NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
SPRINT ALL-STAR
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
MAY 17, 2014
 
 
KURT BUSCH, NO. 41 HAAS AUTOMATION CHEVROLET SS met with media and discussed qualifying for the Indy 500, logistics, this evening’s All-Star race at Charlotte, and more. Full Transcript:
 
HOW WAS IT TRAVELING BACK TO CHARLOTTE FROM INDY? ALSO TALK ABOUT HOW FAST YOU WERE IN QUALIFYING FOR THE INDY 500
“It’s been an exciting day. It’s a lot of fun to qualify into the Indianapolis 500 my first outing. I was hoping for a little more, but the air in the morning there is so thick, those cars have a hard time cutting through that air. And then as the day progresses, conditions get better. And then right here, now, we got bumped out of the Fast Nine, which I thought we might be able to hang on but, hey. First time there to be 10th, 11th, 12th is right in the mix and it’s really exciting. To have had the chance to go 230 mph; and then to have a fast plane with Cessna to get back here to be ready for the All-Star race.”
 
WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING TONIGHT IN THE ALL-STAR RACE?
“I’ve got five segments tonight; four of those are 20-lap runs. Last year the No. 78 car was a bullet. It was fast. So I’m hoping to use some of that same chemistry within the car and just settle back in. I’ll need that first segment to settle into the car and to feel the four tires and to feel the stock car again and to respect it. Back and forth there’s a lot of excitement and a lot of emotion but I haven’t been in this car yet this week. I’m going up against the best of the best in this All-Star race. You can’t take this for granted.”
 
WAS TODAY AS GOOD AS YOU EXPECTED IN THIS FIRST-TIME EXPERIENCE?
“Last night, there was a Casino Night that’s mandatory for the drivers that are full time and I went. I wanted to go and feel it and experience it. There’s just a lot of Indiana hometown people that appreciate the fact that the Indianapolis 500 is in their backyard. And it’s the people that have made that race track what it is; and that race track makes that for the people. So it’s really need to feel that small hometown Indiana feel on a grand stage. The world does watch the Indy 500. So, it’s emotional. It’s fun. We qualified first run out and then was 12th and then bumped-up and got as high as third, and then we got bumped out of the Fast Nine. That’s part of the emotions of qualifying into the Indy 500.”
 
WITH ALL THE PRACTICE AND BEING ON THE TRACK ALL WEEK, HOW HAVE YOU EXPECTATIONS CHANGED? ARE YOU THINKING MORE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF WINNING?
“Each day is a lesson of just being a student and learning what I can do to advance with the car. My inexperience is what will hold us at that last little bit. Each day though, there have been nice improvements. So it’s hard to know what to expect. We’ve got another qualifying round tomorrow and then Monday is a full race trim day and then it’s a week off, it feels like, when I’ll be back to Indy to run again. So, we’ve got one more qualifying run and then a race run and we’ll see. I expect there to be more competition this year just with the rules being very close and everybody is comfortable with the package they have. I see that lead group of cars 18 deep; maybe even into the twenties. Any little mistake will come up and it will come up big, and then you’ll be buried in traffic.”
 
HAVE YOU HAD MUCH OF A CHANCE TO RUN IN TRAFFIC?
“Yeah, we focused the first four days on running with traffic. We got rained out Wednesday. It was nice though, to go back Thursday and get some race runs in. And I felt comfortable making passes on guys.”
 
IT WILL BE A NIGHT RACE TONIGHT. YOU SEEM RESTED AND CALM. ARE YOU TIRED AT ALL?
“No, just trying to keep up with my checklist. This qualifying run, I take the green on track, and coming down pit road I don’t have to slow down for pit road speed and I don’t have any reference points. I didn’t practice. That I’ve just got to clear that hurdle and get back out onto the track as quick as I can; and hopefully after a great pit stop by the guys, and see where we stack-up for the first segment. Once we do that, then that will dictate our race strategy.”
 
WHAT’S BEEN THE BIGGEST SURPRISE SO FAR IN TRYING TO DO THE DOUBLE? OR, WHAT’S BEEN THE HARDEST THING?
“The open cockpit is a whole different experience. The biggest surprise has just been the warm welcome in the open wheel paddock. The Indy Car guys have been just so supportive and giving me encouragement. It’s been really neat to see them reach out. I thought it would be more cutthroat from those guys, but we haven’t gotten into race weekend yet. I’m sure that will change.”
 
REGARDING GETTING TO CHARLOTTE IN TIME FOR QUALIFYING TODAY
“Well, the driver’s meeting is the most important part so we could keep our starting position. I thank NASCAR for allowing me to miss yesterday’s practice and still be eligible to run tonight.”
 
YOU ALSO HAD GREAT SUPPORT FROM WITHIN THE SPRINT CUP GARAGE. THAT HAS TO BEE A GOOD FEELING
“It’s neat. Dale Jr. has been tweeting about it and I heard when I did do my qualifying run to get up as high as P3, Tony Stewart said congratulations and that one hit me hard just with the Indiana feel of everything. It’s near. Everybody has been curious about it. There’s still a lot of anxious moments and the speed is probably the most fun part. I can check 230 mph off the list. It’s a hair-raising experience to put a car on edge for four laps. I had three, what I felt were moments, in the car. If I had had a fourth, I might not be here right now. I’m glad that we went as fast as we did today to make the Final Nine was really exceeding expectations.”
 
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF NEXT WEEKEND’S 600 RACE?
“Just settling into race trim next week and we’ll see. It’s a race; it’s anybody’s race and we have to position ourselves for not making mistakes and stay away from mistakes on pit road to earn the gentleman’s respect out on the track as far as the protocol. That will be the next step in the first third of the race.”
 
WHAT’S THE OPEN COCKPIT LIKE AT THOSE SPEEDS?
“Yeah, you’ve definitely got to make sure the helmet fits nice and snug and we’re not worried about the oddities of driving an open wheel car. I just said I had a death grip on the wheel and that’s just because I wasn’t relaxing. So it’s just a matter of settling in and not putting too many things ahead of the curve.”
 
THERE IS SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN THE CARS, WHEN YOU’RE GOING BACK AND FORTH, ARE YOU PUTTING ONE OUT YOUR MIND AND FOCUSING ON THE OTHER? HOW ARE YOU HANDLING THAT?
“I made sure I got a nice nap in on the plane. And to wake up and look out the window and there’s Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s a visual reference, but at the same time it’s All-Star time. Stock cars. This is what I have to do the next four hours. And then when I fly back up tonight, I’ll just zone back in tomorrow morning when I get up. It’s Indy. We’ll do a baseline run tomorrow morning to do a q-run and then hopefully have a good q-run in the afternoon to make the Indy 500 a 10th.”
 
HOW IMPORTANT ARE STARTING SPOTS?
“We have a shot at the fourth row. That’s going to be our best. That will be our goal. If we can come away with 10th, 11th, or 12th, that will be a great spot to be in. Is it ideal? No. There are guys that are better. But for me there’s going to be so much when they drop the green flag, that I might be starting fourth and have to yield ten positions just to get settled in. So, we’ll see how that goes.”
 
WAS IT A SMOOTH FLIGHT FROM INDY TO CHARLOTTE?
“Door to door, I walked out of the paddock in Indianapolis and made it here, to the back of the hauler, in an hour and 31 minutes.  We gave ourselves a two-hour cushion so if there is anythi
ng that happens, we’ll know exactly what our timeline is.”
 
DO YOU FEEL YOU ARE GAINING CROSSOVER FANS?
“They have a different feel up there with Gasoline Alley and they’re right there on top of the drivers when they go in and out and rooting the teams on. I heard the crowd after I got out of the car and the crowd was very supportive. I heard a guy heckle me. He said hey, you taxicab driver you! And I went hey, that’s awesome. I come from the stock car world and that’s my home and that’s where I’ve raced for 15 years. And it’s nice to have the support of those guys up there.”
 
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ALL-STAR RACE WILL BE LIKE TONIGHT?
“I think a fast car is going to prevail. Jeff Gordon was fast last week along with Kevin Harvick. The average of the four segments we hope that we can be in the mix and in the mix is top six. If we’re in the top six, then I think we’ve got a shot at winning it.”
 
 

TEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTES FOLLOWING FIRST QUALIFYING ATTEMPT TO LOCK INTO FIELD:
 
HELIO CASTRONEVES, No. 3 PENNZOIL ULTRA PLATINUM TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, FOLLOWING FIRST QUALIFYING ATTEMPT: “It’s good to actually hear what he is saying because it sounds like we are in kind of a similar scenario.  The car feels fantastic.  The Pennzoil car looks really good.  I was kind of surprised to be honest for the speed.  I thought we were going to pull at least a 229.9 or close to 230.  When I saw the 229.3 I was like ‘uh’ I don’t like that.  Yeah, similar to what he is saying we have got to figure out the quick.  We know we have a plan B obviously and that is what we are going to try to do and let’s see what happens. Yeah, the only thing I wish actually would be a little wind, because the track condition is absolutely perfect. With the new rules you are allowed to go without losing your time depending on the line you go in.  That is what we are going to do.  We are going to try to keep going and squeeze.  I know all the guys are going to go. I heard obviously the Ganassi and yes, you want to be the fastest out there today, but the main key is to be in the top nine.  At this point that is what we are going to focus on right now.”
ED CARPENTER, NO. 20 FUZZY’S ULTRA PREMIUM VODKA ED CARPENTER RACING CHEVROLET, FOLLOWING FIRST QUALIFYING ATTEMPT: “To be honest, I wasn’t sure we would run that quick this morning.  I am happy with that and now it is just sitting back and seeing what everyone else does.  I really don’t want to make two runs today.  I think there are a couple of little things we can do to get some more speed out of it.  But I would rather test that stuff on Sunday.  I think we have a good chance for the pole on Sunday but the field is very tight this year.  There are so many good cars and drivers out there that I don’t really know where we sit right now. It will come down on who gets it right on the day for the pole.  It really comes down to being perfect for four laps. It makes for the a long day because you have to sit around and see what everyone else can do on Saturday.  If you would have told that we were going run 230 for an average, I would have said it’s a top nine spot.  But I don’t know right now.  If we have to go back out now, I think we can get some more out of the Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevy.  I thought it would take about a 229 or 228.5 to get into the top nine before this morning’s runs.  Then a lot of guys ran 230 this morning, so I am just not sure where our 230 run stands.  I hope it remains on the top of the charts. In a perfect world, we make one run today and one run on Sunday.  We’ll just wait and see right now.”
WILL POWER, NO. 12 VERIZON TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, FOLLOWING FIRST QUALIFYING ATTEMPT:  “I felt pretty good.  I lifted on that run so obviously got more than that.  Just have to go back and have a good look at what we can do with the set-up here.  I think we have got a fast enough car, just looking at it right now to definitely be in the top nine, but maybe challenge in the top three. That is the aim for today get in the top- nine.  I think we are good. For us it’s just to get in the fast nine in the safest way possible.  I have to say it is very difficult on this new tire.  The new tire runs on low downforce, but it’s a very good race tire very durable.  So we are just kind of struggling to get a good balance right now in the car for this low downforce tire.  I lifted that means when you lift you have a moment so I’ve got to understand what is going on. It’s difficult to tell because we have been running around with such heavy downforce.  It’s a little cold and we are on the lightest downforce we have been on.  It’s low grip for me right now, it feels that way. I think if it was hotter this tire would be better.”
 
TOWNSEND BELL, NO. 6 ROBERT GRAHAM – KV RACING TECHNOLOGY CHEVROLET, FOLLOWING FIRST QUALIFYING ATTEMPT: “I think we had a great balance.  We had to make some adjustments on the first lap, but it was a very consistent run all the way across.  Probably like Tony (Kanaan) I think we’ve got a very good balanced car.  It’s essentially very close to what he raced at KV last year.  I’m appreciative for his test driver work on my behalf.  It’s good it’s just not quite getting the same speed out of it some of the other teams, but from a balance stand point we are pretty happy.  Our other teammate cars with (Sebastian) Saavedra and (Sebastien) Bourdais I think have run and the speed is comparable to what I have.  We will have to go back and study things and make a decision as to what and how much and when.”
 
TONY KANAAN, NO.10 TARGET CHIP GANASSI CHEVROLET,  FOLLOWING FIRST QUALIFYING ATTEMPT: “We thought my car was faster than Scott’s (Dixon). Obviously we are not as fast as anybody right now. The whole team has been struggling. We probably had a top-12 car going in to today, and then we were going to make it better during the day, and obviously that isn’t the case. So we are going to have to make it better today to try to make it to the fast nine.  If not, honestly I won starting 12th last year, so I don’t think it will be a problem. Last year I had the pressure of winning; this year I have the pressure to win again. You take it in a completely different approach after winning this race. I’m glad that I did it. I’m glad I got to celebrate for a full year. But now it is time to go back to work. The fans have always been great with me here and they still are. I still struggle to walk around here, which is a good problem to have. We’ll keep doing what we are doing. As long as I can keep pleasing them and putting on good races for them, they are still going to cheer for me.”
JR HILDEBRAND, NO. 21 PREFERRED FREEZER ED CARPENTER RACING CHEVROLET, FOLLOWING FIRST QUALIFYING ATTEMPT: “I think it was a pretty good run. I had to be pretty quick on the adjustments in the car to try to squeeze a little bit more speed out of it on a couple of laps, which was working well, but on that last lap I lost a little speed so we’ll just have to go back through the data and see where that was. It’s a long day here today, so we’ll see how things shake out after everyone’s had a run. we would’ve liked to have pulled a little bit more speed out of our run, but obviously Ed (Carpenter) has some speed in his car. So we’ll go back and take a look at where the differences are between the two of our runs and go from there. It’s not a lot of lap time. The cars are very close together, so maybe there’s a little bit of time lost in shifting, or not shifting, warm-up laps, and those kinds of things. With how close everyone is, you’re getting into the nitty gritty little bits of detail to determine what’s going on. For Ed and me, it’s a very transparent relationship so that makes it easier in a situation like this to really figure it out. Especially with Ed being as quick as he is, I doubt that we’ll really be in a position to bump him out. So we’ll see what things look like in a bit.”
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, NO. 2 VERIZON TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, FOLLOWING FIRST QUALIFYING ATTEMPT: “It is good to be back. I thought we could have run a 230 (mph). We made some changes and we were just sliding around a little too much in qualifying and just dragging the car down a little too much. It’s not bad. That is what we do…it is normal. We feel like we have a really fast car for the race.  As the day goes on, we will understand better where we are and how good our car is; how much speed it has; and go from there. I think we know what we need to do with the car. We are going to give it another run later. It’s hard to know because it is so close. I think we are going to somewhere between eighth and twelfth. So we are going to have to really push that issue a little more. I think qualifying is great. I th
ink what they did is really, really good. I think it is awesome the way they did it because you are going to have people running all day. I mean going at it all day. I think if you are going to do a test run, you might as well just time it.”
 
SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS:  No. 11 No. 11 HYDROXYCUT/MISTIC E-CIGS – KVSH RACING CHEVROLET, FOLLOWING FIRST QUALIFYING ATTEMPT: “We spent a lot of time to get it right for the race.  The car is definitely pretty racy.  It’s pretty comfortable in traffic and we got it better during the week. We tried quite a few things and I think we have it much better understanding of what we are looking for in race trim than we do in qualifying trim mode.  Obviously we didn’t get much practice so that is kind of a shot in the dark a bit because this morning was the first time we came with the rear wing laid back in qualifying trim.  It’s not easy, but it was a pretty solid run.  We kind of scrubbed a bit too much on lap two and four coming off of (Turn) two it was the tail wind but that was about it.  Really there wasn’t much going. I think Fast Friday with the high boost and everything was the day dedicated to qualifying running so we got seven laps in.  It’s kind of tricky, but it is what it is.  We have seen plenty of upsets coming from the back here. The great thing is now we have to do it all over again tomorrow anyways.  We are not necessarily going to stop there we are going to keep at it and make it as far forward as possible.  I just feel we can’t content for the fast nine if we don’t make it today.  10th place would be alright. It’s a couple of changes front, rear just changing a bit of cross weight and things like that.  Essentially I think it’s a little better tire.  It seems to leave a lot less vibrations from everybody’s feedback and stuff.  It seems a bit more durable as well.  The grip seems to be a bit more consistent through runs and stuff so it’s a better tire.  But it requires a little bit different set-up not dramatic just a couple of adjustments here and there.”
 
RYAN BRISCOE, NO. 8 NTT DATA CHIP GANASSI RACING CHEVROLET, FOLLOWING FIRST QUALIFYING ATTEMPT: “I was just talking to him (Scott Dixon).  As a team we have got to put our thinking caps on a little bit.  It’s definitely not a question of downforce.  We just need to find some speed somehow.  We’ve got a long day ahead of us, but we will be able to practice later, have a couple more qualifying attempts and do our best.  The car felt reasonable, we just need to find the speed.  It’s got to be there.  There are no excuses we just need to really put our thinking caps on here and see.  We haven’t had much opportunity to practice qualifying and really start searching.  So today we are going to get into that and make a long day of it. I mean that is where he coming from the stand point of as far as trimming out goes they won’t let us take the rear wing off so that would be the next step for us (laughs).  But it is something else.  I think it’s not just about the downforce number.  I mean (Ed) Carpenter is running more downforce than any of us and he is the quickest car out there.  Whatever they are doing they are doing it right and we need to try to figure it out pretty quickly.”
 
SEBASTIAN SAAVEDRA, NO. AFS 17 KV AFS RACING CHEVROLET, FOLLOWING FIRST QUALIFYING ATTEMPT:
: “It’s hard to believe that this is the same car that was involved in the big accident last weekend. I am so proud of the KV AFS Racing guys, they did an amazing job putting the car back together in two days. We lost a lot of time on track, but we are here and the car feels good. To be at the same pace as my teammates with a car that is not fully build for this event is a great feeling.  We haven’t focused so much time on the qualifying trim, so I know we have a good race car and now we focus on the race next weekend.”
 
SAGE KARAM, NO. 22 COMFORT REVOLUTION/BRANTLEY GILBERT  DREYER & REINBOLD KINGDOM RACING CHEVROLET, FOLLOWING FIRST QUALIFYING ATTEMPT: “Today was great. We qualified and made the show. We’re in the Indianapolis 500, which has been a dream of mine as long as I can remember. To finally accomplish that is an incredible feeling for me and also my family, because we’ve worked so hard for it. As far as the car is concerned, it’s great as well. Dreyer & Reinbold-Kingdom Racing put a really good car together for me. We know it’s not today that counts, but tomorrow and next Sunday. Hopefully tomorrow we can find another couple tenths in the Comfort Revolution/Brantley Gilbert car, and try to qualify towards the front. Right now we’re sitting about mid-pack, which I can work with, but if we can get up to tenth, it’ll be a whole lot easier on me, and we’ll have a lot more fun with that, so we’ll see what we can do tomorrow.”
 
