Steve Park Posts Best Career Finish At Michigan; Sixth-Place Finish
14 June 1999
Steve Park Posts Best Career Finish At Michigan; Sixth-Place Finish Comes On Heels of Two Pennzoil Wins On Saturday When Steve Park fired the engine on the #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo at Michigan Speedway on Sunday he knew he was under pressure carrying the yellow and black of Pennzoil on his car. . A day before, Jimmie Johnson carried Pennzoil's colors into Victory Lane in Memphis at the American Speed Association race to earn the youngster's first career victory. Hours later Pennzoil Panther driver Scott Goodyear earned his second victory of the 1999 season as he drove the Pennzoil car to an Indy Racing League win on the high-banks of Texas Motor Speedway. Park watched both races on television and knew he would have the most difficult duty of all hoping to score his first career victory in the ultra-competitive NASCAR Winston Cup Series. "It would kind of be neat for a Pennzoil three-peat this weekend," Park said Sunday morning before strapping in for the 400-mile race on the two-mile, capital-D-shaped oval. He didn't quite make it to Victory Lane. But, the East Northport, N.Y. driver came as close as he ever has with a sixth place finish and a lot closer than many drivers have in their careers. "This is the reward for a lot of hard work by our fab shop, engine shop, and all the mechanics," Park said celebrating the finish. "I think we are turning things around. The addition of Paul Andrews and the improvement we have made in this team is unbelievable." The weekend began on a bright note as the second year driver earned the tenth starting position on the 43-car grid. High hopes after a race-leading Charlotte run two weeks earlier had carried through to the Michigan race. "I'm not real sure how we are going to be in the race," Park said after Saturday's practice session. "It seems like a lot of cars are struggling. We will just have to wait and see. I hope we can be as good as we were in Charlotte, but that is a lot to ask for." When the green flag dropped it seemed rain would arrive shortly as the lead was swapped among Jeff Gordon, Bill Elliott, Mark Martin and Ernie Irvan. While Park never led; he was only seconds behind the lead group pulling away from the cars behind him. Park, like most of the cars and the high-speed track, struggled with the back of the car wanting to swap with the front end. The loose condition was cured on the first stop at lap 50 as Park occupied eighth place. "Just keep doing what you are doing and we will work with the car all afternoon," advised crew chief Paul Andrews. Andrews and engineer Dave Charpentier designed a strategy that called for Park to pit every 50 laps making the 200-lap race on three stops. But with the dark clouds hovering overhead and 43 cars racing each other all over the track the likelihood of a yellow flag for weather or an accident seemed likely. But, it never materialized. As the sun broke through the clouds on occasion and the cars spread out all over the track the race flagman never had to touch the yellow flag. For the first time since Talladega in May 1996, a NASCAR Winston Cup race went from start to finish without a caution as most driver's drove single file. Park held his place on the track passing a few cars and a few cars passing him. Although he was one of the quickest on the track, he couldn't match the pace of Dale Jarrett and Jeff Gordon who dominated the race. Park climbed to sixth place and was even the last car lapped by the race winner Jarrett who ended up leading more than 100 laps. For Park, the sixth-place finish was another step in the right direction. "This wasn't a victory, but there sure is a lot to celebrate and I hope we will have a chance to celebrate a victory soon," Park said. "I got tired of watching Scott and Jimmie celebrating on Saturday so I think it's my turn next time." Park and teammates get another chance this weekend in Pocono, Pa.