CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
101ST RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY MEDIA DAY QUOTES
MAY 25, 2017
Selected quotes from Sage Karam:
SAGE KARAM, NO. 24 DREYER & REINBOLD RACING MECUM AUCTIONS CHEVROLET:
TALK ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BRING AN INDY 500 VICTORY HOME TO NAZARETH (PA). “I’d like to come back and bring it back home to have a parade in downtown Nazareth. It’s a place that has always had racing in its heart. I’ve played out everything in my mind as far as what it would be like to win this race and just the little things you think of late at night. I felt really good Monday. There were times where I could pass three cars a lap. I don’t see it being an issue getting to the front. We just have to stay smart when we get up there. I want to be there with 20 or 30 laps to go and cruise around in the top-five. If we’re there, I think we’ll have the opportunity to pounce when we need to and fight for a win.”
HOW MUCH DOES THE EXPERIENCE FACTOR COME INTO PLAY HERE? “I’m not a veteran here but it is my fourth time coming to this race. It’s still crazy to think. People keep saying I’m the youngest kid. There is still a lot to learn, and I’ve gone through a lot of troubles here at the speedway and I’ve learned things the hard way. That’s why I’m so confident coming in here to this race. I feel like I’ve gone through a majority of the hard times I can go through. There are only so many hard times before the good times come. I know I have to get through Turn One and pick the battles and when I need to fight them. Now that I’m racing sports cars, I’ve learned patience and feel really calm behind the wheel this year.
“Being the young guy has its pros and cons. If you do well then everyone thinks you’re the next great thing. If you do something bad, they think you’re a bust. But that’s part of it. I like coming to the track as the young guy. I just don’t know when it’s going to be that I’m not the youngest! But I like being able to represent the younger generation coming through racing. A lot of times, we don’t get the the opportunity to showcase our talent. So whenever I get the chance like here at the Indy 500, I need to maximize that opportunity. I’m coming in there with the hope of finishing the race and that it’s going to be up front.”