SCOTT DIXON, NO. 9 TARGET CHIP GANASSI RACING CHEVROLET, FOLLOWING FIRST QUALIFYING ATTEMPT: “We’re a mile-and-a-half off right now, and we are trimmer than a lot of the cars out there with the exception to the Penske’s that are pretty trimmed. It is hard to see when Ed (Carpenter) rolls out there, they have a lot of downforce on them, and goes out there and knocks off some 230s (mph) right out of the box.  I think fundamentally we are missing something right now. A mile-and-a-half doesn’t sound like that much, but it is. The unfortunate part is you work probably six months of the year trying to find the combinations that you want to run, and we think we get the best speed out of it. We have to try and reinvent the wheel in the next hour or two. Hopefully that will help us find some speed. I watched the No. 8 (Ryan Briscoe) to see how it ran. They are fairly similar. I think the No. 10 (Tony Kanaan) seems a little more solid than we are right now for speed. But probably for only a half-a-mile-an-hour. In general we are still lacking. So, we’ll see how everybody goes for the first run and we will start working on some big set-up changes here, and take a few practice runs to see if we can find some speed. Right now. If we run through all these spots, we are going to be sitting  back in about 20th or 21st. So we have a lot of work to do.”
 
CHARLIE KIMBALL, NO. 83 NOVOLOG FLEXPEN CHIP GANASSI RACING CHEVROLET, FOLLOWING FIRST QUALIFYING ATTEMPT:   “It’s pretty tight but that is the Verizon IndyCar Series for you at the moment.  It’s super competitive and you know you have to get the most out of the car.  With the weather conditions the last couple of days getting limited qualifying running yesterday and then with the temperatures this morning limiting how much we were able to do in that 8 – 10 a.m. time frame I’m pretty happy with the No. 83 Novo Flex Pen colors effort in qualifying.  It was a solid flag in the ground as a baseline.  The nice thing about the updated qualifying, I guess the nice and challenging thing is, you don’t have to withdraw your time to go try again.  So the track may never open for practice because people may just stay in line because they don’t have to risk it.  I think that what eventually will come is if you are so confident in going quicker you withdraw your time and take it.  But as far as the 83 car and the Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing side we have to go back and look at the data and see if we can find a little bit more.  See what’s left in my engineer and my teams’ bag of tricks.  I know they always have something up their sleeve.  We will go back and look at it. We will compare data with the No. 9 car, the No. 8 car, as well as the No. 10 who ran in very similar track conditions to me right after me.  We will compare that. We definitely started working towards the qualifying set-up as far as downforce level trimming out this morning.  Understanding that as the day warmed up ambient wise some but the t
rack conditions the track temperature coming up would change the handling a little bit.  We erred on that side of caution a little bit mechanically, but I think aerodynamically going from 45 degrees to 50 degrees it’s not like going from 50 to 80 ambient wise.  What little understanding I’ve garnered from the engineering staff it’s more ambient temperature on aerodynamics than anything else.  We will just have to see what the rest of the day brings.  I think it’s supposed to continue to warm up later into the day.  I don’t know if it’s supposed to cloud up there were some gray clouds rolling in.  I don’t know if that will cool the track back down and the air will still be warm and thin and quick, but that is something the engineers would be able to tell me a lot better than I would be able to guesstimate.”
 
BUDDY LAZIER, NO. 91 WYNN INSTITUTE FOR VISION RESEARCH CHEVROLET, FOLLOWING FIRST QUALIFYING ATTEMPT: “We had the first qualifying pull and we missed that spot this morning and so the thought was to wait until it opens for practice and go to a balance check and make a run. But I got the sense that there was rain possibly coming it did sprinkle a little bit so we hurried up and went sort of blind in a way.  It was actually a good run.  I think we had less than 20 laps at speed and we don’t have a teammate so we missed four days of practice.  That is the thing I just don’t want to do anymore.  It still is too much. It is difficult to make up so instead of using experience to really do well we are just trying to get caught up all the time.  It’s a good car.  We’ve got a great engineer with David Cripps.  We are just starting to learn each other all the crew.  It did come together very last minute so I think in the future that will be our goal is to make sure that doesn’t happen like it did this year and last. Well (this year) it’s better preparation and our plan was to be a lot better.  We had some things that didn’t go right in the off season.  Without getting into too much detail we were certainly better but at the same time we are really supposed to be.  I think we are all a little disappointed with the last minute nature of it and there were reasons for all that.  But at the same time we are excited about being here and try to make the most of it.  We have some great sponsors with us this year with Herman Miller, the University of Iowa Stephen Wynn Institute which is something we are really excited about and is unique.  We have Phillips Energy Partners which is a great group out of Texas. Our sponsors the support I just want to do a great job for them.  It came together last minute but we think we have a lot more potential on race day in particular.  We may make another run.”
 
JAMES DAVISON, NO. 33 KV RACING TECHNOLOGY/ALWAYS EVOLVING RACING CHEVROLET, FOLLOWING FIRST QUALIFYING ATTEMPT: “It wasn’t long ago that our deal was announced. We are running a half-program, hence why we have sat out of a lot of running.   Someone asked me before if the weather had hurt us, but not really because we can’t run too many miles any way. We get 500 miles of practice and qualifying on our engine that we can run. We need to use them wisely for the race. Prior to this morning, all I had down was rookie orientation. So we got a little bit done this morning on the car. We are about 80 percent way there on the wing angle to the other cars. That is going to be worth a mile-an-hour or two. We really need to use our miles wisely for race set-up, so unless we need to, we won’t go back out.”

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
SPRINT SHOWDOWN
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER RACE NOTES & QUOTES
MAY 16, 2014
 
 
 
AJ ALLMENDINGER EARNS SPOT IN SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE WITH RUNNER-UP FINISH IN SHOWDOWN

Chevrolet Driver Josh Wise Voted in Via Sprint Fans

CONCORD, NC (May 16, 2014) – AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Freightliner/Miller Welders Chevrolet SS, raced his way into the Sprint All-Star race for the third time in his career by finishing second in the Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  Allmendinger will join 21 other drivers in Saturday night’s 30th running of the annual non-points race, with NASCAR’s brightest stars battling under the lights for $1 million.

Immediately following the race, the winner of the Sprint Fan Vote was announced to round out the field of 22; and Josh Wise, No. 98 Dogecoin/Reddit.com Chevrolet SS, was chosen by the fans to compete in Saturday night’s All-Star event.
 
Clint Bowyer (Toyota) was the race winner, Casey Mears (Chevrolet) was third, Marcos Ambrose (Ford) was fourth, and Aric Almirola (Ford) finished fifth.
 
The Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway takes the green flag on Saturday, May 17th at 9:10 pm ET and can be seen on FOX Sports 1 and heard on MRN Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 90.
 
A.J. ALLMENDINGER, NO. 47 FREIGHTLINER/MILLER WELDERS CHEVROLET SS – Finished 2nd, and JOHN WISE, NO. 98 DOGECOIN/REDDIT.COM CHEVROLET SS – SPRINT FAN VOTE WINNER
POST RACE PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT:
 
KERRY THARP:  Let’s roll right into our post‑race for tonight’s 29th annual Sprint Showdown, and we have a couple of drivers that will be racing now in tomorrow night’s NASCAR Sprint All‑Star Race.

            Our race runner‑up, and he led some laps out there tonight, was AJ Allmendinger.  He drives the No. 47 Freightliner Miller Welders Chevrolet.  He came in second.  Congratulations.  And our Sprint Fan Vote winner for 2014 is Josh Wise.  He drives the No. 98 Dogecoin Reddit.com Chevrolet.  Congratulations, Josh, to you.

            Let’s hear from our race runner‑up first, AJ.  Just talk about what your strategy was.  Certainly were racing aggressive out there tonight, but just talk about the strategy and some of the things you’re feeling now that you get to come back out here tomorrow evening.

            AJ ALLMENDINGER:  Yeah, I mean, it was set off by a good practice this morning, and a really good qualifying effort to start up front and lead some laps.  I was debating the last five laps before the caution came out whether we should pit or not.  Just being up front is so important here.  But my car started getting really loose kind of late in the run, so at that point I figured we had to at least come in and do two tires, and I was hoping to do two and get a good pit stop and maybe restart up front again and know that if I restarted up front it was going to be hard to ‑‑ I knew Clint was fast but I knew we were pulling away from everybody else, so for anybody else to come get us, even if they had four.

            Overall just really proud of this race team.  Our mile‑and‑a‑half program so far this year we’ve really struggled.  Last week was our biggest struggle.  My crew chief Brian Burns, my engineer Tony Palmer, everybody back at the shop for all of the hard work, too.  Come up with some new ideas to at least come here and try it.  I’m really, really happy that the car is better.  We’re not really where we want to be yet.  We don’t have quite enough speed in it, but we’re definitely making progress.  More importantly to get Tad Geschickter and Jodi Geschickter and Brad Daugherty into the All‑Star Race, to race our way in, for all of the sacrifices they make for this team and make us feel like a family throughout our shop, it’s just really gratifying to be able to do that for them.

            We’ll do the same thing tomorrow, just keep taking it step by step to try to make it better, and if we’ve got a shot to win the million dollars, we’re going to go for it.

            KERRY THARP:  Josh Wise, what a month or so it’s been for you and your race team.  Got this dynamic community of new fans behind you.  Just talk about what it’s like now to be racing in tomorrow night’s Sprint All‑Star Race.

            JOSH WISE:  I’m still trying to wrap my head around it, I guess.  This is huge for me and our team.  Really it started with a 16‑year‑old kid posting something on Reddit.com about some good runs that we had had, and for whatever reason this huge, awesome community just got behind us, and everyone knows about them raising money to sponsor us at Talladega, and then it was on to the Fan Vote.

            I’m just super thankful to be a part of it, really.  It’s been a pretty cool experience.

            Q.  Josh, do you ever wonder what made you stand out in this community and have them embrace you like this?

            JOSH WISE:  I do, and I don’t necessarily have an answer.  It’s just one of those things.  But something I wanted to kind of say, too, is like this is kind of a big deal for our sport, I felt like, because it’s a lot of like young kids and people from around the world.  I’ve had the chance to interact with a lot of them, and there’s a lot of people who had never watched a NASCAR race who have now watched several, so it’s a pretty cool deal.

            Q.  Josh, obviously you knew that the community was voting and voting and voting.  Did you kind of have it in the back of your mind that this was going to be realistic?  Did you think it was going to actually happen?

            JOSH WISE:  I guess yeah.  I mean, I saw the potential there.  There’s 110‑million people that regularly use Reddit, and there was a large portion of them that knew about this and were a part of it I felt like.  So it was just one of those things that you didn’t know if people were just telling you they were voting for you or how many times they’re voting or whatever.  I thought it was definitely a possibility.

            Q.  Josh, the whole Twitter world has blown up and half of them are happy and half of them say you guys somehow gamed the system.  Do you care what people say about how you got in?

            JOSH WISE:  I don’t necessarily care what people say about it.  Yeah, I mean, people vote and the person with the most votes wins, so however you play the game, I guess it’s ‑‑ yeah.  That’s all I have to say about that.

            Q.  Josh, can you talk a little bit about I think Tony Stewart was kind of the guy that lobbied for you when you first got here and just what a roller coaster ride it’s been for you, and then to now have the kind of popularity you could really only dream about, I know you guys race for the race, for the competition and everything else, but to win the Fan Vote for this deal when there have been times when you haven’t even known whether or not you w
ere still going to be in a NASCAR race, still driving a NASCAR car, what does this moment feel like?

            JOSH WISE:  I mean, if you asked me two months ago, there’s just no way I would have thought this was possible.  You know, you kind of outlined a little bit of my path, and it was pretty awesome and exciting through my open‑wheel days, driving for Tony and AJ Foyt and seeing success, and it’s been really, really hard since I’ve been out here.

            And one of the challenges that I’ve faced is just gaining momentum through sponsorship and being in really good opportunities to be able to showcase what I think I can do, and so this is a big deal because obviously we have a lot of people behind us.  Hopefully it helps us to build a better program here as we go forward.

            Q.  Josh, by making the All‑Star Race, that’s an additional $70,000 or so that your team would not have gotten, and I know that pales in comparison to the money that Clint and AJ, those teams can have to some degree, but what does $70,000 ‑‑

            AJ ALLMENDINGER:  Whoa, whoa, we’re looking for sponsors every day, too.  Let’s back it down a little bit.

            Q.  What does $70,000 mean for an organization like yours?

            JOSH WISE:  Yeah, it just helps us.  We’re able to buy those extra sticker tires on the weekend so that we feel like we have a car that’s going to be more competitive.  I am stoked for just Phil Parsons Racing in general about this.  Phil really took a leap of faith and just saying we’re racing this year, we’re going to do whatever it takes to race, and that’s what we’ve been doing.  We’ve been able to really have some really good speed at some tracks, some tough tracks, Bristol, Darlington, we had a strong run at Fontana until we blew a tire.  So obviously all that little bit of funding helps.  But I think probably what’s more valuable than that is the exposure that’s coming from it.

            Q.  Josh, have you talked to Phil yet?  I know he’s up in the booth.  And secondly, do you plan on reaching out to Dennis and what are you going to say to him?

            JOSH WISE:  Yeah, I’ve actually spoken with Dennis because Dennis ‑‑ when Dennis started this, it was to really fund the car for Talladega, and really the community kind of schemed that whole thing together, and they basically called us and were like, hey, we’re raising money, we want to sponsor you, and this is what we want to put on the car, so it was just this big whirlwind.  So when that happened I reached out to Dennis.  I tracked him down and I actually text message with him all the time now, and he’s a cool little kid.  He’s going to come to the Chicago race.  I know he’s probably pretty pumped about this.

            KERRY THARP:  Congratulations. You’re going to make it a better race tomorrow night, and good luck tomorrow night.

CHEVROLET INDYCAR V6
VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
INDIANAPOLIS 500
FAST FRIDAY
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
 
INDIANAPOLIS (May 16, 2014) – Fast Friday was exactly that for the Chevrolet IndyCar V6 teams and drivers at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Inclement weather once again played havoc with track time prior to Saturday’s start to qualifying for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500.
 
However, Ed Carpenter, No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, made the most out of the 18 minutes of running time turning in the fastest lap of the month, 230.522 mph/39.0418 seconds, to win the $10,000 FE Harding Asphalt Company Fast Friday Lap of the Day Award.
 
There were four additional Team Chevy drivers who turned fast times that landed them in the top-10 in the order: Helio Castroneves, No. 3 Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Team Penske Chevrolet – 229.843 mph; JR Hildebrand, No. 21 Preferred Freezer Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet – 229.384 mph; Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 2 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet – 229.205 mph and Scott Dixon, No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet – 229.0-62 mph.
 
Qualifying for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 will begin Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. and conclude Sunday, May 18 with the Fast 9 Qualifying beginning at 2:00 p.m.  ABC TV will air live coverage of qualifying from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.
 
FASTEST LAP PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT:
 
ED CARPENTER, NO. 20 FUZZY’S ULTRA PREMIUM VODKA ED CARPENTER RACING CHEVROLET:
IS THERE ANYTHING LEFT IN THAT THING?
“Well I mean that was a tow lap that wasn’t totally honest there.  We will find out tomorrow.  I mean I really think it’s going to be close.  I think it’s going to come down to a lot like last year the conditions and who gets it right for the conditions on that given run.  With tomorrows format and the ability to make multiple attempts without pulling a time and 33 points being available for the quick time I think we could see a lot of attempts just because those points are valuable.  33 points you can only get 40 or 50 for a win.  It’s going to be enticing.”
 
HOW DID THAT LAP FEEL AND WHAT DID YOU THINK?
“It felt good.  I mean the cars definitely have the speed this year.  I think when it comes to trying to predict what the pole is going to be I think a lot of it is just going to come down to what the weather is.  That 230 mph I did today I don’t think that would have happened on a clean track.  Obviously I had (Sebastien) Bourdais in front of me for half of the lap.  But if it warms up enough and the air gets a little thinner certainly I think 230 mph laps are realistic and even up to 232 or 233 if the weather was right I think.”
 
IS ANYBODY THAT YOU KNOW OF HAD A CHANGE TO DO A FOUR LAP SIMULATION YET?
“I haven’t I was on the fourth lap when it started raining there.  Yesterday when I was trying to do one I caught up to JR (Hildebrand).  That is what has been hard.  It’s hard compared to years past we had more time to be on track.  The way it’s played out with weather and engine mileage and everything else.  The limited time we have had the past three days everyone is out there all the time.  When you have 25-30 cars on this track even though it is 2.5-miles long it’s nearly impossible to get a clean lap.  No one really knows what anyone can really do out of a tow.  We do all these no tow reports to filter out laps where people got a tow and right now there are not many people on the list.  It’s hard to really know where people are.  I know that we feel confident in our speed and hopefully we will be a factor this weekend and be able to have some fun.”
 
IS QUALIFYING TRIM JUST GUESS WORK OR YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO WITH THE CAR?
“I think for us I feel okay about it.  JR (Hildebrand) and I both did a three-lap, well he did four yesterday, I did three yesterday and then he got in four this morning clean.  I got in three not clean, but we’ve done enough and trimmed enough that we feel good about where we are.  Maybe a few minor tweaks here and there.  I think a lot of guys out there this morning we got pretty far trimmed.  It looks like the Penske cars got pretty far trimmed, but there are some other cars that still had a ways to go.  I would rather be in our position where we have gotten a little further with it than having to be on the other side where maybe you haven’t trimmed as far as you think you need to go for qualifying.  You never want the first time that you do it to be in qualifying.”
 
WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO SIT ON THE POLE FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR?
“Even though it wasn’t a lot of track time and I didn’t even run as many laps as I had hoped because we had a couple of issues, but I still feel like we got a lot of work done with the race car.  I really feel like we are in a good situation having a second car here this year.  If JR (Hildebrand) wasn’t on board and we had this type of weather and everything play out as a single car team I think that we would be further behind.  Having the second car here this year we have gotten more work done.  I feel good about where things are for the race.  It seems like the cars have some speed in them.  When you have a chance to make a run at a pole here at Indy you would be crazy not to try for it.”
 
IS THERE ANY ADVANTAGE IN THE FACT YOU WENT THE FASTEST THEN THE RAIN CAME? IN TERMS OF THE PSYCHE OF THE OTHER COMPETITORS?
“I don’t know.  I got 10,000 bucks.  You know Helio (Castroneves) went out and worked pretty hard to knock me off yesterday so I’m sure they would have done it again if they worked hard enough at it.  Other than that today doesn’t mean anything.  Tomorrow is a new day and the weather is going to be different.  The team and driver that go out there and get the right combination will be fastest at the end of the day.”

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
SPRINT ALL-STAR
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
MAY 16, 2014
 
 
DANICA PATRICK, NO. 10 GODADDY CARES CHEVROLET SS met with media and discussed her performance last week at Kansas, the upcoming 600 race next weekend and more. Full Transcript:
 
HOW DOES YOUR 7TH PLACE FINISH AT KANSAS GIVE YOU MOMENTUM FOR THIS WEEKEND?
“We’re just doing our best as a team to take the positive from Kansas. Sure, emotionally, but really set-up wise and things like that we think will translate and carry those one. I think that’s a good part about doing well is it gives some confidence but it also helps show what stuff works out there. Your car has to be right. You have to qualify well. You have to run strong. You have to make good calls. It all has to get put together. The car is just one part of it.”
 
