Notes & Quotes - Kansas Speedway
October 10, 2004
Collected notes and quotes from various drivers during and following Sunday’s Banquet Foods 400 NASCAR race. JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO (IT WAS AN UP AND DOWN DAY FOR YOU) “We put ourselves in a hole on Friday when we qualified 30th. We just never could really get a handle on things this weekend. The car just never really gave me that feel I was looking for. And we fought hard. I’m proud of these guys and the effort that they put into it. It looked like maybe we were going to pull a top 10 out of it. We tried to do some different pit strategy and different things. It almost paid off for us but when (Ricky) Rudd got sideways going into Turn 1 it slowed us all down and all those guys with fresh tires had the momentum and once they caught us we were in trouble. But we didn’t lose too much in the points and it was a tough 13th place finish for us and we’re looking forward to going to Charlotte next weekend.”
Nemechek Sweeps Kansas
October 10, 2004
Joe Nemechek held off a last two laps challenge from Ricky Rudd to sweep both races at Kansas Speedway this weekend. Nemechek won Saturday’s Busch Series race by about a half car length and then won Sunday’s NEXTEL Cup race by a length over Rudd.
Schumacher Clinches NHRA POWERade World Championship; Ties Record for Wins In A Season In Top Fuel
October 10, 2004
Scelzi, Line and Savoie also earn victories in their categories at Maple Grove Raceway
MOHNTON, Pa. - Tony Schumacher won his second NHRA POWERade Series Top Fuel world championship Sunday and in the process raced to victory in the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.
Gary Scelzi, Jason Line and Angelle Savoie also were winners in their respective categories at the $1.7 million race, the 21st of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Michael Wins Japan - Schumachers Back On Form
October 10, 2004
World champion Michael Schumacher scored a consummate victory - his 13th success of the year, but his first since Hungary - in the Japanese Grand Prix. The Ferrari star led away from pole position which he annexed on Sunday morning, after the threat of a typhoon persuaded officials to close the circuit the previous day and was never seriously challenged. This was a welcomed “recovery” for Michael after his dismal performance in China.
Suzuka Front Row: Schumachers
October 9, 2004
The Schumacher fans have nothing to complain about after Sunday morning’s unique qualifying session at Suzuka. For the first time in memory, qualifying for a grand prix was held on the day of the event rather than on the days leading up to the race. A major typhoon threatened to inundate the track on Saturday so officials decided to delay qualifying until the morning of the event.
Notes & Quotes - Saturday at Kansas
October 9, 2004
Saturday’s driver and crew notes and quotes from Kansas Speedway. Tony Stewart opened the day at the “Wake-up call” in the morning, with more statements from Dale Jarrett about the point system and final ten races.
Sadler Tops in Happy Hour
October 9, 2004
Elliott Sadler topped the charts after final practice “Happy Hour” Saturday at Kansas Speedway. Sadler’s best lap in the No. 38 Ford was his last, at 30.841 sec/175.092 mph. Rookie Brendan Gaughan put the No. 77 Dodge next, just .006 sec slower, at 175.058 mph. Ryan Newman was third on the tables, a further .040 sec back with Ricky Rudd and Jimmie Johnson filling out the top five. Pole winner Joe Nemechek clocked the No. 01 Chevy in 15th at 31.215 sec/172.994 mph.
Kalitta, Medlen, Anderson & Brown Top Qualifying at Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
October 9, 2004
MOHNTON, Pa. - Doug Kalitta raced to his sixth No. 1 qualifying position of the season Saturday at the 20th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.
Eric Medlen, Greg Anderson and Antron Brown also will lead their respective categories into Sunday’s 11 a.m. (ET) eliminations at the $1.7 million race, the 21st of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Minardi Racing Legacy
October 9, 2004
20 or 30 years from now if Minardi is no longer in active competition, what will they be remembered for? Says team owner Paul Stoddart: “Minardi has prided itself…that when cars come round to lap us, we get out of the way.” Yep, that’s the kind of legacy we should all strive to achieve!
Notes & Quotes - Kansas Qualifying
October 8, 2004
Collected notes & quotes from drivers at Kansas Speedway. Joe Nemechek won the pole position, followed by Kasey Kahne.
Dale Earnhardt Jr commented on his penalty and the comments that led to the penalty.