's the last page of my book."

JEFF GRAHN (Chief mechanic, #26 M. Andretti): "The Venom guys did really well. If you're going to be in the Pit Stop contest, you want to win it. The team that won was definitely the best team out there today. I'm pretty happy with our guys. If we can do that all day Sunday, I think we'll be looking good."