TALK ABOUT YOUR NEW PUPPY          
‘It was a pretty magical weekend. It was a good night on Saturday night (at Kansas) and then on Mother’s Day I picked up my dog; or our dog I should say. We got a little girl miniature Siberian Husky. Her name is Dallas. She’s really cute. I’m itching my face because she licked it and it itches. So, I just came from seeing her. As I walked away, Ricky (Stenhouse Jr.) was holding her and I’m like see babe, you have a little bit of a bad day and you come back and it’s just a little better when you have a little dog to go play with and that will lay with you. She’s been a lot of fun. But she definitely acts like a baby. She wakes up all the time. She poops on the floor, she goes to the bathroom all the time. She’s due for more shots next week, you know, all that stuff.”
 
ONE THING ABOUT A DOG: IT NEVER HAS A BAD DAY
“No, no. No they don’t. Not if you show some love to them. It’s always good because in this cruel sport of racing very rarely are you on Cloud 9. It’s nice to come home to that.”
 
HOW MUCH CONFIDENCE, IF ANY, DID YOU GET FROM KANSAS? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU KNEW YOU HAD IN YOU AND THAT YOU COULD DO, OR WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU LEFT THERE LIKE ON CLOUD 9?
“Honestly, I really believe I can do that. I don’t think I would be where I am today without the confidence that I can. At this point in time, after where I’ve been and where I’ve run, it was a little bit of a surprise. But I guess if things had been going well, progressively, from the beginning, these are the kind of races that I would have hoped to have every now and again starting now. But, obviously it hasn’t been nearly that good yet. But that’s really an example of putting a whole weekend together; everything from getting help from my teammates to qualifying well, making good race calls, making good decisions on the car before the race, using our teammates and all the information we have to do that and building a really great new car. You have to have everything together to be able to run up front in the Cup Series. It’s just so hard. So, I’m very proud of everyone for putting it all together and doing a great job.”
 
THE ALL-STAR RACE HAS A HISTORY. RUSTY AND DW IN ’89, KYLE PETTY AND DAVEY ALLISON IN ’92; CRAZY FINISHES IN THE END WHERE DRIVERS DO THINGS THEY MIGHT NOT ORDINARILY DO. WITH A MILLION DOLLARS ON THE LINE, ASSUMING YOU RACE IN, ON SATURDAY NIGHT, WHAT WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DO FOR THAT MONEY?
“When you’re in the car, you’re not thinking about the fact that I need to pass for a million dollars. If it was about money, I don’t think that would be enough for any of us. It’s about heart and it’s about doing your best and it’s about making the most of the night. So, that’s what’s running through your head is passing the car in front of you. Now, more than anything since it’s not really about money more than anything; it’s just a one-off race, so the results don’t necessarily matter unless you win, so you might as well go for it. For me, that’s what my attitude is toward it. Now if you win a million dollars, that’s great. But if you win the race, you probably already have a million dollars. So, it’s icing on the cake. Now if it was like $5 million, it might make you think. I’ll pass for $5 million.”
 
WHAT WORKED SO WELL AT KANSAS? DID THE CAR JUST GO WHEREVER YOU PUT IT? WERE YOU JUST MORE DARING?
“It’s something that happens two-fold. I think when the car is good, you can be more daring because it’s not going to step out on you and you trust it and you know what it’s going to do. When things aren’t as good on track and the car doesn’t feel as good, then it’s a lot harder to be more brave because there is a higher likelihood that it’s not going to end well. So, for me, the big difference was that it was really good on restarts. It was really stuck in traffic. And it was really good in the long run. I never noticed a lack of grip at any point. For me that was what I noticed last weekend above any other weekend was the consistency of it. That’s what allowed me to be able to have great restarts, or definitely not really lose a lot, which has been qualifying I would say. And restarts are a place where it comes up that I need to work on it and it’s true. Yes, that is the case, but I think last weekend, you see what can happen when the car is right and that gives me the confidence to do more. And I think that as time goes on and you get more seasoned as a driver, you can overcome some of that, for sure. But it’s still got to be good.”
 
SOME DRIVERS TALK ABOUT THE DAY THE LIGHT WENT ON AND THAT THEY SORT OF GOT WHAT’S GOING ON OUT THERE. WAS THERE ANY OF THAT ASPECT TO IT FOR YOU AT KANSAS? DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’VE TURNED A CORNER WITH THAT PERFORMANCE?
“No. It was a good weekend. I feel like I’m feeling the car better and better, but I don’t think it was a light switch for me. It was just a weekend that so many good things happened in the race and we ran with such good cars and passed such good cars that for me it gives me confidence, for sure. Like I said, I’ve always believed I can do that but when you’re head-to-head with guys like Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson and Dale Jr.’ when you’re head-to-head with those guys then it’s another story on it’s own. I think that if we keep doing what we’re doing and keep our heads down and not get flustered; not every single weekend is going to be like that for anyone. But we’ll have more of those, for sure.”
 
IN LOOKING AHEAD TO THE COCA-COLA 600, HOW DO YOU MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THAT RACE WITH IT BEING SO LONG?
“Oh, what’s another 100 miles on top of 500? It really doesn’t seem that long. I did it the last two years, right? Last year seemed pretty quick. Mind you, I did get crashed. A lot of it has to do with how you’re doing and how the car is; what’s happening on track, are you actually racing people throughout the race? I always felt like Darlington was the longest race in the whole world. It felt like 800 miles to me. But for some reason this year it went quick. So, actually, I just think it has to do with how your race is going. Another 100 miles, if you’re running well, is going to help; if not, then it’s not. Other than that, it’s just another long race and we have a lot of them.”
 
IS THERE LESS GRIP HERE THAN IN KANSAS? DOES THE CHALLENGE RESUME HERE AT CHARLOTTE? ALSO, MARK MARTIN IS BACK. HAVE YOU HAD MUCH CONVERSATION WITH HIM?
“Yeah, the grip level at Kansas is higher, but they also give you a harder tire. It’s not as though they are worlds apart, but there is less grip here. And the track is rougher and seems to wear the tires out a little bit more. So there is a little bit more of a difference in getting to the end of a run. And yeah, Mark is back. I walked into the hauler this morning and saw him. He’s been not feeling so great throughout the beginning of the year and was intending to be around every weekend or most weekends, to sort of
help out and fast-forward the learning curve and play a part as much as he could to help with that. It’s good to see him. He’s obviously great around here so it’s nice for him to come to this one (race). It’s nice to have one more driver on my side who has a ton of experience that can help me; especially on e that’s not in the car that can see everything that’s going on and hear it. Every little bit helps. I’m never mad when someone has a suggestion or something they think will help me. I’ll always try it. And sometimes they are just nice little reminders every now and again about getting down to the line or trying high. I mean you kind of get in such a rhythm of trying to make the most out of what you think is best that you think you need to step out. Sometimes it’s just simple little reminders that are nice.”
 
REGARDING YOUR RECENT SUCCESS IN KNOCK-OUT QUALIFYING AND IF THAT MOMENTUM CAN HELP YOU TODAY IN THE SHOWDOWN QUALIFYING FORMAT
“It’s definitely better.  It’s obviously something that I needed to work on but you still have to have a good car and the first top-10 was at Martinsville.   We saw how I ran that day, and I was absolutely terrible that day.  It’s not everything, but it definitely helps.  I would venture to say that when knock-out qualifying happens and we all get done with our first run, there are a heck of a lot more times that I have been in the top-15.  Most of the time when I finally get things going in knock-out qualifying, then it’s like last weekend everybody goes out again and goes faster. So, no, it’s like I said at the beginning of the year; it all evens out in the end.  There are times when you find speed, and you make something happen and you get in.  Then there are times that you get in on a good time and you go out and you go from being 11th overall in first round and then you are 24th – and that sucked.  So if it’s more interesting for the fans, then that is the most important thing for our sport because we are fan-driven so much.   We have to keep them entertained for sure, keep them watching and interesting.  At the end of the day it’s just racing, driving as fast as you can, and more of it.”
 
DID THE KANSAS FINISH LAST WEEK CHANGE YOUR CONFIDENCE IN YOUR 1.5 MILE PROGRAM, OR OVERALL?
“Weekends like that are just good signs.  They show hard work by everybody and they make you excited to do it more. So I think the optimism level goes up because you are riding high and you want to keep doing that.  I think we have to keep our expectation levels in check a little bit and make sure we don’t just expect to go out there and run in the top-five or top-ten every time now.  We have to remember that there is a process to it and we skipped over top-15s and went straight to top-10s.  Shoot we pretty much skipped over top-20s and didn’t have many of those either.  We have to keep improving and have to keep getting in the thick of the good drivers and move up like that. It definitely gives confidence, it’s definitely a good sign, and definitely good to have those races.  We just hope to have them more often.”
 
REGARDING THE FAN VOTE AND IF THAT GIVES YOU CONFIDENCE IN THE RACE
“I was very fortunate to win the Sprint Fan Vote last year and it was great, great racing and practice.  It was a good challenge for me before the Coke 600, which we were having a pretty good race in the Coke 600
and it definitely helped.  What can I say? I am just really fortunate.  My fans are awesome, there are so many of them that defend me and support me to the bitter end.  It’s cool that they can play a part in my racing career, and that is what they do. For them to be able to use their voice or their fingers to vote for me, get me more track time, and help me be better – that is playing a part. So, I am really fortunate for that. And hopefully that happens; and if not, then not. Definitely every driver wants to race their way in and not even have to think about the fan vote, and that is my plan tonight.”
 

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
MAY 16, 2014
 
PARKER KLIGERMAN, NO. 41 HAAS AUTOMATION CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Charlotte Motor Speedway and discussed his role as Kurt Busch’s backup at this weekend’s Sprint All-Star Race and next weekend’s Coca-Cola 600, among other topics. Full Transcript:
 
TELL US ABOUT YOUR SITUATION FOR THIS TWO WEEKS HERE.
“It’s obviously a unique opportunity. It’s not kind of something that is conventional in our sport – to show up and having the chance to drive one of the top cars in our sport in a practice session and be a fly on the wall for the rest of the situations that are going on and the races. I kind of harken it back to my time at Penske when I did it for Brad (Keselowski) on the Nationwide side and also on the 22 car at the Cup level at Michigan two years ago. So I’ve done this at little bit before. But obviously jumping into a new team at Stewart-Haas Racing and Haas Automation, and having this opportunity from Kurt (Busch) and everyone here to have the belief in me to come in here and do a good job is flattering. Hopefully I’ll make the best of it.”
 
HOW DID IT COME ABOUT?
“Honestly, Kurt called me two weeks ago. Actually he was texting me first, and I was like ‘Why is Kurt texting me?’ Occasionally I’ve gone to him for some advice here and there, but this was out of the blue. I started thinking, ‘Why would he need to text me.’ Then he asked if he could call and I said ‘Yeah, call me.’ So he called me and said he knew about my situation and all but he said, ‘This is the kind of call you want to get. Would you be willing to come and practice my car for me and be on standby as I do this double deal (at the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600)?’
 
“We kind of fit in the same seat and we know this from our time at Penske. He knew my feedback and our driving styles are similar so I absolutely said yes; this is one of those opportunities where you can’t say anything other than yes.”
 
HOW MUCH HAVE YOU DONE ALREADY AT THE SHOP, AND WHAT’S THE PLAN AT THE TRACK?
“We did a seat fitting on Monday and Tuesday. We’re trying to keep it close to Kurt. His insert is in it, his seat belts are in it and his wheel position. The only we had to do is move the pedals back, which we’re not excited about. Kurt and I have to figure that out for the 600 just because he has longer legs. We’re about the same height but I have a little broader shoulders so I’m a little cramped in there. If I do have to drive the car for some extended hours, I will be a little beat up but that’s all in helping Kurt do this, complete 1,100 miles and help this Haas Automation Chevy SS team be at the level they are used to being… which is up front.”
 
WHAT’S THE PLAN STARTING HERE THIS WEEKEND TO GET YOU SEAT TIME?
“Kurt came in Wednesday when it was raining in Indy. He flew back and we were able to sit down with Daniel (Knost), his crew chief, to go over everything and see how it’s all going to work out. Honestly, it’s a
play-it-by-ear. We all have a plan and a set idea of how it should work out. If everything goes to plan, Kurt will be here for everything almost – aside from today. Obviously barring weather and situations that can happen, we have to be prepared for everyone on this No. 41 team. Hopefully everything falls in place and Kurt races 1,100 miles and run up front. That’s the most important thing.”
 
IS PART OF YOU HOPING YOU HE DOESN’T MAKE IT BACK AND YOU GET A CHANCE TO RACE A CAR OF THIS QUALITY?
“That’s not fair to say. I absolutely hope Kurt is able to do all 1,100 miles. Obviously if something were to happen, I’d be prepared to go out there and do the 600 miles and have the chance to run this Haas Automation Chevy SS. But as I’ve said before, that’s not my mindset. My mindset is to help this team be at the level they are used to being at, which is up front and being prepared to go out there and win races so that when Kurt shows up, he’s ready to go out there and have the best and easiest transition between an IndyCar and stock car, which is tough in itself.”
 
HAS IT BEEN HARD FOR YOU NOT TO BE IN THE CAR THIS WEEK?
“It’s been kind of refreshing, to be honest. When you’re at the back end of the Cup series and fighting and in those teams that are struggling a little bit, it can wear on you. I’ve been at this NASCAR deal for five years. I’m still young but I don’t look back. It’s one of those things that can wear on you and wear on you. It’s a little refreshing to step back, take account of where you’re at and look at the opportunities out there and say, ‘You know what…I’m not going to do opportunities like that any more.’ I’m going to look at opportunities that can forward my career and put me in better positions to win races no matter where it’s at and make sure I’m staying at the forefront of the series instead of trying to do the thing of building a team up, which as I think you saw just doesn’t really work.”
 
TWO WEEKS AGO, WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU’D BE DOING THIS WEEKEND?
“I was going to be going to Indy, and I still might go to Indy. I think I’ll be going there Sunday for Pole Day and some other things – meeting with some people, which will be fun. I would have been there earlier than I would have been there now, so I’ll fly back for the 600 weekend. I guess Kurt and I are both doing the same Indy-to-Charlotte travel. We’re kind of in the same boat a little bit but obviously he has a lot more going on.”
 
YOU’RE NOT GOING WITH KURT SUNDAY?
“We haven’t talked about it. Funny enough, last night we were talking about the travel situation and I said, ‘You know what, I think Kurt is flying out then.’ I don’t know exactly what his schedule is in that sense. I know it’s just all in the air in terms of were they qualify and how qualifying works out for him. A lot of his mindset, I think, is to cut down on the travel as much as possible so he’s rested and ready to go.”
 
ARE YOU LOOKING AT A MOVE TO OPEN-WHEEL? IS THAT THE REASON YOU’RE GOING TO INDY?
“We’ll see.”
 
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GET THIS OPPORTUNITY?
“As I said before, I’m very grateful and honored to have the opportunity and to have someone like Kurt, a champion of our sport, to have the belief in me to come here and do this for him. As we said Wednesday, there is a million dollars on the line in this practice session in what we do here will help him go out there and fight for a million bucks. That’s pretty cool. And obviously with the 600 weekend and all that he has going on, to know that in some ways he has the peace of mind to believe in me to do the right thing with his race car. As a driver it’s a great honor and confidence inspiring that a great champion of our sport has that respect for me. Hopefully I do a great job and other opportunities will come from it.”
 
HOW DOES ANOTHER DRIVER SET UP A CAR ESPECIALLY ON A TRACK WHERE YOU ARE PRACTICING DURING THE DAY FOR A RACE AT NIGHT?
“That’s really tough. Stepping into new equipment is tough and his seat and all that – it all adds up. I don’t expect to set the world on fire because that’s a tough situation, especially at this level. But the things that we can do with Daniel and everyone on this 41 Stewart-Hass Racing team… everyone is a professional. They have a great notebook of what Kurt likes, what they’ve been fighting and what they’ve been working on. They also have three great teammates in Danica (Patrick), Kevin (Harvick) and Tony (Stewart). And so all that information relays back to where I’m giving them feedback and direction on the 41 car – giving them a baseline. From there, they will make the decision on where the car goes through the other teammates and through all that info with what they decide
to do for when Kurt steps into the car.”
 
ARE YOU EXPECTED TO QUALIFY?
“I know I’m doing pit road practice; so that will be interesting. But we’re playing it by ear. I believe he should be here for qualifying and everything; he’s planning to be here for the drivers’ meeting and be on time and be ready to go.”
 
INAUDIBLE.
“It’s all in the working stages. Part of that is going to Indy and meeting with people. As I said before, my sole focus is when an opportunity comes, it’s the right opportunity. At 23 years old, I’m still very young to be at this level and at this height in the sport. I’ve got time on my side. So I feel like making sure that when the opportunity comes, it’s the right one and the one I want to do and that I’m enthused about. Hopefully that can forward my career and I can do a good job in that situation. The time in between is making sure it’s right and putting the puzzle pieces together to have all those things to go out there to win races.”
 
DID YOU GET ADVICE FROM ANYONE ABOUT WHAT YOU COULD DO RIGHT NOW?
“No. It’s such a unique thing. I think some people looked at me like I was crazy when I didn’t take some of the things I was offered – especially the people offering them. I guess sometimes you have to look in your heart at what you want to do. Just being here and being part of this isn’t in my interest. It’s not what I want to do as a racecar driver and a competitor. I want to be at the front. I want chances to win and chances to run for a championship. Just hanging around and surviving isn’t something I’m interested in. I would just as gladly do something else that I can be successful in rather than just survive and hang around. Taking the time to find those right opportunities to build the puzzle pieces and put them together… I’m more enthused about that. It’s fun and it’s exciting. I know those things will come together. You never know where everything will lead. But I’m just grateful for this opportunity in the Haas Automation Chevy with Stewart-Haas Racing and to be aligned with another great Sprint Cup team to see how they operate and see the professionalism of this organization and hopefully continue to align myself with teams of this caliber.”
 
IS IT TOUGH STAYING PATIENT?
“Yes, it is tough. Patience has never been a virtue of mine. But at this, I’m learning it. It’s the summer; it’s a beautiful time and I get some time off. When I come back, hopefully I’ll be refreshed and ready go to in a place where I can win races and run up front. That’s what keeps me calmed down and level. I know when it does come together, it will be the right thing.”
 
HOW MUCH INTERACTION HAVE YOU HAD WITH YOUR NEW TEAMMATES IN THE PAST – TONY, DANICA AND DANICA?
“Honestly not much. Those are three people in the sport that I haven’t associated with that much at all. Like I said, Kurt and I were associated a lot at Penske. That was kind of the connection here. I haven’t talked to them but hopefully I’ll get the chance to at least talk to them over the next two weeks and get to know them. Obviously all three are top-caliber drivers and champions of our sport. Kevin’s obviously on fire right now. It’s a great place to be. There is a lot of momentum and a massive amount of professionalism in this organization. It’s a great atmosphere to be around as a young driver.”
 
CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH KURT?
“We were at Penske together for years when I was a development driver. I did a lot of testing when he was in the 2 car then the 22 car. We were at tests a lot together. I was always at a race track around him and that sort of thing. He was a guy I was able to go for advice like when I went to Kyle Busch’s Nationwide team, which he had driven for the year before. So there were so many parallels there. Maybe we will go a couple months without talking but when we do we hit it right off again and never stop talking. So I was not surprised to get the call as much as being grateful and honored. For someone of his caliber to give me a call and as someone who I was thought was kind of a kid who annoyed him sometimes… he had a respect for me and my driving ability, and that was really gratifying.”
 
