CHEVROLET IN THE NTT INDYCAR SERIES
103RD RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, INDIANAPOLIS
INDIANAPOLIS 500 MEDIA DAY
SELECTED QUOTES FROM DRIVERS
MAY 23, 2019
DRYER AND REINBOLD RACING CHEVROLET DRIVERS PARTICIPATED IN INDY 500 MEDIA DAY. SELECTED QUOTES FROM EACH DRIVER:
JR Hildebrand, No. 48 DRR Salesforce Chevrolet, met with members of the media at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to discuss the May 26 race and other topics. Selected quotes:
WILL CARB DAY, WHICH MIGHT HAVE THE SIMILAR WEATHER CONDITIONS OF SUNDAY, PART AN IMPORTANT PART IN YOUR PREPARATION?
“For sure. It’s called Carb Day, which seems kind of outdated just from the perspective that it’s carburation day, and in a weird day we’re coming at it with the same general rationale, which is we want to be able to drive the cars in as close to race day weather conditions to tune the aero on the car. So it’s kind of turned from tuning an engine to tuning the aerodynamics. Assuming that tomorrow is similar to race day conditions, I think we’ll learn a lot about what will be the most significant challenges on race day for passing and running in traffic. Hopefully, we can adapt quickly enough during the day to make the car better and be a little more prepared heading into Sunday.”
DOES THE EXTRA 30 MINUTES ON CARB DAY HELP?
“I think so. You want to be able to jam in some pit stop practice and stuff, which ends up feeling really hectic in that one-hour session. That usually winds up being low on the totem pole. So this will enable everybody bonus time. We’ll be able to use it to our advantage.”
THE ROOKIES HAVE TO KNOW THEY HAVE TO PUT ALL THE EMOTIONS ASIDE ONCE YOU’RE BUCKLED IN. WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU AS A ROOKIE, WHEN YOU FINISHED SECOND?
“The first year for me was a little different because we weren’t stressed about making the race first of all. I didn’t have much expectation for what was going to happen. Running for Panther in the National Guard car I finished second multiple times. In some way, coming in as a rookie, I think I feel like I do now, which is we’re here to try to win this thing. We went in clearly focused ono getting me to understand what the car is going to be like to be able to have some options during the race to go off-strategy, to do some things that you might not normally ask a rookie to do. That panned out well. Having had that happen, it’s left me with that same pattern going into the race.”
WHERE YOU’RE STARTING, THAT’S CERTAINLY A POSSIBILITY.
“I’ve had experiences where you’ve qualified really well and you just don’t have it race day and you know after a couple of stints that you’re going to be dependent on something weird happening to either stay at the front or cycle up to the front to make sure you’re in contention for the win. It’s one thing to be able to maintain your position in fifth or sixth. It’s a completely different thing to be able to run second and stay in that battle for the lead. There have been years where we’ve had strategy work against us, but with a car you think can win an you’re trying to mow through as many cars late in the race. We’ve had a lot of good runs here and that gives me a lot of confidence.”
Sage Karam, No. 24 DRR WIX Filters Chevrolet, met with members of the media at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to discuss the May 26 race and other topics. Selected quotes:
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR CHANCES ON RACE DAY?
“We’ve never really qualified all that well so I usually start mid-20 and I’ve started 31st before — my first year with the same team – and we finished ninth so that day I think I could have won it. Honestly, we were really quick, ran it up to seventh and then got stuck in the pits under a yellow and went all the way back to the 20s and came back up to ninth. It’s definitely possible. I’ve seen a lot of good guys come from the back and have chances of winning. This race, anything can happen. It’s a long, long race.”
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO?
“I just have to keep my nose clean, be smart, save some fuel. That’s the one thing of starting in the back is it gives you more options with fuel and stuff. I have a really good pit crew and a good pit stall – an open end every single time – so there’s no reason I should lose spots on pit lane. That’s just one less thing to worry about. I just have to do my job and I’ll be OK.”
WHAT EXPERIENCES HAVE GIVEN YOU THE CONFIDENCE THIS YEAR?
“Just the fast that we usually start in the mid- to high-20s and I’ve started on the last row before so I kind of know what the car feels like behind a bunch of cars. So, it’s nothing new. There are quite a few guys in front of us that have never done this race before so it’s a big learning process this race. You’re getting challenged every single lap. I feel like I come back every year just knowing a bit more about it. After Monday, testing in race trim, I was really comfortable and confident with hos the car was that day. I’m feeling good about it.”
HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THAT TURBULENCE IS LIKE?
“It’s almost like having all the grip in the world to basically having none. If you were a go-karter, it would be like you were out there on slicks and all of a sudden it starts raining in a corner and you lose that grip. It just feels like the whole car gets light. It’s like the tires are gliding on the track surface, but you can’t overreact because you’ll lose the front end. If you do that when the air does come back, the car will get loose. You have to stay calm and go with it. That’s one benefit I’ve had doing the races from starting in the back is deal with that in a positive way.”