CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
100th RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTES – MEDIA DAY
MAY 26, 2016
SAGE KARAM, NO. 24 GAS MONKEY ENERGY, DREYER & REINBOLD KINGDOM RACING (qualified 23rd):
HOW DO YOU FEEL AFTER QUALIFYING? “I feel I’m going into the race with the best shot I’ve got. I feel really good about things and it would be great to bring another Indy 500 title to Nazareth. It hasn’t been done since ’69. It would be a pretty big deal for that little town. Everybody has been messaging me on Facebook and Twitter, pulling for me.”
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE RACE CAR AND WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT? “I think this is the best car I’ve had here and I feel really good about it going into the race. I think there were three or four guys (in practice Monday) that looked really good, and we’re one of them. I think it’s solid. I think by hallway I should be top five.”
WHAT’S IT LIKE WORKING FOR A TEAM LIKE GANASSI TO WORKING WITH THIS TEAM THAT IS A ONE-OFF? “It has its advantages and disadvantages. I think the advantage is it’s a one-car team and this is their one-race effort. Every ounce of energy and effort is put into this one event and my car. The 24 car is the only thing they have their mind on. The downside is I don’t have teammates this year. I had to build the setup all myself, which was challenging. Not racing full time we didn’t get the extra test day that the other guys got a couple of weeks prior to opening day so we were really behind. At the same time, if it pays off and we have a good race it will be so rewarding. When you’re one a little team like this there’s not a lot of pressure because I don’t think there’s a lot of expectation. When you do things good, it really opens a lot of eyes.”
WHAT KIND OF RACING DO YOU EXPECT ON SUNDAY? “The cars are so much harder to drive. We seemed to figure out something with our car on Monday where we could pass anyone we want. It’s a big challenge for the drivers. I think you’ll see tire wear more of an issue this year. I think you’ll see guys at the front fall back. There are some guys starting on the front rows who don’t look good in race trim, so that will be interesting.”