MENTALLY, DO YOU HAVE TO PREPARE YOURSELF TO START THE 600 REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS?
“Yeah, physically and mentally. The funniest thing is that I told Kurt two weeks ago when I got the call… I know he’s a little slimmer than me and I have a little broader shoulders. So I stopped weight training and lifting and started running and cardio – heat training and that sort of thing. I don’t know if it made a difference and I didn’t keep track. I don’t know if I am slimmer; I feel slimmer. But in the event that something were to happen and even to do this practice, making sure that we can be as aligned as possible in this seat is what matters most. In the event that did happened and I need to do 600 miles, yes I’m ready to do 600 miles.”
 
SO IF EVERYTHING GOES TO PLAN IN KURT’S FAVOR, THE ONLY TIME YOU’LL BE IN THE CAR OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS WILL BE TODAY?
“Today and a little bit for practice on either Thursday or (next) Saturday. I need to do a couple laps just to be able to start.”
 
SAYING THAT, CAN WE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT – NASCAR POSSIBLY  LETTING A ROOKIE DRIVER TO START A CUP RACE?
“Yeah, and a thank you NASCAR for allowing that for this whole opportunity. I’ve raced in the Trucks and Nationwide levels for now three years and obviously started in Cup for six months. I’m not a full-on rookie; it’s not like I haven’t raced at Charlotte at bunch of times. Maybe they looked at all that and were able to account for that. As long as I get to practice for a couple of laps, I’ll know the car and I’ll know the track. It should be all fine and we’ll go from there. I’m glad they were able to work that out otherwise it could have been a hitch.”
 
WERE YOU ABLE TO NEGOTIATE AN F1 TEST AS PART OF THE DEAL?
“I haven’t met Gene (Haas) yet but maybe if I see him I’ll nudge him or something! I think that’s a really exciting for everyone in our country. It’s amazing deal for someone like Gene Haas to take on. It shows once again his passion for the sport. When I walked into Stewart-Haas, I hadn’t ever been there and it was an amazing facility. You saw all the expansion that was going on. I started to realize that this is a guy who may have been a little quiet but he has a such a passion for the sport and is at such a high level in our sport that going to do F1 is no surprise. Hopefully it works out for him. Hey, if I could ever be a part of it, I’d take it!”
 
DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU MIGHT MEET HIM?
“I believe tomorrow. We’ll see. It’s down the road but I think it’s amazing for America to be represented in F1.”
 

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
MAY 16, 2014
 
DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET, MET WITH MEDIA TODAY TO DISCUSS THE UPCOMING ALL-STAR RACE, THE FORMAT, NNS DRIVER CHASE ELLIOTT, MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, AND MORE.  Full Transcript:
 
DALE, YOU WON THIS RACE IN YOUR ROOKIE SEASON AND YOU LIKE COMING BACK AND RUNNING THIS RACE AT CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY, TALK ABOUT YOUR MINDSET FOR THE ALL STAR RACE AND COKE 600 OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS
“Well, we will just use this weekend to see if we can find speed in the car and try and prepare ourselves for the 600.  It’s a great opportunity to really be at the race track and get some laps in race condition to try and give yourself the best opportunity to win the 600-miler.  There is a lot of money on the line this weekend, which is basically all we are going to be racing for, but there is a lot to be learned too.  So you try and pay attention to what you are doing and what you are feeling in your car so you can use those notes next week.  You try to look at what your teammates are doing, learning and what they are doing that you might not be able to try that you might want to do next week when you are going through next weekend.  There is a lot to be learned and hopefully we will get our car going pretty quick.”
 
REGARDING CHASE ELLIOTT, DO YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO SPEED UP HIS PREP BASED ON WHAT HE HAS BEEN DOING, OR DO YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN HIS PREP?
“I don’t think you do either one.  I think you just set a plan from the start, and you stick with it.  We have like a two-year plan I suppose, that he runs in the Nationwide Series and I think you just stick with the plan regardless of the success he is having.  You have the commitments in line with sponsors and what have you, so I think it will suit him well to relax and not have to worry about that and just follow the plan that he has had in front of him from the start.  He is really young too, so he has a lot of time on his hands and time to get to Cup level to realize that potential, one day.  But yes, I think he can just sit there and relax knowing what we tried to set out to do from the start and not really adjust.”
 
WHAT DO YOU THINK GUYS ARE WILLING TO DO THESE DAYS TO WIN A MILLION DOLLARS?  DO YOU THINK THE FINISH OF THIS RACE WILL BE LIKE ANY RACE OR WILL GUYS REALLY CROSS SOME LINES AT THE END HERE?
“I think it’s really going to depend how close and how much within reach the million dollars really is.  If you can reach out and grab somebody you will get pretty aggressive for a million dollars.  It just depends on if someone is in reach.  If a guy jumps out in that last 10 laps and gets a good lead, what can you do and what are you going to be able to do?  If you can run a guy down, it’s going to get interesting.  If anybody gets within reach of someone at any time within those final 10 laps then it’s going to get pretty aggressive between both drivers I believe.  I hope that it will be close, unless I am leading, and if we are leading I hope we are leading by a straightaway.  Hope it real boring.”
 
IS THE MEMORIAL DAY RACE A LITTLE MORE SPECIAL TO YOU SINCE YOU HAVE WORKED WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD AND DONE SO MANY THINGS WITH THEM OVER THE YEARS?
“That is a good question.  I think working with the Guard is, and I hate to keep saying it over and over, but it’s so different than working with a corporate sponsor.  It’s such a heavy responsibility and it’s just a big deal.  I learned working with the Navy years ago, that working with the military in a primary sponsor role is a big deal, and a little heavier than the things I had done in the past.  The Guard is a lot of fun and they are very creative with what we do together.  We have gotten to shoot some big guns, drive tanks, and get to do a lot of things people don’t get to do.
 
“I have met some great people that have heard some great stories.  Whether it was their experience in the Guard, or why they joined.  I always find it really fascinating to ask someone what encouraged them to make that decision because it’s such a life choice.  It’s really interesting to hear what makes somebody choose to make that choice to join the military.  Obviously hearing their experiences is really interesting but just about the choice and why they make that choice.
 
“Everybody has a different reason but I have had a great experience and really appreciate it.  I really cherish it, and think it’s affected me to just be that close to it and see the things that go on behind the scenes.”
 
CAN YOU GIVE US ANY INSIGHT INTO YOUR MATCH RACE WITH CHARLES BARKLEY TODAY?
“I am not supposed to tell you how it went because they want to leave it for the episode.  I guess it’s going to run on TNT with their pre-race coverage, somewhere like Pocono.  I will tell you this.  I was really surprised about how nice he was.  I expected him to be a competitor, a little more aggressive in just his personality in knowing what kind of basketball player he was and the kind of guy he was on the court.  He was fiery, and aggressive, and getting in tussles.  But he was super nice.  He just came in and was just really gracious and has an appreciation for our sport and was just a real nice guy to be around. We will just have to save the results for later, but you can imagine how it went.”
 
WHAT IS THE ART FOR RACING THE ALL-STAR, A RACE THAT IS SO INTENSE AND SO SHORT?
“I don’t know that there’s an art to it. You need to be up front at the last re-start. Obviously you’re not going to drive through a handful of guys. As late as it gets in the night, at this track, the groove narrows-up. It gets faster and faster on the bottom and there’s no time to be gained in trying to step-up the race track or run the high line like you might during the afternoon. So, it’s a really fascinating race track in the middle of the day. But as it gets darker and darker and cooler and cooler, the groove really shortens up. So you need to be in that top 3 I think, to have a shot at it. Unless those guys kind of get bottled up banging on each other and somebody scoots around on the top on the restart real quick, I don’t know that you’re going to have much of a chance at winning the race.
 
“That doesn’t sound all that great. But what that does do is it makes everything in the first several segments count. And it makes you really have to hustle in all those segments to get everything you can to give yourself that opportunity to start as high as you can in the last segment. So, the way it’s laid out actually, it really pushes you to work every lap, every single restart, and every opportunity you can seize a position, you want to do it.”
 
YOUR TEAMMATE JIMMIE JOHNSON HASN’T WON ALL YEAR AND HE HASN’T WON FOR 14 RACES. DOES THAT MEAN THAT HE’S A ‘NORMAL’ DRIVER NOW?
“That’s like a 72 race slump, almost, for him (laughs). Somebody gets that one (laughter). I don’t think it’s a big deal, man. They are obviously still kind of searching for what they’re looking for. They’re still searching for some speed. They had bad luck with the clutch last week. I saw the speed and potential in his car when he got the lead last week and I’m thinking he could win the race if he stays up there. But, they had the clutch (problem) and changed their strategy. But you know, I think it says a lot about the competition in the rest of the teams, the changes in drivers and crew chief; for example in the No. 4 car (Kevin Harvick), you’ve got new players and guys up there mixing it up. We’ve gotten better. Jeff’s (Gordon) team has gotten better. I think there’s just a little bit tougher competition.
 
“That’s just a little bit of it. Bu
t I think they’re just kind of searching with the new rules and where to get Jimmie comfortable and fast and find the speed. I’ve seen them have speed and then sometimes they just don’t, for whatever reason. And when they get in traffic or something they’ve had a little trouble in traffic. It seems like that was the case last week when he’d get back there in the pack he couldn’t really do much. But if he was out front, he was perfectly fine. But they’ll figure it out. It will happen at some damn race race track like this. He’ll go out and just wax everybody and then everything is fine for the rest of the year. They’ll just hit on it and keep going.”
 
WHEN YOU WON THE WINSTON BACK IN 2000, THE WINNER’S SHARE WAS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. IS THAT LIKE THE BIGGEST CHECK YOU HAD EVER SEEN? DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID WITH THE MONEY?
“I don’t think I ever saw it (laughter). I was driving for Daddy back then (more laughter). He got all that money (laughs). But yeah, I really didn’t care about it you know? I mean it was a big deal, money-wise, but just him being there in Victory Lane and him being in the race and passing him in the last 10 laps like we did. And just winning it blew us away. And we were thinking bigger than a half-million dollars with how we were a rookie and we come in and won a few races and then we win the All-Star race and man, we were thinking far further ahead than that check we had. It was a very cool deal. And really one of the most fun Victory Lanes I can remember aside from the Daytona race this year. It was really just a lot of raw emotion and it just felt great.”
 
GIVEN THE NATURE OF THIS RACE AND THE SEGMENTS THAT ARE RUN; AND YOU MENTIONED YOU HOPE IT’S BORING IF YOU’RE A STRAIGHTAWAY AHEAD IN THE LAST TEN. WOULD YOU BE IN FAVOR OF LEAVING THE ALL-STAR RACE HERE OR WOULD YOU BE IN FAVOR OF MOVING IT TO A TRACK WHERE THINGS COULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE DOWN THE STRETCH IN THAT LAST SEGMENT?
“I think that I wouldn’t be opposed to changing it up a little bit. I kind of thought it wasn’t broke in ’87. I thought that was a pretty good All-Star race. And you’re not going to have that every year. And the track has changed. Obviously we’ve got the repave and the surface. The surface here is indestructible. I mean we can’t wear it out for some reason. But I think that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take it to Bristol or somewhere like that and mix it up a little bit. But I’m really in favor of the older format where it was like 50/25/10 or whatever it was back in the late 80’s. The 10-lap segment at the end has got to be that way. You’ve got to really make a fourth-in-one kind of deal. But the track itself, I think you could take it to several tracks and have different results. You could run it at Bristol ten years in a row and some are going to be awesome and some aren’t. It’s just the same way you’re going to have it here. I think that the venue can make a little bit of a difference, but we just have to hope that everything works out in our favor and we get an exciting finish however it needs to happen. And sometimes it will and sometimes it won’t.”

CHEVROLET INDYCAR V6
VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
INDIANAPOLIS 500
PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY                 
 
CHIP GANASSI – TEAM OWNER, MIKE HULL – TEAM MANAGER, .SCOTT DIXON – NO. 9 TARGET CHEVROLET,  TONY KANAAN – NO. 10 TARGET CHEVROLET, RYAN BRISCOE, NO. 8 NTT DATA CHEVROLET AND
CHARLIE KIMBALL – NO. 83 NOVOLOG FLEXPEN CHEVROLET met with members of the media at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Full transcript:
 
THE MODERATOR:  We’re joined by Chip Ganassi Racing, their fleet of drivers.  We have Chip Ganassi with us, Mike Hull, Tony Kanaan, Scott Dixon, Charlie Kimball, and also Ryan Briscoe.
A quick question to each.
Charlie, really nice finish in the Grand Prix.  I’m going to roll back the clock to the last race of the year last year.  I know there were some problems, but you were running very strong in the 500.  Having come here now as a race winner in the series, a good performance, and at California, you have to be pretty confident.
CHARLIE KIMBALL:  Yeah, I think any time you show up to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a Chip Ganassi car, you’re confident.
The equipment we have is capable of winning.  We all believe that as a team.  That’s the expectation every time you show up here.
As a team, it’s nice to have that opportunity.  As a driver coming in with that confidence from my first race win last year, as well as the progress we made through the 500-mile races last year, part of the Chip Ganassi podium sweep at Pocono, then the 500-miler at California, leading near the end with a mechanical problem.
We definitely come into the month with a little bit of confidence in the whole team.  But as I said, any time you show up in a Chip Ganassi Racing car, as drivers I think you believe you have the opportunity to go out and win the race.
 
THE MODERATOR:  Ryan, we see you back in a familiar team with familiar folks around you.  You have to be awfully happy about your opportunities this month.
RYAN BRISCOE:  Yeah, it’s great.  It’s so good to be here.  It’s a great team.  I’ve got an unbelievable group of guys around me.  A lot of familiar faces, great teammates.
So far the month has been going really well.  Car has been feeling strong out there.  Yeah, it’s been good.
We’re just going to keep that momentum going, just looking forward to the new qualifying procedures this weekend and getting ready for the race.
 
THE MODERATOR:  Scott, I look back to your championship year, I often think back, how many championships you could have under your belt with a cup or two of extra of fuel.  You come back to a place where you tasted the milk.
SCOTT DIXON:  Last year was one of the most enjoyable ones.  It was very hairy through the mid part.  The start of the season was a bit soft.  To come back the way we did as a group was a tremendous feat.  Really excited about that.
This year we tried to kick it off a little smoother.  It hasn’t gone to plan as of yet.  But I think the team has great speed.  We’ve come up short in a couple different places.  But excited for the month of May as always.  We would have liked to have started the month a little stronger on the road course without the collision that we had.
This month is one of the toughest, but also one of the most rewarding in many ways.  Our plan is obviously to try and come as a team, and one of us be drinking the milk.
I think we’ve put ourselves in a good position so far.  Once we get to qualifying we’ll see where we really stand.  As far as the racecars go, we’ve been pretty happy so far.
As always, excited to be here.  Hopefully we can come through.
 
THE MODERATOR:  Tony, I don’t think there’s any question that your victory is one of the most popular we’ve seen at this place in a long time.  Fan reaction was clear.  Then we have the unusual situation where your future is a little unsettled as an Indianapolis 500 winner.  You have to feel awfully good about where you landed.
TONY KANAAN:  Oh, for sure.  Chip made sure my future was extremely settled after that.  I can’t thank him enough for that.
The win helped us big-time.  There’s no secret how much we struggled with sponsorship last year.  We didn’t even know if we were going to continue after this race at this point.  It was extremely important, really cool.  Because of that I am where I am right now.
I’m in a good place, happy to be here, working hard with my teammates to give Target Chip Ganassi Racing another win.
 
THE MODERATOR:  Mike, when we talk to individuals who have had experience in Formula One, one thing they mark as very different is the notion of sharing information, the teamwork that goes into IndyCar-style racing.  You have a driver in Scott Dixon who has had a remarkably long relationship with this team.  You lose a guy like Dario Franchitti, but you add a guy like Tony Kanaan.  How important is experience and leadership among drivers when you’re trying to orchestrate a team effort?
MIKE HULL:  I think what’s in common with all four of the drivers we have here is they’re closers.  That’s what you need.  You have to have drivers that when they have the opportunity they get it done.
The information they share among themselves, we do it we think in an unselfish manner.
You put those two things together, the information stream, the fact they can get the job done, if you put yourself in a position to win the race, then it’s up to you from that point onward.
 
THE MODERATOR:  Chip, in any successful business you surround yourself with the best possible people to be successful.  You come here with one objective like all the teams, and that’s to win.  I take a look at the lineup of the guys you have.  In your perspective, I would think, You’ve come here with a squad winning the Borg-Warner again.
CHIP GANASSI:  Thanks.  Each year you make improvements to your team, you add people, you look at your competitors.  They’re not standing still either.  I think that’s important to keep in mind.  Everybody improves in the off-season.
We feel the improvements we made are what we needed.  We obviously had a curve ball thrown at us with Dario.  But to have a guy like Tony Kanaan there to step in, I think it’s been seamless and very good.
We haven’t given Tony the car that he needs yet.  We’ve had a few little issues in the first few races, but we feel those are pretty much behind us now.  We’re looking forward to the month of May.
In terms of Scott, same thing with Dixon.  He never seems to come out of the blocks hard at the beginning of the season, but that’s sort of our normal thing.  But we’re happy where we are.  We’re happy coming into May.
And Ryan, Charlie, Charlie coming back as a race winner, had a great run at Fontana.  I think that’s important to keep in mind.  Ryan stepping up, coming back to a familiar group of people.  We’re very, very happy to have him a part of this.
I’m honored to have all these five guys sitting next to me, I can tell you.
 
THE MODERATOR:  We’ll take questions.
Q.        Mike, your team changed from last year to this year with the engine manufacturer.  Installation-wise, was it necessary to modify the chassis or are they equal?
MIKE HULL:  That’s a good question, first of all.
If it would have been in the first year of the engine formula, then there would be big change, big teething things.  When the engine architecturally is moving forward slightly, the installation is quite easy by comparison to what it was at the beginning.  It’s been a
seamless transition.
If you look at that with the addition of the fact that the entire General Motors group works extremely hard to make sure that we hit the ground running.  We did that at the very first test we did in the off-season.  I think we looked at each other and didn’t even realize we changed engines.
It’s been a great opportunity for us with Chevrolet. 
 
Q.        Chip and Mike, you both talked about Scott’s legacy at this point in his career.  Why has he been so consistent for so long, been such a good fit for this organization, and where do you feel he ranks among the all-time open-wheel racers?
MIKE HULL:  I think because he doesn’t stop learning.  He doesn’t allow what he’s just done to be the high point in his life, in his career.  He only uses that as a springboard for the next day.
We sometimes say that he treats it like a tear-off.  He just keeps going.  He’s frustrated when he doesn’t do well.  We feel the frustration.  But he’s happy when he does well.  We feel that happiness, too.
I think his personality matches our group very well.  We just do not stop learning together, and he represents us.  I wish we could clone him, to be honest about it, moving forward because he’s the kind of person you need driving your racecar.
He gets it done today.  That’s what counts.
CHIP GANASSI:  Yeah, I would echo Mike’s comments.  I would only add that one of the things we liked early on about Scott Dixon was he doesn’t seem to carry much baggage with him.  We liked that about him.  That might explain the longevity with the team, and I hope the other drivers are listening to that (laughter).
But, no, we’re obviously very proud to have Scott.  When you talk about legacies, you have to add the driver that was his teammate last year, as well, in that conversation when you talk about great drivers.
That will be something someday for you in the media to talk about.  I don’t think it’s our position in the race team to talk about that.  We certainly think his name deserves to be up there as well.
 
