The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource

Chevrolet Qualifying Quotes

Darlington, SC

JEFF GORDON -24- DuPont Automotive Finishes Monte Carlo - Qualified 2nd

"I was holding my breath the whole time, That was quite a lap. I've got to thank all the guys in the engine department, They built a really great qualifying motor. Ray Evernham and the guys were working awful hard today, too. We came together as a team, I knew when we came across the line that it was a great lap. It didn't quite hold up for the pole, but at least we gave them something to shoot for. Ward Burton got in a really great lap."

"We're close enough to the front to see what happens on the first lap. We're going faster and faster here. The track isn't getting any narrower, but when you're going that fast, it sure looks narrower. Going that fast is thrilling, to say the least"

"Qualifying is always tough, and it was really close here today, That's the best we'd run. We changed a couple of things before qualifying, and all the guys did a great job. We got in a good lap, and everything worked real well, We'll take this qualifying lap and get ready to practice tomorrow and hope for a good race on Sunday,"

"I really love this place. We were hoping we could get the pole, but there's a lot of races left. We might still get a spot in the Busch Clash. We weren't even close today, but I never expected those two laps out of Gordon and Ward Burton. We're still off a little bit, but we're going to get a pole one of these days."

That's not what we ran in practice. I got down too deep into turn one and the shadows down there caused me to miss my line a bit. That's qualifying. Everybody had the same shadows to deal with. I've won here a few times, so that doesn't really discourage me about the race. I about wrecked in turn two. I just got real loose. It was my fault. That killed any kind of lap we might have had.

It is disappointing for qualifying. I haven't won here here pitting on the backstretch before, but it really doesn't matter where you pit, I made same mistakes and overdrove the car in one and two. Qualifying is so close these days, you can't afford to make mistakes. I'll have a good view of the backstretch on Sunday."

"We'd run a good bit quicker than that in practice. I just drove a little too hard, I was trying to go for it and just overdrove it. We felt like we had a good shot at the pole, The car was really quick right off the trailer. Our lap wasn't that bad, but it was a little disappointing. The main thing is the car is good, and now we'll get ready for the race."

"We haven't run good since we've been here. It's a new car, and we've got to get the kinks worked out. I thought we could have run faster, but we'll just have to get to working on it.

I'm going to drive for Jeff Purvis tomorrow in the Busch race, He's going to start the car and go to the first caution or as long as he can go. He's banged up a little bit after Nashville last week. He was our Kodak teammate last year, and we're still Chevrolet teammates, so I'm glad to help him out. I hope he never has to return the favor, but if I ever need some help, I'm sure he'd lend a hand."

"We'd practiced faster on used tires, I might have overdriven the car a little bit into turn one and got to wiggling. It's windy, but I don't think that upset the car."