NASCAR WCUP: Driver notes and quotes, Tallagega qualifying
14 October 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
BOBBY LABONTE, NO. 18 INTERSTATE BATTERIES PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:
"Yeah it was pretty good. We ran a little quicker in practice but it's hard to get a clean run out there. We're just looking forward to the race. That was a good lap for us and maybe it will get us in the top 10 or 12. And we'll see what happens. Just looking forward to keeping it on all four wheels."
(ON LOOKING FORWARD TO THE END OF THIS WEEKEND) "We just hope we are there at the end of the day. We didn't perform very well at the last race here and would like to improve on our 21st finish."
JOHN ANDRETTI< NO. 43 CHERRIOS/STP PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:
(ON PICKING UP FROM PRACTICE)"Well, a little bit. We ran the bottom both laps and a lot of guys are running the top and then going down to the bottom. We really didn't see anything in doing that so you might as well try and get to decent laps in. We'll just see where that goes. That will be good enough for the top 25 we think and get ready to race."
(ON HOW HE THINKS HIS PONTIAC WILL HANDLE ON RACE DAY) "I don't think anyone knows how anything is going to handle. We'll find out tomorrow morning and then of course we have happy hour. After tomorrow we'll know better what's going to happen on race day."
WARD BURTON, NO. 22 CATERPILLAR PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:
"That was so-so at best. The car hasn't been real great all year. But hopefully we can get the job done during the race on Sunday."
KEN SCHRADER, NO. 36 M&M'S PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:
"It's basically all we can do. We ran a little faster in practice but we got a little help. We thought we could do a little better but we'll now just have to wait and see..
RICK MAST, NO. 14 CONSECO PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:
"That's obviously not we wanted but it was the quickest lap we've run. We've been out twice today. We had a little trouble getting through inspection and were late getting on the track and didn't really get to do anything to the race car. We didn't get to test. We're just behind on restrictor plate tracks. We'll just get this thing in race trim and go out and do the best we can on Sunday."
JOHNNY BENSON, NO. 10 AARON'S PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:
(WHY PRACTICE WAS BETTER) "Well, it was. It's just real tough to get around here and not have any help. We thought we could actually run a little better but we didn't. Don't know why we didn't but we didn't."
KYLE PETTY, NO. 44 HOT WHEELS PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:
(ON HIS LAP) "Really good. We had some electrical problems in practice and these guys worked really hard to change just about all the wiring on it. I mean I know you hear that all the time at Talledega, because it seems to crop up at places like this. They changed everything they could and that was the fastest it's run. We didn't get but a couple of laps during practice so that was a good lap."
(ON THE REST OF THE WEEKEND) "I'm out of here. I'm catching a plane in about 30 or 40 minutes. I'm going to a horse show with my little girl. She's up in Columbus, Ohio so that's where I'm heading. I'm going to be watching him on TV and cheering him (Steve Grissom) on."
TONY STEWART, NO. 20 HOME DEPOT PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:
(ON HIS LAP) "We thought we'd gain a little more than that. We think it just got a little hot on the black top. The water temperature was pretty high off of turn two. We're pretty happy with that lap. That will give us a good starting spot. Now we will just have to wait and see how it does in traffic tomorrow during practice.'
(ON RESTRICTOR PLATE RACING) "Restrictor plate racing has always been boring to me. I think it's going to be better though. I think it will be a better race for the fans on Sunday and I think it will give us some throttle response to where we can go out there and put on a good show for everyone. I think it's going to make it a lot more fun for us as drivers and put on a better show for the crowd."
Text provided by Al Larsen
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