Q.        Chip and Mike, how much of what you do and decide, how much of it is science and how much of it is gut?
CHIP GANASSI:  Mike does more of the science thing and I do more of the gut thing (smiling).
Obviously from track to track that changes, I think.  When your car is fast, you can start thinking about the science.  When your car is slow, you’re thinking about anything and everything.  You lean more on your gut maybe when you’re challenged in your performance that particular day.
So I think that changes.  At a place like Indianapolis, that may change three or four times during the race.  You may go from science to gut or gut to science or back and forth a few times.
I think if you rely on one too much you’re going to be sadly left out of the celebration at the end.  I think you need a combination of both.
MIKE HULL:  Yeah, I think they probably go together much more so than what people might realize.  It’s about the people that surround your program.  You can’t make decisions from the gut without the reliance of the people that help you make that decision.  That includes the race driver because the race driver is the integral part of what happens when the wheels are going around the racetrack.
But the way those wheels turn is all about making sure that it’s eyes wide open with the people’s input that you listen to when you make those decisions.
It goes from choosing the driver to then listening to the driver on the racetrack.
 
Q.        For the drivers, managing the race inside the helmet, traffic, strategy, stress, against desire, is this the most difficult race to manage of the season inside the helmet?
SCOTT DIXON:  I think it goes through stages.  Obviously it depends a lot on how the race is playing out for you.  I think if you’re in a comfortable situation, your demeanor is a little more comfortable throughout.
I think with the style of racing we saw last year, it’s pretty hectic for the three and a half hours straight up.  Your emotions go through rollercoasters like anybody in a high-stress situation.  I think the biggest thing is trying to concentrate on what’s ahead, what you need to improve.  You have to think about the big picture, keeping an open mind because things change constantly.
I think if you get too hung up on certain things, it’s going to ruin your day.
When it comes down to the end, a little aggression sure does go a long way.
TONY KANAAN:  Yeah, I agree.  Obviously, this is the Indy 500, but I take every race as a race you have to win.  It is a longer race than some of the others.  The way I approach it is just other race we have to win.
Like Scott said, it’s a longer race, so things could happen to you in the beginning, you don’t lose your cool, things will come around and work it out towards the end.
If you use an extra pressure, you’re going to put an extra effort just because it’s the 500, to me you’re not a complete driver.  You should put extra effort every time you go on the racetrack.  I try to take that pressure off and not think about it’s the Indy 500, it’s another race that we have to win.  We’re here to win every one of them if we can.
CHARLIE KIMBALL:  Echoing what Scott and Tony said, also about what Mike said about what makes Scott so good, you have to handle things during the race that you can’t let get to you.  You have to pull that tear off mentally and focus on what’s important.
For me in my fourth year here, the perspective changes a little better.  It continues to evolve.  The first year was about getting laps and building a foundation that we as a team and myself personally could build a race-winning effort on in the future.
The last year taught me a lot.  The first 100 miles, we had an electrical issue.  We qualified well, but by the end of the first lap, we were last.  40 laps in, we spotted the field a straightaway.  You can’t focus on that, you can’t dwell on that.  You have to focus on making the most of the racecar you have.
For me, the confidence in the team, the personnel on the stand, the pit crew, I don’t worry about strategy because they have it covered.  I tell them what the car is doing.  If I can tell them what it’s doing, they’ll make it better.  I have to focus on doing my job in the car and focusing on getting the best result possible as the race develops.
RYAN BRISCOE:  Yeah, this race is definitely unique.  From the buildup, the ceremonies, everything, the three-wide start, there are a few more things to think about at this race that you don’t have every weekend.
You have a lot more pit stops during the race.  You just need to make sure you’re getting in and out smoothly every time.  It’s a bit more pressure on the mechanics, as well.  They’ve got a lot more work cut out for them, too, at this event.
Another unique thing is we can change wing angles.  A lot of times you get into a race, you’re kind of stuck with the speed you have.  Here we can kind of adjust that during the race.  That’s something else to think about, you don’t want to do it too late in the race and make the wrong decision, so sort of make changes early and know where you are in the race so you have time to come back on it if it wasn’t right.
There are definitely a lot of things to think about, setting yourself up for the finish.  Obviously if you’re in the top 10 in the closing stages of the race here, you’ve got a chance to win.
 
Q.        Chip and Mike, we have qualifying tomorrow, a lot of points available for the championship.  You could fill half of the
top nine.  What is your strategy for tomorrow?
MIKE HULL:  If I told you that, everybody would know what it is.
The way we’ll approach tomorrow is the way that we’re going to approach today.  We’re going to get the most out of it.  That’s the way that we work.  That’s really the simple answer.
The strategy is developed simply from there.  Yeah, we’ll have a very defined strategy internally for us.  But we work really, really hard to get the most out of the day we have in front of us.
People in sports talk about process.  That’s what we’re all about.  We’re about today’s process.  It’s not a global view, it’s a process view.  That’s exactly how we’ll work tomorrow.
CHIP GANASSI:  I think it’s obviously qualifying.  It’s a big day in the month of May.  Hopefully it won’t be raining tomorrow like it is right now.  We’re going to play every card we have to play tomorrow for qualifying.
 
Q.        Dream case scenario, last year we ended with three Andretti cars and a KV car in that cluster at the front.  If there’s four Ganassi cars up front, any team orders with three laps to go on the restart?
CHIP GANASSI:  I’ve said many times there’s only one team order around here, it’s don’t hit each other.  Every man for himself.
 
Q.        In years past it seems like blocking has been something that’s been discussed by the folks in the tower a lot.  This year we’re being told you will be allowed to defend a position.  Looking at last year’s final laps, some have said if that rule had been in effect last year, T.K. would have had a hard time making the last pass.  If the defense is encouraged this year and the blocking is not legislated against, how does that change what you guys do?
TONY KANAAN:  If we going to go by if’s, I should have won five Indy 500s already.  If blocking was allowed, I wouldn’t have made that move, I would have made a different move.
In such a big race like this, and the race last year with so close with so many passings, I think we all felt you should be able to defend because every time they made a rule of not defending, it wasn’t really clear to us.  What is not defending?
You talk about the biggest race of the year for everybody, you’re in the lead, you’re second, you’re trying to win in the last few laps, this is not a gentlemen’s race, You go ahead please.
We’re going to try to defend.  My opinion, it’s the right thing to do.  You’re there, and if the guy is good, he’ll go around you.  We go from there, instead of leaving the decision up to the race stewards at the end of the race, who blocked who, why did that happen.  Obviously, there has to be some discrepancy, in my opinion, about how good or bad you want to put a block on somebody, how safe or unsafe that is.  But they should allow us to race.  It’s a race.
 
Q.        For the drivers, Kurt Busch has put up some nice numbers this week in practice.  What do you think of what he’s trying to do?  How hard is it?  How would it reflect, if at all, on the series if he was somehow able to win?
SCOTT DIXON:  Well, there’s no doubt he’s a fantastic driver, well-accomplished.  He’s with a great team.  I think the speeds that we’ve seen so far, that team has been strong in race traffic, getting big tows, things like that.
He will be very racy during the duration of the 500.  How it plays out, we have no idea.
To do the double, I don’t really know how tough it would be.  I’m sure it’s extremely tough just mentally trying to figure out the difference between the cars and optimizing it.  It’s somewhat not easy, but you can get close.  To close out either race is going to be extremely tough.
Maybe one day one of us will get that opportunity to see what it really is like.
CHIP GANASSI:  Careful.
SCOTT DIXON:  Maybe next year, all four of us (laughter).
So I don’t know.  I expect him to do well, being the good driver that he is, with the great team that he’s with.  We’ll just have to see how it plays out.  It’s a very strange race.
THE MODERATOR:  Guys, thank you very much for coming in.
 

CHEVROLET INDYCAR V6
VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
INDIANAPOLIS 500
PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
 
ROGER PENSKE – TEAM OWNER, RICK MEARS – TEAM CONSULTANT, TIM CINDRIC – PRESIDENT, HELIO CASTRONEVES – NO. 3 PENNZOIL ULTRA PLATINUM CHEVROLET, WILL POWER, NO. 12 VERIZON CHEVROLET, JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, NO. 2 VERIZON CHEVROLET met with members of the media at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Full Transcript:
 
THE MODERATOR:  We’re joined by Team Penske.  No introductions needed.  Rick Mears, Helio Castroneves, Juan Pablo, Will Power, Tim Cindric, and the boss himself Roger Penske.
We’ll ask a question to each of the participants.
How much more speed will we see?
HELIO CASTRONEVES:  The car has been very good.  The car has been super.  I’m extremely excited, not only with Pennzoil coming with the retro colors, but with the product as well.  It’s great to be here in Indianapolis introducing this.  And the car seems to be great.  So far we’ve been able to work well, all three of us, working well trying to develop not only a good car for racing but also for qualifying.
With the boost coming racing a little bit now, we’re certainly going to see speeds about 229.  Who knows if it will be 230 as well.  I feel that the weather will help a lot because you can take a lot of downforce out and the car will still be able to be pretty good.
It will certainly be Fast Friday and hopefully the weather holds up so we can go out and have fun.
 
THE MODERATOR:  Juan Pablo, is the car different?  Do you feel different than you did in 2000?
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA:  Not really.  I’ll tell you the truth, I was really surprised when I came on Sunday.  I went out and I said, I’m going to take my time.  Full throttle, lifted on three and four, second lap, third lap, fourth lap, I’m good.  It was nice.
One of the cool things about being with Team Penske, they do such a good job with the cars.  The experience here is so good.  They really know what they’re doing.  It makes it so easy for us, it really does.
I mean, when you’re trying, like yesterday we were starting to trim the car out in case it rained today, okay, I have a little bit of understeer, they change it.  They really know how much to change the car, to adjust the car.  It makes it fun.
I had one moment yesterday in three where it was a little too much.  I was like, Oh, that’s a little bit too much for me.
 
THE MODERATOR:  Will, points leader coming in.  Last year we saw a record number of lead changes in the 500.  Are the cars the same as they were in terms of aerodynamics and the ability to pass?  Will we see possibly the same number of lead changes this year?
WILL POWER:  Yeah, they’ll be a little faster because of the engine.  It punches such a big hole, that no one really wants to lead.  If you’re leading, you’re burning fuel, doing yourself no good.
It’s created this whole pack where you have to really understand how to run very close to cars, because that’s what you’ll be doing all day no matter where you are in the field.  You can’t get away.
I really feel as though this year we turned up with a better car.  I think last year we struggled a little in traffic.  So far it’s been better for us.  I think the team’s worked really hard.
Obviously we’ve had absolutely zero gauge of where the engine manufacturers stand.  I think today will be the first time you see people do single runs not in traffic, start to get a feel for where we stand there.
Hopefully Chevy’s got a good engine and we have a good shot at the pole.
 
THE MODERATOR:  Tim, in addition to being president of Penske Racing, you’re now a racing dad.  Tell us about that.
TIM CINDRIC:  It was pretty cool to see him go around the track.  I told him the bricks feel different going the other way.
I’m proud of what he’s accomplished.  These guys have helped him out in terms of which way to go.  I know the biggest race to him.  He’s got no idea what it even means to be on that track.  It wasn’t a negative.  He understands all the tradition here.  Yeah, it’s my night job.
 
THE MODERATOR:  15 wins at the Indianapolis 500 for Roger Penske.  You’ve seen many changes here, including the inclusion of NASCAR and the Grand Prix of Indianapolis.  Were you in favor of that race and if so what do you think of it?
ROGER PENSKE:  I think the Grand Prix race was terrific.  I spoke with Miles and some of the guys here, We’ve got an asset here.  You have a track like the Indianapolis track, why not use it?  The tradition was broken when we had the Brickyard.  From what the drivers have told me, it’s one of the great road courses they’ve run on.  It’s safe, fast.  I think the turnout by the fans was outstanding.  We look forward to doing it again.
I’d give them an A-plus for execution.  I saw a lot of young people, which is important in our sport.  A lot of young people have a lot of other things to do in their lives.  To see them sitting up with their families, sitting up on the mounds, is great.
Obviously, for Verizon, they were very happy with the turnout because this was their first chance to be at Indianapolis Speedway for a race.
 
THE MODERATOR:  Rick, would you have liked to have run in that race last Saturday on the road course?
RICK MEARS:  It would have been a lot of fun.  From listening to the guys, the track was great.  Like everything Roger said, I think it was a great turnout, great event.  I think it’s going to continue to grow and get better.
 
THE MODERATOR:  When you were driving, did it bother you having to be interrupted by rain or be completely washed out in some cases?
RICK MEARS:  It always bothered you to a point, but you have to sit there and say it’s the same for everybody.  To me, Team Penske was the best-prepared team.  It was going to be a help to us, if anything.  It never really bothered me.  You have to get geared back up and go when it was time.  It never was too bad.
 
THE MODERATOR:  Questions, please.
Q.      It’s a different format.  In its simplest form you have to put together the four best laps you can on Saturday and then on Sunday.  Talk about the ability to do that.  It’s more pressure than maybe back in the old days when you had one shot at it.
ROGER PENSKE:  We talked last night, Helio and I did, you have to be in that top nine tomorrow for Sunday.  I think that’s going to be critical to get the three cars in that Fast 9, Fast 10.  We have a meeting after this to go over specific rules.
We’ll have qualifying at key TV time on Sunday.  As we promote the sport, someone is thinking about strategy from the standpoint of how we can execute better and get more fans.
For these guys, they’ll make a run once, twice.  They’ve done it before.  You’ll see us take our time down, go out and run again.
The way the cars are this year, we’re ready to go.
HELIO CASTRONEVES:  With any new format, it will be interesting.  Looks like the weather is going to be good.  If the weather gets in the way of the format, we have a lot of different things to do.  Certainly as these guys said today, understanding really what your shot is here is really what you have to do.
You have to understand, do you have a shot for the pole, is that realistic?  And if you don’t, do you have a shot for the top nine?  Your goals change throughout the day.  That changes your strategy and how much risk you take.
WILL POWER:  First goal is to get in the top nine with not too much risk.  You don’t want to go in the wall.  That puts you really
on the back foot.
Like I said before, we’ve got no feel for it right now where we stack up.  We’ll have to see how the format plays out.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA:  I believe our cars are good enough.  Maybe they’re good enough Saturday to put us in the top nine.  We’ll see for Sunday how much more we need.  If we run Saturday, we’re not fast enough, we’ll see what we have to take out of the car and try to go quicker again.
ROGER PENSKE:  As far as changing the thing, this sport is really about change.  In a racecar, you’re changing every lap, every corner.  It’s about adapting.  I never would have known I could make it flat through one until I tried it.  Worst-case scenario, you go a different way.
 
Q.      Would you talk about the qualifying strategy in terms of points.  I understand there are a lot of points available.  Is it worth taking a risk to go back out, to be higher up for a few more points?
WILL POWER:  Yeah.  This point spread is really close between positions.  You would expect all the championship contenders would be pretty close anyway.  I’m sure if you were the one with the fast cars at the front competing for the championship, you would definitely go back out to gain some points.
 
Q.      Roger, could you reminisce a little bit about engine development in ’94, how you kept it secret.
ROGER PENSKE:  Well, going back to ’94, obviously we had been racing here for a number of years, we saw the stock block Buicks come, blow everybody off on the pole.  They’d run for 100 or 150 miles and have a technical issue.  Well more, we felt we could build an engine that obviously had the power.  I told our guys, We’re not going to talk about it.  It’s like taking your paycheck and cutting it in half if we talk about it.
To the extent we kept it a secret, I know Paul Tracy was in a toboggan suit running around Nazareth, we didn’t have transient dynos in those days, didn’t have one available to us.
While we were practicing here, we were running a 500-mile test run at Michigan.  A lot went into that.  It was exciting.
As usual, we won the race.  They reduced the boost five or six inches the next week, then the next week they outlawed the engine.  If you do too well, typical, you get slapped.
We’re excited about the Chevy engine this year.  The development, when you think about both Honda and Chevy have come with engines, I think they’re pretty equal.  Can’t really tell until we qualify.  The reliability has been good.
We couldn’t take the engines out of our cars this week until we had 2500 miles.  Think about racing miles, that’s qualifying, racing.  We’ve had that engine in since the beginning of the season, since the Barber test.  That shows you the reliability on the engines for both manufacturers, which is terrific.
Quite honestly, it’s something we don’t think about.  The gearbox, engine, power train is so reliable, it’s more about the setup.  This year I would say Firestone has come back with the best tire I’ve ever seen them have here.  We can run 50, 55 laps on those tires.
I think the feel is close.  The reliability of the engines.  The cars, we’ll get to know those better.  I think from a reliability standpoint, we’re in great shape.  Hope we have the same success we had in ’94.
 
Q.      Roger, when all the right circumstances come into play, do you have a plan to go back and build your own chassis one day?
ROGER PENSKE:  Obviously we had that capability in the UK to build the chassis.  Once the rules changed, we closed that down.  It would be difficult for us today.  We’d probably have to go to a third party to partner with.
Our main manufacturing capability today is from NASCAR where we build our cars from the ground up.
 
Q.      Juan Pablo, you’ve gone from one series to another a number of times in your career.  Which is more difficult, going from open-wheel to NASCAR or NASCAR back to open-wheel?
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA:  Coming back to open-wheel is something I already did.  It was just readjusting to the car, understanding the car, the tools that I had, get myself and the team on the same page on what I want out of the car.
It’s funny because there were certain things we tried earlier in the car that we couldn’t try because I was uncomfortable, that now it’s way better.  As time goes on, I’m definitely getting more comfortable in the car.
I probably had the fastest car here on Saturday.  It’s a shame we didn’t get a better result out of that.
But, I mean, when I went to Cup it was hard because it was something I’d never done.  After a while, it’s whatever the car will give you.  You know what I mean?  It’s kind of hard because you go one year, you make the Chase, and the next year we as a team we went backwards and you finish 25th in the championship.  It’s like, What happened?  It’s what you got.
It’s really close racing, so it’s what it is.  I don’t want to even really talk about it too much.  It is what it is.
 
Q.      Given how loaded qualifying and the race are this year, is there a chance that a lot of the championship contenders are going to be thinking about getting points instead of getting a victory and the part-timers are going to have an advantage?
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA:  In my opinion, I don’t think so.  You’re going to finish second behind me just because you want the points…
WILL POWER:  No.  I don’t think anybody is going to be thinking about that with 10 to go.
 
Q.      Helio, would you let that slip away?
HELIO CASTRONEVES:  No.  This place is a unique place.  Certainly everybody is going for it.  But maybe if you don’t have a chance, you might not be just crazy about it, do something stupid out there.  You might think twice before you take a chance.  At least that’s the way I feel.
But Indianapolis is Indianapolis.  You have an opportunity.  It doesn’t come quite often, so you got to take it.
 
Q.      (No microphone.)
ROGER PENSKE:  I think winning the Indy 500 is at the top of any driver or team owner’s list.  The double points I think is good.  If you execute these 500-mile races, you should get more points.
 
