Coca Cola 600 Qualifying Notes & Quotes
Written by John Davison · May 27, 2005
Thursday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway was a busy day. Several press conferences plus qualifying led to a data overload. Here, thanks to numerous sources, is a collection of notes and quotes. Ryan Newman shattered the old track qualifying record, turning a lap of nearly 193 mph.
Jeff Gordon - No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet - 2nd position - PRESS CONFERENCE: ARE WE TO BELIEVE THAT A GUY WHO IS GREAT IN HIS PROFESSION, CAN’T CARRY A TUNE? - “”Yes, you are absolutely right (laughs). I’d like to think I’ve got a little bit of rhythm in me. But I cannot sing. I’m horrible. That whole thing came about because we were up there promoting the race for Chicagoland Speedway and they asked me if I wanted to throw out the first pitch. I said I’d love to. I did it for the Dodgers several years ago and it’s cool. And then they came back to me and said in order to do that I’d have to sing in the seventh inning stretch. And I thought no, I can’t do that. I’m the worst singer in the whole world and there’s no way I’m going to do that. But you’re going to be embarrassed no matter whether you sing good or bad or whatever, it’s just part of the deal. So I thought, yeah, let’s do it. What the heck? - ”
“What I didn’t realize, is that once you start singing, it project out and then there’s a delay and the roar of the fans and you can’t keep up. So I have a lot of respect for the people who can get up there and do it right. I’ve been to two baseball games in my life. I knew the words. I had it down pat. I practiced. I knew the words. I was ready to do it. They asked me if I wanted to practice and I said, ‘No, let’s do it.’ I might take that back now. I should have practiced.
“The one thing that scares me the most is singing in front of anybody. I was petrified. It definitely was a moment I’m not proud of but it’s a moment that’s going to haunt me for a long time. It is something I’ll be able to laugh at for a long time.”
ARE THE CARS GOING TOO FAST HERE? “Well, they’re going to fast to put on a good race, as far as I’m concerned. I don’t think we’re going too fast, safety-wise. Goodyear has put as hard a tire as they can put underneath us. The track has a lot of grip. It’s really smooth and it’s super fast. I just wish the tires gave up a little more for race conditions. The pace is a little slower than I thought it was going to be the other night for the All-Star event, but there still wasn’t much passing. I don’t know if grinding the bottom of Turns 1 and 2 would help it or just hurt the racing. But to put on a good race and be able to pass some more, I think the turns are a little bit too fast.”
ON JIMMIE JOHNSON’S PAST SUCCESS AT CHARLOTTE
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