NASCAR WCUP: Jarrett Gives Taurus First Daytona 500 Victory
20 February 2000
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Dale Jarrett's win in Sunday's Daytona 500 was the first for Taurus since
it was introduced to NASCAR Winston Cup racing in 1998. In addition, it
represented Ford's 499th all-time win in the series meaning it needs only
one more to become the first manufacturer with 500 victories in NASCAR's
top division.
In taking the checkered flag, Jarrett, who now has 23 career NASCAR Winston Cup wins and three Daytona 500 triumphs, became the first Ford driver to win the Daytona 500 since he won the event in 1996.
VICTORY LANE INTERVIEW
DALE JARRETT --88-- Quality Care Service/Ford Credit Taurus -- "If Todd Parrott puts it out there I have confidence in it and I knew when he told me yesterday afternoon that we could fix this car and that the suspension was OK, they would work on that, we would get the fabricators here to do the job. He knew how good a race car we had and we wanted to race this car. Plus, it wasn't fair to NASCAR to say, 'Look, is that wreck bad enough to bring out a backup.' We didn't want to put them in a bad position, but this is just fantastic. I tell you what, that's the money car. We hate to lose that. It won a million dollars at Talladega in '98, won another million here, it won a million dollars for Melissa Brown from Pittsburgh, we're excited. Man, this is fantastic."
WHAT ABOUT THE START OF THE RACE? "I didn't know what to expect. Did we get the front end back right, was it gonna stick, especially with my teammate on the outside I wasn't sure I wanted to find out with him out there. I wanted to make sure the car was gonna turn, so I held back a minute. But, then, once we got into it I knew the car was just as good as it had been...got out front and led. Mark was strong. Bill Elliott's car was strong. Johnny Benson did a great job. That was a great call on his part. If it hadn't been for this Robert and Doug Yates horsepower I don't know what I would have done there because I kept trying to get a run on him and he was doing a great job. Jeff Burton gave me the push that I needed. As I said on TV a minute ago, the one thing I regret is that Mark came over asked whenever he was in second behind the 10 if he went high I would go with him. We tried it for a lap. The next lap Mark tried it again and the 99 dove down below me, so then I just dove down to protect the position and when I did it gave me a real push and I went by Mark. I wasn't trying to set him up or anything and I hate that. I know he'll never believe that, but we were just racing to try to hold onto spots. He did a great job all day and this crew is just incredible. They did a great job in the pits and the man right here is just the very best (Todd Parrott)."
TALK ABOUT THE PASS FOR THE WIN? YOU WENT TWO DIFFERENT WAYS. "Yeah, I wasn't sure. I knew Johnny was gonna try to block me wherever I went. I knew that he knew it was critical time, especially with the horsepower that I have. I wasn't able to lay back on the start, I was gonna get a run, but Jeff Burton was laying back and Johnny kind of came back. We got a good start. The car really came up to speed really well and Johnny made just enough of a move when I faked to the outside that it let me get down to the inside. I just came down off the banking and I had a big head of steam and then the 99 came and helped me get by there. That worked to our advantage right there, and, again, just a great, great race car. I'm just the fortunate one to be sitting in the seat."
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES HERE. "We definitely improved it. Last year I think we were 37th or 38th with a torn up race car last year. This year we lose our car but for a good reason because it's gonna be in Daytona USA for all the fans to come and see for the next year."
Text provided by Ford
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