Q.      For Juan’s return, how has it gone for you and for him?
ROGER PENSKE:  We had to change the whole outfit when he showed up (laughter).  Look at him.  He’s got his black shirt on.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA:  Everything (laughter).
ROGER PENSKE:  Quite honestly, I’ve known Juan from the very beginning of his career here in the United States.  He’s been a guy that’s fast.  Quite honestly, I think Will and Helio and Tim and the guys look forward to having him come with us.
He’s pushing the guys.  There’s been a great cross-pollination of information getting Juan to where he wants to be.  For us, it was an opportunity.  We didn’t start thinking till the end of last year that we would run a third car.  When that asset came available, it’s a matter of, Let’s go.  We’re very happy to have him on the team.
 
Q.      Roger, when folks look at the IndyCar Series, particularly the Indy 500, there’s a rivalry between Penske and Ganassi.  How important is it to have a heated rivalry in this series?  Also talk about, is that more important than maybe having parity in the series?
ROGER PENSKE:  I guess I’m not sure I understood the question.
As far as our rivalry with Ganassi, he set the bar here.  He’s the guy we have to beat.  But we also see other t
eams.  Andretti has done a terrific job.  Quite honestly across the field, some of the smaller teams have shown a lot of speed here.  We can’t count anybody out.
Obviously with Juan having driven for Ganassi, it’s nice to have one of his guys over on our side.  I’m sure they’re watching him.  We’re counting on him to execute for us.
From a competitive standpoint, we’re here to focus on our own game.  Quite honestly that’s what we have to do here.  You get too emotional about things, for the wrong reasons, you don’t get the success.
My feeling here is we’re going to go out and execute.  Ganassi is going to be very competitive.  Dixon is one of the very best.  Kanaan won the race last year so he knows what it’s like to be in the winner’s circle.
Helio and Juan have been in the winner’s circle.  Will, he wants to check that off here this year.  We have a lot of commitment from our drivers to execute.
 
Q.      Helio, if the opportunity arises to win again, would that eclipse the others?
HELIO CASTRONEVES:  In this case, certainly a very unique opportunity.  You can’t thinking about that.  To make it happen, you got to work.  You got to execute.  That’s what we’re doing the entire month.  We want to make sure that we have a competitive car to put in that opportunity to make that happen.
So I’m really confident right now that we have the best equipment out there.  It’s about being in the right place at the right time because the race is about 500 miles, so it’s almost three hours of racing.  I feel that we just got to understand everything.
It would be awesome for sure because it’s only three guys did that.  However, I do feel that Rick did more than that because he helped me with my other three, so he has a little bit more than four.
RICK MEARS:  I can tell you, you’ll like the fourth one more.
HELIO CASTRONEVES:  Thanks.  I have something to look forward to it.  I feel that not only myself, but for a lot of fans, as well.  I’ll work hard to make that happen.
In terms of just my head, same procedure, start from zero.  Every time you come over here, there’s something new, something absolutely different from the years past.  You have to adapt when it comes.
 
Q.      Rick, when you won your fourth, did you ever think about climbing a fence?
RICK MEARS:  No, not at all (laughter).  They didn’t have fences back then.
It was nice watching that yellow Pennzoil car go around there.  I felt, That’s the closest I’m ever going to get to coming out of retirement. 
 
Q.      Under the long time qualifying format that was used for decades, nobody was better at that than you.  How would you have liked doing this format when you were in your prime?
RICK MEARS:  Well, again, it’s whatever the circumstance is.  It’s all relative.  It’s the same for everybody.  You just look at the situation, you figure out, How am I going to do this better than the rest of them?  You start doing your homework, digging into things, figure out all the scenarios, angles, everything you can do to figure out how to do a better job than they do.
Either way I think maybe just having the one shot, I enjoyed that, only having one shot at it.  I felt it really put the pressure on.  You had to get four laps, every corner.  If you blew one corner, you blew the whole deal.  I enjoyed that pressure.
So it’s how do we do it better than they do, that’s the main thing.
 
Q.      As far as the extra boost, do you have to actually change anything in the engine in terms of the gearing to adapt for that extra boost?  What does five miles an hour more feel like?
HELIO CASTRONEVES:  Straight line you don’t feel anything.  In the corner you change a little bit the adjusting on the car.  In the end of the day, yes, we do change the gearing so we adapt for that kind of speed.
Just small tuning for the car to make sure you keep going four laps in a row.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA:  I don’t know (laughter).  I know we’re doing gears, I know that.  We talked about that.  I know we’re doing gears, yeah.  A couple of changes in the car and stuff.
But I don’t know, I just drive it.  Should be fun.
WILL POWER:  Yeah, I mean, the gearing, obviously then you start changing downforce anyway, so it all kind of comes together for us.  It’s not a big deal.
 
Q.      A question about qualifying.  A few years ago when Helio went out, later that evening you shared with us some of the changes you tried to accommodate for the wind.  How much do you look up to look at the wind when you’re qualifying?  Say Will goes out and qualifies first among the group, how much information does he share?  If you’re in the car waiting to go, what do you want to hear from Will’s run that’s going to help you, or do you want information?
HELIO CASTRONEVES:  The first question, yes, you do look around to make sure you understand.  Every corner looks the same, but they’re not.  Even when the wind hits the nose of the car or the back of the car, you have to at least understand when you’re approaching that corner.  So, yes, normally I tend to check that out.
The second one, depends the information for what qualifying you’re in.  Qualifying one, you tell them.  If it’s qualifying two, maybe you just keep quiet (laughter).  No, just kidding.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA:  He’s not kidding, by the way (laughter).  You know what the biggest problem is, Roger is too competitive.
HELIO CASTRONEVES:  That’s good.  I like it.
But you do, you have a sense of the car is pushing or the car is loose, one of those things.  But normally with this format, it changed quite a bit.  As Rick is saying, in the past, you got to take the opportunity to take the car away and the time away to go again and try it.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA:  You can run with the same time.  It’s going to be two lines, isn’t it?  They don’t take the time away.
HELIO CASTRONEVES:  I understand that.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA:  Now you don’t take the time away.  Like if you’re seven, eight or nine, you’re in risk.  You know what I mean?  At the same time people doing it are in risk.  By trying to get in that top nine, if you’re on that bubble, you can put yourself in a bad situation for the risk.
To tell you the truth, we all know what everybody else is running.  You know if they didn’t change anything what they had in practice.  You can look at the data and say it’s definitely more neutral now without changing.  On the basis of data you can look at that, know where they are, what to do.
If you look at the qualifying run, you can see what they did with the tools.  Did they put a stiffer bar, a softer bar, a wedge, the gears he was running.
WILL POWER:  Put some wedge in it (laughter).
THE MODERATOR:  Thanks to all members of Team Penske for being with us here today.
 

CHEVROLET INDYCAR V6
VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
INDIANAPOLIS 500
DAY FIVE PRACTICE
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
 
INDIANAPOLIS (May 15, 2014) – After a short 45-minute weather delay to conclude track drying, the Chevrolet IndyCar V6 teams and drivers got a solid afternoon of practice in for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500. The track time was invaluable after two days of virtually no on-track activity due to inclement weather.
 
Helio Castroneves, No. 3 Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Team Penske Chevrolet, paced the field with a lap of 227.166 mph/39.6186 seconds.  The three-time winner of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” is the first driver over the 227 mph mark this year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
 
The 2012 Indy Pole winner, Ed Carpenter, No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, was second on the speed charts followed by Will Power, No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet and Townsend Bell, No. 6 Robert Graham – KV Racing Technology Chevrolet, in third and fourth respectively.
 
Fast Friday is next on the schedule from noon to 6:00 p.m. to fine-tune final preparations for qualifying for the May 25th race.
 
Qualifying for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 will begin Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. and conclude Sunday, May 18 with the Fast 9 Qualifying beginning at 2:00 p.m.  ABC TV will air live coverage of qualifying from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.
 
DRIVER QUOTES:
HELIO CASTRONEVES, No. 3 PENNZOIL ULTRA PLATINUM TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, FASTEST IN PRACTICE: HOW DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING TO COME DOWN THIS WEEKEND FROM A QUALIFYING STANDPOINT?  DO YOU TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE PROCEDURE? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NEW PROCEDURE?
“No, tomorrow is a day that I believe talking to (Tim) Cindric, Roger (Penske) they will also have a little meeting so that they understand more into the new format.  For me it’s just a matter of understanding what the car is doing.  I really like what I have obviously tomorrow we are going to go to a bigger boost.  So you are going to see big numbers up there as well.  We are looking for tomorrow to see those numbers keep going high.”
 
INAUDIBLE:
“Yeah, always anytime you are going for qualifying in Indianapolis it’s always very stressful.  I always repeat myself because that is true.  Rick Mears says that there are two types of races and it’s true it’s the qualifying and the race.  Now we are definitely going to go for Saturday and for Sunday so that is going to be nerve racking, I tell you, because to go four laps out there in this place you guys don’t realize how tough it is.  To do two days in a row it will be really tough.  I don’t think they are going to have much sleeping or I don’t think nine guys are not going to have much sleeping.”
 
WILL POWER HAS BEEN OUT SPOKEN ABOUT EXTRA POINTS FOR QUALIFYING AND THE CROWN JEWEL RACES WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?
“Well it’s the same for everyone I guess.  At this point obviously we are trying to make the three 500 miles race distinguish from itself from the other areas that is why probably create this type of challenge.  People will now have to think about, before it was just one race and going for it.  Because it’s the Indy 500 so you are going to go for it no matter what, but now you’ve got to think double here.  To make sure you don’t lose that many points and double header weekend you can lose a lot of points.  Double points here you can lose a lot of points.  At the end of the day it’s the same for everyone.  I’m not worried about the point’s right now I’m worried about having a fast car and going for another win.”
 
DO YOU HAVE A SENSE YET WHAT IT’S GOING TO TAKE TO WIN THIS POLE AND IF SO WHAT?
“I don’t.  With this new format I’m a little bit – I don’t to be honest.  As I said talking to (Tim) Cindric this morning a little bit they said they have got to sit down and kind of like check everything.  So it’s new for everyone and everybody needs to understand better.  I tell you what Team Penske they really push to the limit to make sure they try any kind of situation.  That is why I’m not going to even worry about it.  I’m just going to go and make sure my car is good.”
 
ANY GUESS ON THE NUMBER IT WILL TAKE TO CAPTURE THE POLE?
“I mean we did 227 (mph).  I feel that with the boost that going up probably about five mile an hour.  I’m not very good at math by the way, but I would say 229/230 it’s possible.”
 
ED CARPENTER, NO. 20 FUZZY’S ULTRA PREMIUM VODKA ED CARPENTER RACING CHEVROLET, 2ND IN PRACTICE:  IN REGARDS TO HIS DAY:
“It’s going well.  It’s really been fun working with JR (Hildebrand) and things are going well.  We make a little progress every day.  It’s a lot of fun.  Helio (Castroneves) nipped us at the end, but a good day at the speedway.  It was nice to get a lot of running in finally and have some more track time available, especially since tomorrow kind of doesn’t look so great again.  Definitely happy that James (Hinchcliffe) is going to be back out there with us as well it’s awesome.”
 
GETTING BACK IN THE CAR FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT ANY RESERVATIONS?
“I would echo it.  I think having done this for a long time it’s harder to come back from an accident when you are not sure what happened.  Like if you crash a car and you’re not sure why you crashed that is when it’s nerve racking coming back, but if there was a mistake made or it was a fluke kind of thing like what happened with James (Hinchcliffe) I think we have a lot easier time just kind of not worrying about what happened in the past.”
 
DOES THIS QUALIFYING FORMAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU AT ALL?
“It’s not that complicated.  We are in agreement since January.  We get it.”
 
THEY KEEP ADDING RULES LIKE 31-33…
“I think that is kind of a moot point right now though.  There are 33 cars here so I don’t think that is of big of a deal at the moment.”
 
WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE CRASHES IN QUALIFYING?
“That is what that provision is made for.  So it sounds like you get it to me.”
 
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WROTE THE RULE:
“I did not I like last year’s format just fine.”
HOW DOES THIS CAR FEEL COMPARED TO LAST YEAR’S CAR WHEN YOU WON THE POLE?
“It feels pretty good.  A day like today when it’s this cool it’s hard to make the car not feel good sometimes.  I think we have made some improvements.  We had some things that we wanted to try last year and really just didn’t have the time to.  That is one of the hard things when you are a single car team is you can’t do as many things.  You just don’t have the tires to do it, you don’t have the miles to do it all the time and even though we have had limited running this week we have been able to kind of venture out with my car a little bit.  JR has kind of been working from what I would call our base package from last year and kind of fine tuning that and having a good option there.  Then I have been able to try some things that we had on the list to try last year and just never got around to. I feel like we are learning some things that will hopefully definitely make for a better race car.  Some of them I think will be good for qualifying too.”
 
IF YOU WERE A DRIVER THAT WAS 15TH TO 33RD COULD THERE POSSIBLY BE A SITUATION WHERE THEY DON’T GO OUT ON SATURDAY TO SHOW ALL THAT THEY HAVE GOT MAYBE HOLD A LITTLE BIT BACK?
“I thought that you would see some of that until they came out with the updated points structure.  For all full-time cars I think you are going to see guys really work hard at it on Saturday just because points are valuable and
there are a lot of them up for grabs on Saturday.  I think it’s going to be pretty intense.  If you are a part-time guy and you are not worried about points for the year then I don’t know that you really need to risk a whole lot especially if you don’t think you are going to be in the Fast Nine.  That is my take.”
 
IF THIS RACE STAYS GREEN CLOSER TO THE END WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE ON THAT LAST LAP?
“I don’t know.  I mean it’s hard to not say the lead.  It’s hard to not say that is your best chance because it may not be like last year you just don’t know.  We don’t know what the weather is going to be.  It was a cool race last year.  If it was hot it wouldn’t have been quite as tight at the front I don’t think so a lot of it is just going to depend on the weather.  Anytime you can be in the lead with a couple of laps to go or one lap to go it’s hard to not have that spacing.  Can block like crazy and make them call a penalty (laughs).”
 
WILL POWER, NO. 12 VERIZON TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, 3RD IN PRACTICE: “The No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet had a good day today.  After our engine change yesterday, we went out there today and a had a few good couple of qualifying runs today.  The weather created some tough conditions with it being so cold, but we got what we needed done and we’re getting where we need to be for qualifying.”
 
TOWNSEND BELL, NO. 6 ROBERT GRAHAM – KV RACING TECHNOLOGY CHEVROLET, 4TH IN PRACTICE:
 
TONY KANAAN, NO.10 TARGET CHIP GANASSI CHEVROLET, 6TH IN PRACTICE:  “We worked on logging laps today and knew that we were getting close to maxing out the engine mileage of the Target car.  We ran for a few hours this morning and did long runs, then the team did an engine change before finishing out the afternoon on track.”
 
JR HILDEBRAND, NO. 21 PREFERRED FREEZER ED CARPENTER RACING CHEVROLET, 7TH IN PRACTICE:  “We weren’t sure about the weather today, but we were able to get in quite few laps.  That was good for both Ed and I.  I think Ed is pretty happy with his car and my team went through some different changes today.  We had to get through twice as much stuff as normal because we are concerned about the weather on Friday.  We did some race prep early in the practice with some full tanks runs.  We are pretty happy with it but we need to look through the data.  There might be some think we steal from the No. 20 car because they ended up more positive changes. All in all, the car feels pretty good.  We did a couple of qual (ifying) runs to see if things are in the right direction.  We seem to have some good grip. Hopefully we get out on Friday with the extra (turbocharged) boost and see what we have for qualifying.”
 
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, NO. 2 VERIZON TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, 8TH IN PRACTICE:  “We ran out the miles on our first engine this morning and had an engine change this afternoon. The guys on the No. 2 Verizon Chevy did a really quick job on that to make sure we got as many laps as we could afterwards. Now we are starting to understand a little bit of what we need for qualifying; just trying to get the basics of how the car feels in that trim. We’ll start taking more downforce off to get ready for the weekend.”
 
SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS:  No. 11 No. 11 HYDROXYCUT/MISTIC E-CIGS – KVSH RACING CHEVROLET, 11TH IN PRACTICE:
 
RYAN BRISCOE, NO. 8 NTT DATA CHIP GANASSI RACING CHEVROLET, 14TH IN PRACTICE:  “It was great to finally get in a full day of on-track time here at IMS.  It was really important for us to be out there today running as many laps as we could so that we could hit the mileage mark to change our engine.  I think it’ll really benefit us to have a fresh engine during qualifying and I was really happy with the way the No. 8 NTT DATA Chevrolet performed today on the long fuel runs.  I’m looking forward to Fast Friday tomorrow and qualifying this weekend.”  
 
SEBASTIAN SAAVEDRA, NO. AFS 17 KV AFS RACING CHEVROLET, 17TH IN PRACTICE:
 
SAGE KARAM, NO. 22 COMFORT REVOLUTION/BRANTLEY GILBERT  DREYER & REINBOLD KINGDOM RACING CHEVROLET, 18TH IN PRACTICE:
 
SCOTT DIXON, NO. 9 TARGET CHIP GANASSI RACING CHEVROLET, 20TH IN PRACTICE: “It was overcast all day today with the temperature just hovering over 50 degrees.  It was cold but we got some good track time in after the engine change [last night].  We mostly worked on aerodynamics today as well as began trimming the Target cars out for qualifying this weekend.”
 
CHARLIE KIMBALL, NO. 83 NOVOLOG FLEXPEN CHIP GANASSI RACING CHEVROLET,  27TH IN PRACTICE:  “Today was really good.  We got a lot of running in with the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen Chevrolet.  We were able to do a lot of race work and do a couple of full-tank runs.  We were even able to get in a few runs looking towards qualifying.  Overall we’re pretty happy with the day and I think we’re in really good shape for the weekend.  We’ll start working towards Fast Friday tomorrow then onto qualifying.  Once we get through the weekend, we can really just focus on race-day setup.”
 
BUDDY LAZIER, NO. 91 WYNN INSTITUTE FOR VISION RESEARCH CHEVROLET, 32ND IN PRACTICE: “For me, (shaking off the rust) was much easier than last year when I had never been in the car. It feels really good. We have some continuity from last year. We have some of the same guys back. I’m enjoying starting the process. I would have liked to start earlier, but I’m enjoying starting the process with our engineers and with the car. Bottom line is that I’m thrilled to be here. Happy to be part of this group of drivers. It’s a great group of drivers and I’m looking forward to advancing our car as quickly as possible.”
 
JAMES DAVISON, NO. 33 KV RACING TECHNOLOGY/ALWAYS EVOLVING RACING CHEVROLET, 33RD IN PRACTICE: ABOUT COMPLETING ROOKIE ORIENTATION PROGRAM TODAY: “I can go to bed resting easier knowing we got through our first day at IMS smoothly and completed ROP. We now know what to expect, any anxiety has dried up and I am excited to continue working on our program. I am pleased with my first laps in an Indy car at IMS. We got up to speed conservatively. In the end, we trimmed the car one stage and I was happy with the balance. In terms of speed, we know where we’re at since we didn’t run in traffic or with a tow. The No. 33 KV Racing Technology/Always Evolving Racing team had a good day and we will build on it tomorrow.”

CHEVROLET INDYCAR V6
VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
INDIANAPOLIS 500
DAY FOUR  PRACTICE
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
 
INDIANAPOLIS (May 14, 2014) – For the second consecutive day, weather hampered the Chevrolet IndyCar V6 teams from getting valuable track time as they prepare for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 25, 2014. The rain cleared enough to get the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway dry and cars were on-track by 5:00 p.m. ET with the Verizon IndyCar Series extending the track time to 7:00 p.m. ET.
 
But a single-car accident at approximately 6:00 p.m. halted the action, and as they were cleaning up the debris, and repairing the safer barrier, the rain began again, and Series officials were forced to end the day’s activities.
 
JR Hildebrand, in his No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet entry, led the way for Team Chevy turning in the second quickest time of the day, 225.854 mph/39.8488 seconds.  Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet driver Scott Dixon was third in the final order, with Team Penske’s Helio Castroneves in the No. 3 Chevrolet in fourth.
 
Ryan Briscoe put his Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet in the 225 mph club and the top-10 in the final order, as did Juan Pablo Montoya behind the wheel of his Team Penske Chevrolet
 
Practice resumes tomorrow, Thursday May 15, 2014 from noon to 6:00 p.m.
 
Qualifying for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 will begin Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. and conclude Sunday, May 18 with the Fast 9 Qualifying beginning at 2:00 p.m.  ABC TV will air live coverage of qualifying from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.
 
DRIVER QUOTES:
 
JR HILDEBRAND, NO. 21 PREFERRED FREEZER ED CARPENTER RACING CHEVROLET, 2ND IN PRACTICE:  ON HOW WEEK IS PROGRESSING: “I don’t care about putting up a big lap time; I care about how the car feels. It’s great to see that the car has the speed in it because you rarely go through practice with guys that are capable of setting those fast laps. They end up being the guys who have quicker cars. Certainly our focus is not that we can put up a big tow lap time, but we can catch-up to that guy, pass him and leap frog through the next guys ahead of that.  That is what we are working on right now. I think with myself and Ed (Carpenter) we’ve both had experiences over the last few years that have made us realize that the priority really is race day. And that is it. So far it has gone well. Glad we were able to get out today. We learned a few things with the conditions being quite different than they were over the last couple of days, and we will continue plugging away.
 
“Obviously we would rather be on the sharp end of the stick than not.  There’s two take aways I guess when looking at this. One is that Chevy and Honda seem to be quite evenly matched which I think is a good thing generally for the series. Two years ago when the engine competition first started, there was a pretty definitive difference – the Hondas were better on race day; the Chevys were better in qualifying. Last year Chevy had a little bit of an advantage across the board. It seems like we are in for a bit of a fight.  That is always good to make sure everyone is in contention out there.”
 
ON WHAT IMS MEANS TO HIM: “It is certainly the most important event that we run during the year. For me specifically, coming back here is starting over a little bit this year. Running with Ed Carpenter Racing is a nice new beginning for me. It is a great environment for me to come back to Indianapolis. On top of that, the equipment is as good as any bodies’. I found that to be a really refreshing change from being here in the past. We are excited to see what we can do together. For myself and for Ed, we are both in different situations, so being able to work together than we have been in a long time. Once you get here, the reminiscing of what’s happened for me goes away. For me coming here means time to get down to business. It’s hard to ignore. We are in the same garage area that I’ve been in for that last couple of years. Have the same crew chief. It is a lot of the same people around.  It is a new situation; it is a different environment. But there are some friendly reminders of where we have been at. For all of us we take what we’ve been strong at here in the past to try to put that into this year’s program.”
 
ON PREPARING FOR INDY BEING FIRST RACE: “Thank goodness once I get out on the race track, it doesn’t change that much. I was glad about that I was able to get back in the swing of things and get back in the swing of things and have it feel fairly normal.  When I first went out, I had a proverbial rusty couple of laps. But I kicked myself, and realize I did the last oval race that everyone else has done, it is time to get with the program, and we are quickly up to 220 and moving along. It is great to be back. It is a little bit different. We look at this as a team something to build upon for the second half of the year.  Hopefully we can show well enough and be strong enough that is where this moves along.”
 
SCOTT DIXON, NO. 9 TARGET CHIP GANASSI RACING CHEVROLET, 3RD IN PRACTICE:  “We worked on just a few things today really, given the limited track time.  A lot of our focus today was on dampers and spring combinations.  We made some changes, but again very limited time on track today for Team Target and everyone else.”
 
HELIO CASTRONEVES, No. 3 PENNZOIL ULTRA PLATINUM TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, 4TH IN PRACTICE: “It was a quick day due to the amount of rain we got this morning. The No. 3 Pennzoil team had planned to only run one lap due to our engine change last night but ended up taking it out for a few more laps to try an adjustment. Looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully the rain holds off so we can get more laps in.”
 
RYAN BRISCOE, NO. 8 NTT DATA CHIP GANASSI RACING CHEVROLET, 6TH IN PRACTICE:
 
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, NO. 2 VERIZON TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, 7TH IN PRACTICE:  “There are so many things that are within our control, but the weather isn’t one of them. We didn’t need to see that rain today, but it is what it is. The No. 2 Verizon Chevy team is sticking to the plan. The good news is the car continues to show speed out there. Hopefully tomorrow is drier than the last couple of days.”
 
TONY KANAAN, NO.10 TARGET CHIP GANASSI CHEVROLET (IN T CAR), 11THIN PRACTICE:  “Well we waited all day for the weather to clear and we ended up getting some track time today, so I guess something is better than nothing in this case.  Just more of the same running really today. We worked on long runs in the Target car and our speeds improved a bit as well so that was a plus for us.”
 
CHARLIE KIMBALL, NO. 83 NOVOLOG FLEXPEN CHIP GANASSI RACING CHEVROLET,  13TH IN PRACTICE:
 
ED CARPENTER, NO. 20 FUZZY’S ULTRA PREMIUM VODKA ED CARPENTER RACING CHEVROLET, 14TH IN PRACTICE:  “It was kind of nice to get out at all today.  We thought it was going to be a wash out.  I felt like it was a bonus session today.  We were able to learn a couple of things and we are itching closer to where we want to be with the race cars.  Both J.R. and I have been trying a couple of things likely and I think we are both making progress.  I think we are making a step forward now.  Obviously, the cars have speed.  J.R. put up a big number today. That’s encouraging also.  Hope to get more track time on Thursday.”
 
SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS:  No. 11 No. 11 HYDROXYCUT/MISTIC E-CIGS – KVSH RACING CHEVROLET, 17TH IN PRACTICE:
 
SEBASTIAN SAAVEDRA, NO. AFS 17 KV AFS RACING CHEVROLET, 23RD IN PRACTICE:
 
SAGE KARAM, NO. 22 COMFORT REVOLUTION/BRANTLEY GILBERT  DREYER & REINBOLD KINGDOM RACING CHEVROLET, 26TH IN PRACTICE: “The day went well. It was
kind of a weird day, waiting around for the weather to clear up. We actually didn’t think we were going to get out at all today, so just to get some laps in was a plus. I got to feel a new wind direction (a tailwind into turn one), which I think was the most beneficial thing for us this afternoon. Also it was a bit colder, so I got to feel what pit road is like in cool conditions. As far as lap times, we didn’t get into a strong draft today, so we mostly worked on setting up the car to run alone or with one car in front. We’ll see how it goes the rest of the week, and we’ll try to get the No. 22 car higher up on the charts before qualifying weekend.”
 
WILL POWER, NO. 12 VERIZON TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, 29TH IN PRACTICE:  Only made one lap today
 

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S PATRIOTIC CHEVROLET SS, WAS THE GUEST ON THIS WEEK’S NASCAR WEEKLY TELECONFERENCE.
 
BELOW IS THE TRANSCRIPT:
 
 
THE MODERATOR:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Today we’re joined by Jimmie Johnson.  Jimmie made his first Sprint Cup Series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2001 and he’s currently tied with Bobby Allison and Darrel Waltrip for the all‑time wins lead at the speedway with six victories.
 
Jimmie, a win this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway would be your third consecutive All‑Star Race win.  How would that help with your momentum going into the Coca‑Cola 600 the following week?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Yeah, I didn’t realize some of the stats.  It’s really cool to hear.  I know the track has been strong for myself and Hendrick Motorsports really if you look at their history.  Want to keep those winning ways alive.
 
If we were able to win a third consecutive All‑Star Race, that would be something.  I’m not sure if that’s happened before.  I would love to have that honor.
 
Momentum is very helpful.  A race win does a lot for teams.  I think we’ve been knocking on the door throughout the year.  It would be a nice boost, shot in the arm for the team if we were able to do so.
 
THE MODERATOR:  Next week you’ll be the first active athlete to vote for a professional sports Hall of Fame.  Talk a little bit about that honor.
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Yeah, that is a huge honor.  I’ve enjoyed studying up on everybody.  I have a huge booklet with 30, 35 names in it.  It’s the Hall of Fame, then there’s also another award that we’ll be voting on.
 
It’s been a fun process.  From what I gather, I guess it’s the 21st when we sit down and meet for a couple of hours.  It will be a fun and educational meetings.
 
I’m looking forward to more of the process and I’ve enjoyed what I’ve been a part of so far.
 
THE MODERATOR:  We’ll now go to the media for question for Jimmie Johnson.
 
Q.  There’s been a lot of talk this season about the intensity of the racing given the new championship format.  From what you’ve seen so far, just how aggressive do you think the driving and the overall racing might be when we get into the Chase, especially these elimination races like Phoenix?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  I think it depends on circumstances.  Everybody is always racing hard.  I think there have been a lot of efforts made in a lot of areas to increase the competition on the racetrack.
 
Look at rules packages, they’re always evolving.  We’re working on different tires.  Tracks are resurfacing.  The points system has changed.  I think there’s a little help from all areas to put on a great show for the fans and have a great product in NASCAR.
 
I assume it will continue to ratchet up, especially if you have drivers trying to move forward in the Chase that are near one another and a win is vital for them to transfer to the next segment.  You can get into those circumstances and scenarios as we get late in the year, and it can be exciting, especially like on a short track like Phoenix.
 
Q.  This creates a situation that’s basically an unknown.  Do you look forward to that kind of challenge or is it something that worries you?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Yeah, we don’t mind new challenges.  Our team has always adapted well.  At times we seem to grab things faster than others, at other times we don’t. We’ll take our chances.  We’ve been able to win with all types of Chase formats, all types of cars.  We’re up for the challenge.  We enjoy it.
 
Q.  I’m not sure how much you’re following him, but yesterday Kurt Busch was second fastest at Indianapolis Motor Speedway practice, up above 224 miles an hour.  Are you paying attention much?  Are you surprised or impressed by it?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  I missed yesterday.  That’s great news.  I’m stoked for him.  I’ve been talking with him some on fitness and hydration and nutrition.  He’s got a long, active month leading up to the big race next week.  He and I have been chatting more about hydration and nutrition than anything.  I’m happy to hear that.  I missed that yesterday.
 
I think he’s going to do an awesome job.  I’ve always wondered if you take somebody from a low downforce vehicle and put them in a high downforce vehicle, to see how they would do.  Yesterday is a great sign.
 
I feel it’s more difficult for an open‑wheel guy to come to a stockcar and have downforce taken away from them.  I’ll be interested to see if that’s Kurt’s opinion and how that all plays out in the end.
 
Q.  I know you explored it at one point.  What do you think the biggest challenge is for him?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Man, I think stress.  Stress takes a big toll on the body.  You’re stressed about your balance and your setup for your stockcar. You’re stressed about your balance and setup for your IndyCar.  Practice sessions.  Are you eating, drinking, getting enough rest.  Media obligations.  On Sunday, is it going to affect the IndyCar race.  Is the helicopter or plane on time.
 
I think it’s stress.  We all know what it does to our system.  It wears you down pretty quick.  I think it’s stress.  He’s got a lot of stress on his plate right now.
 
Q.  Given your history of success at Charlotte, the All‑Star Race in particular, do you bring just as much confidence into this weekend as you would if, say, you already had a couple wins under your belt this season?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Yeah, for sure.  That’s the one thing that I learned maybe year two or three in Cup, is that every weekend’s a new weekend. It’s a new track.  Even if you go from a mile‑and‑a‑half to another mile‑and‑a‑half, they’re so different in how they drive and the setup that’s required.  It is nice.  You can start on a clean sheet of paper and hit the racetrack and go.
 
Momentum that you do carry is I think noticeable maybe on Friday, opening practice, qualifying.  By the time you get to the race, you’re dealing with that weekend’s circumstances.  Just because you won the previous race or many races beforehand doesn’t change things on that given race day.
Believe me, it’s a nice week.  I’d say from Sunday evening after the race until maybe Friday, Thursday or Friday, depending on the format, when NASCAR timing and scoring begins again, that’s a good period of time and where you feel momentum the most after a win.
 
Q.  In terms of what drivers can do to each other on the track, is there anything that you feel is out‑of‑bounds in the All‑Star Race?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  It definitely changes things.  I think people are willing to take more risks and opportunities if they’re there.  Again, you’re really looking from second to first.  I think second place, if he’s in reaching distance of the leader, will certainly do what he can for $1 million and no implications in points.
 
From fifth to fourth, it doesn’t pay much.  Why are you going to risk making the guy in fourth mad?  He’s going to come after you the following week. Given the race format, I think it certainly can make things exciting.
 
Q.  I understand when you were untouchable in the early to the mid 2000’s, the car and track are different to what they are now.  Do you still carry the same level of expectation for yourself as you did when you were winning every week there?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  I do.  Honestly, I’d say most tracks I carry that same expectation, swagger, whatever it is.&nb
sp; We’ve been able to win at so many tracks, have been very successful for a long period of time; we’ve set the bar very high for ourselves.  Outside of maybe Bristol or Richmond, you know, there’s maybe one or two other ones in there where you seem to get beat up on pretty bad and we don’t have the performance we want.  Those are the only tracks I walk into with a little less confidence.
 
But Charlotte has been so good to us.  Even though our dominance was a while ago, we’ve been able to win the All‑Star a few times since.  We’ve definitely been in the money and have had a shot to win.  I’m carrying good confidence in there.
 
Q.  With two straight All‑Star wins, you’ve had some nice point’s runs there recently; do you feel you’re getting something of an edge back at that racetrack again?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Man, I want to.  But Kasey Kahne, whatever I seem to find, he has and has found.  Harvick has been strong there over the years.  With their performance of late, I would expect them to be awfully tough.  I think more people have figured it out.  The surface was so rough and abrasive; we hit on some stuff that just worked.  I don’t know if you can find that dominance today, especially with the asphalt like it is.
 
So I think there’s a larger group of guys racing for the win now than when I had that dominant streak.
 
Q.  They changed the format of the All‑Star Race over the last decade.  Do you have a format you prefer?  What is your opinion to moving the All‑Star Race around to different tracks?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Moving the race around?  I get it.  I think it would be very entertaining on a short track.  But living it like we do week after week, man, it’s so nice for us to be home for a couple weekends.  39 races in 41 weeks.  The teams are based here.  It’s nice to be in our own backyard. From a selfish standpoint, I’m happy with it being here in Charlotte so we get time at home and see our families and sleep in our own beds.  That’s a nice perk.
Format‑wise, honestly I’ve quit paying attention because it changes so much each year.  I guess it is semi similar this year, although qualifying is right before the race, which is different for sure.  We would do things far differently to the racecar if it wasn’t an impound qualifying procedure this weekend.
 
There are some differences.  This many years into my Cup career, you just got to learn to go with it.  Whatever changes are thrown at you, you take it, deal with it, move on.  I don’t have a strong opinion either way.
 
Q.  It’s been a different season for you and the 48 team.  What has it been like to have to be chasing after it?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  We’ve had to chase plenty of times.  I think some or many forget that, yes, we do have a lot of trophies and I’m very proud of them, but there have been plenty of slow starts, plenty of dry spells or stretches through a given season.
 
But one thing that’s always constant about the 48 is we’re going to work our guts out to figure it out.  That’s what we’re in the middle of doing now.  It isn’t fun, that’s for sure.  It isn’t a fun experience to work so hard and not get the reward that you want.  But that’s life.
 
I love to work and I know my team does, so we’ll just keep plugging away.
 
Q.  How about all this about it builds character, you would prefer it be easier?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  I think we all prefer the easy road.  If we all had an easy button, I’m sure we’d push it multiple times a day just to make things better.  But it builds character.
 
13 years being the driver of the 48 car, we’ve had lots of ups and downs.  I think it’s safe to say we’ve probably had more ups than downs with all the success we’ve had on the team.  I take that into consideration, as well.
 
We’re going to work right now.  We’re trying to be a better race team.  That’s all.
 
Q.  I know your teammate Dale has his graveyard of racecars, all the wrecked racecars on his property.  Have you ever had a car donated to the graveyard?  You collect stuff from your wins, but do you have anything from any of your wrecks or would you even want any of that stuff?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  I do have a car out there in his graveyard.  I can’t recall which one it is.  He’s very up to date on what car from what track and driver, all that kind of stuff.  I know there’s one out there of mine.
 
My crash at Watkins Glen in the Nationwide car in 2000, the next year I go up there and there’s a guy with a sign on the back of his pickup selling blocks of foam.  I bought a couple chunks from him.  I have those.  Fisher engines, who did our engines, gave us the oil pan that was twisted and mangled. So I had that.  I also had a steering wheel from it.
 
I found out with car was going to be cubed when Herzog Motorsports was going to be shut down.  So I found the car.  It was rusty and a mess.  I don’t have a car from that era of competing.  I’m going to restore it.
 
My brother has rebuilt it and restored it.  It’s sitting there and looks brand‑new and great in my warehouse.
 
It isn’t necessarily crashed, but it is the car I hit the wall with and I have it displayed there now.
 
Q.  Why would you want a wrecked car?  It’s understandable why a driver wants a championship car, but why would a driver want a memory of a car that was severely wrecked?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  My 2000 year wasn’t all that stellar.  The real highlight in the year, the point in time I was recognized, was in that car stuffed into the foam.  I guess there’s a little something to that, why I wanted the car (laughter).
 
Q.  I was in Lowe’s yesterday talking to a cashier about you.  I can remember doing the teleconferences in the past.  I got to thinking about the longevity you’ve had with your sponsor.  What effect do you think that has had on your career and on your success?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Yeah, I’m obviously very proud of the long‑term relationship that Hendrick, Lowe’s and myself have had.  Truthfully when I look back at the decisions I made, the way my life has gone independent of racing, it’s been in the same respect.  I’ve always had long‑term relationships with friends, even through dating.  I’ve just been that way.  I’ve only driven for a few race teams.  Really the same team in off‑road days, then as I moved on, I drove for a long period of time for the Herzogs, then the Hendricks.
 
It’s my style and it’s worked out.  It’s so nice to know the faces, to know the names, and to know we return a value to their sponsorship, the money they put into our race team and into marketing, that we are an important part of their marketing program.  We take great pride in it.
 
I think it’s the longest standing driver/owner/sponsorship relationship out there, and I think one of the last singular sponsors of a racecar in a series today.
 
All those stats mean a lot to myself and I know they mean a lot to Rick, too.
 
Q.  I was there restoring a brass lamp, a 102‑year‑old lamp.  What do you think the chances are that I would find a screw for it?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Judging by the tone of your voice, it went well, and I hope that’s the case.
 
Q.  It definitely went very well.  I was amazed.
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Good (laughter).  Glad you went there.
 
Q.  In all the years I’ve covered you, through all the challenges, you’re so calm when the craziest things happen.  I don’t see you riled too easily. What is the one thing that r
eally stresses you out?  You seem to have such calm blood going through your veins.
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Yeah, I get plenty stressed.  In the moment I guess my mind tries to stay calm and think things through.  I’ve had more success by handling the situation without fear, frustration, anxiety running through my veins.  I make better decisions in that space and I naturally kind of go there.
 
I get stressed out about plenty of things.  Speed in a racecar is top of my mind Friday to Sunday.  I find that in my personal life I fear and worry about a lot of things now that I’m a parent and have to worry about two little ones.
 
I would say between professional success on a Friday‑to‑Sunday routine, and then pretty much the entire week just worried about two little ones running around and their safety.  Those would be my two biggies.
 
Q.  With really no time to work on the car between qualifying and the race, will that change your approach at all, how you approach the weekend?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  It won’t change certain aspects of it.  From the way we go out and qualify, get our fast laps, do all that we do, that will be the same.  But the way we set the car up is going to be far different.
 
There are a few big things that you do when it’s not an impound race.  We take the ballast of the car and push a lot of that weight forward.  That really helps stabilize the car.  That’s clearly an adjustment you don’t want to do on pit road.  It’s pretty timely, as well.  We won’t have nose weight in the car.
 
Your goal in setting up your racecar for a race is to have it easy on the tires so they last as long as possible, whereas in qualifying you only need a couple laps, so you’re going to work a given corner or all four really hard.
 
We’ll definitely be doing things differently.  I don’t recall having an impound race this year for an open motor race, so it will be a new little twist on things.
 
I think it’s going to be exciting for the fans and create a little better show, a little more excitement through the course of the afternoon, with qualifying at 7:00 and the race at 9:00.
 
So I’m for it, but our race setup will be different.  The overall mindset will still be similar.  Track position is going to be everything and busting out a fast lap in qualifying is going to be key.
 
Q.  How much do you expect teams to be experimenting this weekend, or do you think there will be less experimenting considering that those guys that have wins can experiment throughout the season anyway?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Charlotte is always big for experimenting, largely because when you come back for the 600, the clock ticks so fast in practice, you can’t get to your list of things to try.
 
We practice during the day and race at night.  So things that show some promise, you’re always concerned to run them in the 600 because the bulk of the race is at night, and you just tried all these new experimental items in the sun.  Is it going to work?  Is handling going to change?
 
So it’s nice to get a race on your equipment if it’s setup‑wise or even engine stuff.  A lot of teams seem to debut new engine packages at the All‑Star Race.  They figure if they can survive the All‑Star Race, as hard as we run there, that we can take it to other racetracks.
 
I would say it’s safe to say that the majority of the field will be experimenting with something on their cars.
 
Q.  You said you bought the foam from a guy at Watkins Glen in 2001.
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  I did.  I bought two chunks from him.  He was out there selling the chunks of foam that were flying all over the place.
 
Q.  Did he realize it was you?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Man, I don’t recall.  It was so long ago.  It was in 2001.  I don’t know if he did.  I believe I would remember that.  He wanted five bucks a chunk for foam.  I gave him 10 bucks, took two pieces of foam and went on my way.
 
Q.  How did you find out about it?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  We were roaming around through the campground looking for some trouble, I guess, just cruising around.  He had an old blue beat‑up pickup truck.  He had a plywood sign.  On the sign it said, Jimmie Johnson’s crash, the foam, all that kind of stuff, $5 a chunk.  I’m like, Man, I’m going to get me a few of those.
 
THE MODERATOR:  Jimmie, thanks so much for joining us today and good luck this weekend in the All‑Star Race.
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Good deal.  Thank you.  See everybody.
 

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S PATRIOTIC CHEVROLET SS, WAS THE GUEST ON THIS WEEK’S NASCAR WEEKLY TELECONFERENCE.
 
BELOW IS THE TRANSCRIPT:
 
 
THE MODERATOR:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Today we’re joined by Jimmie Johnson.  Jimmie made his first Sprint Cup Series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2001 and he’s currently tied with Bobby Allison and Darrel Waltrip for the all‑time wins lead at the speedway with six victories.
 
Jimmie, a win this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway would be your third consecutive All‑Star Race win.  How would that help with your momentum going into the Coca‑Cola 600 the following week?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Yeah, I didn’t realize some of the stats.  It’s really cool to hear.  I know the track has been strong for myself and Hendrick Motorsports really if you look at their history.  Want to keep those winning ways alive.
 
If we were able to win a third consecutive All‑Star Race, that would be something.  I’m not sure if that’s happened before.  I would love to have that honor.
 
Momentum is very helpful.  A race win does a lot for teams.  I think we’ve been knocking on the door throughout the year.  It would be a nice boost, shot in the arm for the team if we were able to do so.
 
THE MODERATOR:  Next week you’ll be the first active athlete to vote for a professional sports Hall of Fame.  Talk a little bit about that honor.
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Yeah, that is a huge honor.  I’ve enjoyed studying up on everybody.  I have a huge booklet with 30, 35 names in it.  It’s the Hall of Fame, then there’s also another award that we’ll be voting on.
 
It’s been a fun process.  From what I gather, I guess it’s the 21st when we sit down and meet for a couple of hours.  It will be a fun and educational meetings.
 
I’m looking forward to more of the process and I’ve enjoyed what I’ve been a part of so far.
 
THE MODERATOR:  We’ll now go to the media for question for Jimmie Johnson.
 
Q.  There’s been a lot of talk this season about the intensity of the racing given the new championship format.  From what you’ve seen so far, just how aggressive do you think the driving and the overall racing might be when we get into the Chase, especially these elimination races like Phoenix?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  I think it depends on circumstances.  Everybody is always racing hard.  I think there have been a lot of efforts made in a lot of areas to increase the competition on the racetrack.
 
Look at rules packages, they’re always evolving.  We’re working on different tires.  Tracks are resurfacing.  The points system has changed.  I think there’s a little help from all areas to put on a great show for the fans and have a great product in NASCAR.
 
I assume it will continue to ratchet up, especially if you have drivers trying to move forward in the Chase that are near one another and a win is vital for them to transfer to the next segment.  You can get into those circumstances and scenarios as we get late in the year, and it can be exciting, especially like on a short track like Phoenix.
 
Q.  This creates a situation that’s basically an unknown.  Do you look forward to that kind of challenge or is it something that worries you?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Yeah, we don’t mind new challenges.  Our team has always adapted well.  At times we seem to grab things faster than others, at other times we don’t. We’ll take our chances.  We’ve been able to win with all types of Chase formats, all types of cars.  We’re up for the challenge.  We enjoy it.
 
Q.  I’m not sure how much you’re following him, but yesterday Kurt Busch was second fastest at Indianapolis Motor Speedway practice, up above 224 miles an hour.  Are you paying attention much?  Are you surprised or impressed by it?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  I missed yesterday.  That’s great news.  I’m stoked for him.  I’ve been talking with him some on fitness and hydration and nutrition.  He’s got a long, active month leading up to the big race next week.  He and I have been chatting more about hydration and nutrition than anything.  I’m happy to hear that.  I missed that yesterday.
 
I think he’s going to do an awesome job.  I’ve always wondered if you take somebody from a low downforce vehicle and put them in a high downforce vehicle, to see how they would do.  Yesterday is a great sign.
 
I feel it’s more difficult for an open‑wheel guy to come to a stockcar and have downforce taken away from them.  I’ll be interested to see if that’s Kurt’s opinion and how that all plays out in the end.
 
Q.  I know you explored it at one point.  What do you think the biggest challenge is for him?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Man, I think stress.  Stress takes a big toll on the body.  You’re stressed about your balance and your setup for your stockcar. You’re stressed about your balance and setup for your IndyCar.  Practice sessions.  Are you eating, drinking, getting enough rest.  Media obligations.  On Sunday, is it going to affect the IndyCar race.  Is the helicopter or plane on time.
 
I think it’s stress.  We all know what it does to our system.  It wears you down pretty quick.  I think it’s stress.  He’s got a lot of stress on his plate right now.
 
Q.  Given your history of success at Charlotte, the All‑Star Race in particular, do you bring just as much confidence into this weekend as you would if, say, you already had a couple wins under your belt this season?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Yeah, for sure.  That’s the one thing that I learned maybe year two or three in Cup, is that every weekend’s a new weekend. It’s a new track.  Even if you go from a mile‑and‑a‑half to another mile‑and‑a‑half, they’re so different in how they drive and the setup that’s required.  It is nice.  You can start on a clean sheet of paper and hit the racetrack and go.
 
Momentum that you do carry is I think noticeable maybe on Friday, opening practice, qualifying.  By the time you get to the race, you’re dealing with that weekend’s circumstances.  Just because you won the previous race or many races beforehand doesn’t change things on that given race day.
Believe me, it’s a nice week.  I’d say from Sunday evening after the race until maybe Friday, Thursday or Friday, depending on the format, when NASCAR timing and scoring begins again, that’s a good period of time and where you feel momentum the most after a win.
 
Q.  In terms of what drivers can do to each other on the track, is there anything that you feel is out‑of‑bounds in the All‑Star Race?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  It definitely changes things.  I think people are willing to take more risks and opportunities if they’re there.  Again, you’re really looking from second to first.  I think second place, if he’s in reaching distance of the leader, will certainly do what he can for $1 million and no implications in points.
 
From fifth to fourth, it doesn’t pay much.  Why are you going to risk making the guy in fourth mad?  He’s going to come after you the following week. Given the race format, I think it certainly can make things exciting.
 
Q.  I understand when you were untouchable in the early to the mid 2000’s, the car and track are different to what they are now.  Do you still carry the same level of expectation for yourself as you did when you were winning every week there?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  I do.  Honestly, I’d say most tracks I carry that same expectation, swagger, whatever it is.&nb
sp; We’ve been able to win at so many tracks, have been very successful for a long period of time; we’ve set the bar very high for ourselves.  Outside of maybe Bristol or Richmond, you know, there’s maybe one or two other ones in there where you seem to get beat up on pretty bad and we don’t have the performance we want.  Those are the only tracks I walk into with a little less confidence.
 
But Charlotte has been so good to us.  Even though our dominance was a while ago, we’ve been able to win the All‑Star a few times since.  We’ve definitely been in the money and have had a shot to win.  I’m carrying good confidence in there.
 
Q.  With two straight All‑Star wins, you’ve had some nice point’s runs there recently; do you feel you’re getting something of an edge back at that racetrack again?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Man, I want to.  But Kasey Kahne, whatever I seem to find, he has and has found.  Harvick has been strong there over the years.  With their performance of late, I would expect them to be awfully tough.  I think more people have figured it out.  The surface was so rough and abrasive; we hit on some stuff that just worked.  I don’t know if you can find that dominance today, especially with the asphalt like it is.
 
So I think there’s a larger group of guys racing for the win now than when I had that dominant streak.
 
Q.  They changed the format of the All‑Star Race over the last decade.  Do you have a format you prefer?  What is your opinion to moving the All‑Star Race around to different tracks?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Moving the race around?  I get it.  I think it would be very entertaining on a short track.  But living it like we do week after week, man, it’s so nice for us to be home for a couple weekends.  39 races in 41 weeks.  The teams are based here.  It’s nice to be in our own backyard. From a selfish standpoint, I’m happy with it being here in Charlotte so we get time at home and see our families and sleep in our own beds.  That’s a nice perk.
Format‑wise, honestly I’ve quit paying attention because it changes so much each year.  I guess it is semi similar this year, although qualifying is right before the race, which is different for sure.  We would do things far differently to the racecar if it wasn’t an impound qualifying procedure this weekend.
 
There are some differences.  This many years into my Cup career, you just got to learn to go with it.  Whatever changes are thrown at you, you take it, deal with it, move on.  I don’t have a strong opinion either way.
 
Q.  It’s been a different season for you and the 48 team.  What has it been like to have to be chasing after it?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  We’ve had to chase plenty of times.  I think some or many forget that, yes, we do have a lot of trophies and I’m very proud of them, but there have been plenty of slow starts, plenty of dry spells or stretches through a given season.
 
But one thing that’s always constant about the 48 is we’re going to work our guts out to figure it out.  That’s what we’re in the middle of doing now.  It isn’t fun, that’s for sure.  It isn’t a fun experience to work so hard and not get the reward that you want.  But that’s life.
 
I love to work and I know my team does, so we’ll just keep plugging away.
 
Q.  How about all this about it builds character, you would prefer it be easier?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  I think we all prefer the easy road.  If we all had an easy button, I’m sure we’d push it multiple times a day just to make things better.  But it builds character.
 
13 years being the driver of the 48 car, we’ve had lots of ups and downs.  I think it’s safe to say we’ve probably had more ups than downs with all the success we’ve had on the team.  I take that into consideration, as well.
 
We’re going to work right now.  We’re trying to be a better race team.  That’s all.
 
Q.  I know your teammate Dale has his graveyard of racecars, all the wrecked racecars on his property.  Have you ever had a car donated to the graveyard?  You collect stuff from your wins, but do you have anything from any of your wrecks or would you even want any of that stuff?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  I do have a car out there in his graveyard.  I can’t recall which one it is.  He’s very up to date on what car from what track and driver, all that kind of stuff.  I know there’s one out there of mine.
 
My crash at Watkins Glen in the Nationwide car in 2000, the next year I go up there and there’s a guy with a sign on the back of his pickup selling blocks of foam.  I bought a couple chunks from him.  I have those.  Fisher engines, who did our engines, gave us the oil pan that was twisted and mangled. So I had that.  I also had a steering wheel from it.
 
I found out with car was going to be cubed when Herzog Motorsports was going to be shut down.  So I found the car.  It was rusty and a mess.  I don’t have a car from that era of competing.  I’m going to restore it.
 
My brother has rebuilt it and restored it.  It’s sitting there and looks brand‑new and great in my warehouse.
 
It isn’t necessarily crashed, but it is the car I hit the wall with and I have it displayed there now.
 
Q.  Why would you want a wrecked car?  It’s understandable why a driver wants a championship car, but why would a driver want a memory of a car that was severely wrecked?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  My 2000 year wasn’t all that stellar.  The real highlight in the year, the point in time I was recognized, was in that car stuffed into the foam.  I guess there’s a little something to that, why I wanted the car (laughter).
 
Q.  I was in Lowe’s yesterday talking to a cashier about you.  I can remember doing the teleconferences in the past.  I got to thinking about the longevity you’ve had with your sponsor.  What effect do you think that has had on your career and on your success?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Yeah, I’m obviously very proud of the long‑term relationship that Hendrick, Lowe’s and myself have had.  Truthfully when I look back at the decisions I made, the way my life has gone independent of racing, it’s been in the same respect.  I’ve always had long‑term relationships with friends, even through dating.  I’ve just been that way.  I’ve only driven for a few race teams.  Really the same team in off‑road days, then as I moved on, I drove for a long period of time for the Herzogs, then the Hendricks.
 
It’s my style and it’s worked out.  It’s so nice to know the faces, to know the names, and to know we return a value to their sponsorship, the money they put into our race team and into marketing, that we are an important part of their marketing program.  We take great pride in it.
 
I think it’s the longest standing driver/owner/sponsorship relationship out there, and I think one of the last singular sponsors of a racecar in a series today.
 
All those stats mean a lot to myself and I know they mean a lot to Rick, too.
 
Q.  I was there restoring a brass lamp, a 102‑year‑old lamp.  What do you think the chances are that I would find a screw for it?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Judging by the tone of your voice, it went well, and I hope that’s the case.
 
Q.  It definitely went very well.  I was amazed.
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Good (laughter).  Glad you went there.
 
Q.  In all the years I’ve covered you, through all the challenges, you’re so calm when the craziest things happen.  I don’t see you riled too easily. What is the one thing that r
eally stresses you out?  You seem to have such calm blood going through your veins.
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Yeah, I get plenty stressed.  In the moment I guess my mind tries to stay calm and think things through.  I’ve had more success by handling the situation without fear, frustration, anxiety running through my veins.  I make better decisions in that space and I naturally kind of go there.
 
I get stressed out about plenty of things.  Speed in a racecar is top of my mind Friday to Sunday.  I find that in my personal life I fear and worry about a lot of things now that I’m a parent and have to worry about two little ones.
 
I would say between professional success on a Friday‑to‑Sunday routine, and then pretty much the entire week just worried about two little ones running around and their safety.  Those would be my two biggies.
 
Q.  With really no time to work on the car between qualifying and the race, will that change your approach at all, how you approach the weekend?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  It won’t change certain aspects of it.  From the way we go out and qualify, get our fast laps, do all that we do, that will be the same.  But the way we set the car up is going to be far different.
 
There are a few big things that you do when it’s not an impound race.  We take the ballast of the car and push a lot of that weight forward.  That really helps stabilize the car.  That’s clearly an adjustment you don’t want to do on pit road.  It’s pretty timely, as well.  We won’t have nose weight in the car.
 
Your goal in setting up your racecar for a race is to have it easy on the tires so they last as long as possible, whereas in qualifying you only need a couple laps, so you’re going to work a given corner or all four really hard.
 
We’ll definitely be doing things differently.  I don’t recall having an impound race this year for an open motor race, so it will be a new little twist on things.
 
I think it’s going to be exciting for the fans and create a little better show, a little more excitement through the course of the afternoon, with qualifying at 7:00 and the race at 9:00.
 
So I’m for it, but our race setup will be different.  The overall mindset will still be similar.  Track position is going to be everything and busting out a fast lap in qualifying is going to be key.
 
Q.  How much do you expect teams to be experimenting this weekend, or do you think there will be less experimenting considering that those guys that have wins can experiment throughout the season anyway?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Charlotte is always big for experimenting, largely because when you come back for the 600, the clock ticks so fast in practice, you can’t get to your list of things to try.
 
We practice during the day and race at night.  So things that show some promise, you’re always concerned to run them in the 600 because the bulk of the race is at night, and you just tried all these new experimental items in the sun.  Is it going to work?  Is handling going to change?
 
So it’s nice to get a race on your equipment if it’s setup‑wise or even engine stuff.  A lot of teams seem to debut new engine packages at the All‑Star Race.  They figure if they can survive the All‑Star Race, as hard as we run there, that we can take it to other racetracks.
 
I would say it’s safe to say that the majority of the field will be experimenting with something on their cars.
 
Q.  You said you bought the foam from a guy at Watkins Glen in 2001.
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  I did.  I bought two chunks from him.  He was out there selling the chunks of foam that were flying all over the place.
 
Q.  Did he realize it was you?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Man, I don’t recall.  It was so long ago.  It was in 2001.  I don’t know if he did.  I believe I would remember that.  He wanted five bucks a chunk for foam.  I gave him 10 bucks, took two pieces of foam and went on my way.
 
Q.  How did you find out about it?
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  We were roaming around through the campground looking for some trouble, I guess, just cruising around.  He had an old blue beat‑up pickup truck.  He had a plywood sign.  On the sign it said, Jimmie Johnson’s crash, the foam, all that kind of stuff, $5 a chunk.  I’m like, Man, I’m going to get me a few of those.
 
THE MODERATOR:  Jimmie, thanks so much for joining us today and good luck this weekend in the All‑Star Race.
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON:  Good deal.  Thank you.  See everybody.