Champ Car Pre-Race Quotes Lexmark Indy 300 Sebastien Bourdais ...
Champ Car Pre-Race Quotes
Lexmark Indy 300
Sebastien Bourdais #1 McDonald's Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
"Last year's scenario was great because we just had
to start the race (to win the title) and we could concentrate on racing.
In the mean time you want something coming from the race itself. We
wanted to finish the championship (fight) but it was kind of easy because
we just had to take the start but we wanted to finish on a good note. We
were very successful and we brought the McDonald's car to the top
step on the podium. It was a great race; we had a lot of speed and I had
a great time the whole race. It's always a great place to come and
race and I guess last year it was even better because it was pretty
relaxed and we just had to enjoy ourselves. You can't anticipate
what can happen but we would be very happy to repeat last year's
scenario and win the race and clinch the championship in style. I think
the McDonalds team has been very, very quick over the years in
Australia. The baseline setup has been very quick for the last couple of
seasons there and as the track comes to us is seems to be ever better. I
just hope that when we unload the car we are on the pace right off.
It's a fun track and a fun event and I am looking forward to it.
As we know the weather can throw everything away but whatever the
conditions are we seem to be able to put together a car that is
reasonably quick. I just hope that we enjoy ourselves and that is what
we are going to focus on."
Nelson Philippe #4 CTE Racing-HVM Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
"I've been in Australia for a week already exploring the Bush
and the Great Barrier Reef with my family. What an incredible country,
it's been great to unwind, the people of Australia are incredibly
friendly and I am so thankful I had the opportunity to do this. I am
ready for a great race result. The track in Surfers Paradise is
absolutely my favorite street circuit. It has all of the elements that
make for an exciting race for the fans and a very exciting yet
challenging race for the drivers. My goal is to finish the last two
races in the top-five, it is very important for me to get back to fourth
position in the championship and I am sure PT and I will have a good
battle for that. I was ahead by two going into the last race but
unfortunately luck was not on our side in that final pitstop. Right now
I am two points behind PT for fourth, so leaving Australia ahead of him
in the championship is certainly my goal this weekend."
Bruno Junqueira #2 Newman/Haas Racing Ford-Cosworth/Bridgestone/Lola
"Australia is one of my favorite races and I won there in
2004 so I have good memories. In 2004 I passed people on the track and
had a quick pit stop that put me in a good position to win. I have
always done well in Australia; I've been on the pole and got great
results there over the years. Unfortunately I missed the chance to
defend my win there last year but I am looking forward to returning this
year and picking up where we left off. There is always a big party on
Sunday night but the one in 2004 was even better. It was great to win
there and it would be nice to do it again especially since no one has
even won there twice.The Australian track is a street course but it is
very, very long. It's almost a two minute lap. It's for
sure the most difficult of all street courses and it is fun to drive. In
Australia everything is great on track and off track. We spend a week
there and go to the beach and relax and have time for the drivers and
teams to hang out with each other. Once we get on the track it's
pretty cool because we have such a great crowd, over 300,000
people."
Will Power #5 Aussie Vineyards Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
"This is the place for me to really try hard to get my first
Champ Car podium. I've been getting quicker and quicker as the season has
progressed and I understand the cars a lot more. This is the first track
I have been to this year that I have already raced at and I feel that
everything is going well for a strong race this weekend. I've had this
race in the back of my mind all year. I've been close to a podium a
couple of times already this season and felt we had a really strong car
at the last race at Road America until we were taken out at the start.
I've got the Rookie of the Year and also my championship position to
think about, so I won't be doing anything silly as I know a finish here
is important. But this is Team Australia's home race and it is my home
race, so at the same time I will be doing my best in every session to get
the Aussie Vineyards car up the front for all the Australian fans."
Oriol Servia #6 Gulfstream Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
"As always, I am looking forward to going to Surfers Paradise. I think all
the drivers agree it is one of, if not the, best race in our series. The
track in Surfers is fun to drive. In particular I like the fast
chicanes. But, most of all, it is the atmosphere and excitement that
surrounds the race that sets it above other events. The promoters really
do a great job. I am especially looking forward to the Surfers Paradise
race this year because I am confident that the Gulfstream -- PKV
Racing team will be very competitive. I won the pole at Surfers last year
and during the second half of the season the Gulfstream -- PKV
Racing team has shown that we have the speed to be competitive. The
whole PKV Racing team has worked very hard and the results are starting
to come. We are currently in eighth place in the championship standings,
but with two good performances to finish the season we can still reach
our goal of finishing in the top-five in the points."
Mario Dominguez #8 Pemex/GICSA/Del Valle/Rocketsports
Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
"I really enjoy my trips to
Surfers Paradise. I think the track has a really nice style, so it is
always fun to race there. Last year I started third and I earned my
first win there in 2002, so my history on this track has been pretty
good. I just hope that we can be fast in the #8
Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone Rocketsports car for not only the team,
but our sponsors Pemex, GICSA, Del Valle, along with my personal sponsors
Telmex and Bridgestone."
Dan Clarke #14 CTE Racing-HVM Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
"It's been too long since I've been in the car --
I've turned 23 now (and had a great time celebrating!). I've
not been 'down under' before, so it's all a new
experience for me. I think there's quite a few fun activities lined
up for our visit, which will be good experiences, but my focus will be on
the race and the team. We've had a run of strong results and we
need to stay strong and add to this, to finish the season on a high.
We've been growing as a team and it's a tight unit now, so we
have the ability to be a front-runner. There's lots to play for
still -- I'm in the Rookie of the Year title chase, and
I'm not too many points off Nelson, so we need to come home top
five this weekend in Oz."
Andrew Ranger #27 Wal-Mart / Tide Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
"Australia was a lot of fun last year and I'm really excited
about going back again this year. The fans are the best and the
atmosphere surrounding the race is like nowhere else. It's one of
the best races on the schedule. It's a track that is fast and great
to race on and being near the beach makes it even more special.
Performance wise, I want to continue finishing in the top-ten and picking
up as many points as possible. We had a decent race at Road America with
a couple of unfortunate incidents but in the end it was a good result, so
if we can carry the momentum from there we should have a good
weekend."
Alex Tagliani #15 Aussie Vineyards Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
"This event is all about aiming for the podium and pushing hard. We've
had a lot of bad luck in this year's championship so going for race
results is now the aim in the last two races of the year, as we have
nothing to lose. I'll be pushing hard for the team's home race. We have
to forget about the back luck and do the best we can here this weekend. I
love this race. The circuit is very tough and the event is one of the
best of the season. I really hope I can get a podium for Team Australia
this weekend. I think we have the car speed to run at the front and I
have a great team around me, so with a bit of luck it could be a very
good day for us on Sunday."
Charles Zwolsman #34 Mi-Jack Conquest Racing
Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
"This is the race that I have been
waiting to go to since the beginning of the season! I've heard a
lot about it and I can't wait to race there. I will have an
additional challenge this weekend because I will have to learn the track
but I'm confident we can keep our string of top-ten finishes alive.
We did well on street courses this season and I think we have a good car
for the race in Australia. With only two races left it is important to do
well and to end the season on a high note."
Katherine Legge #20 Bell Micro Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
"I am excited about getting back in the Bell Micro -- PKV Racing car
and racing after the long break. I have no hesitation whatsoever about
competing again and in fact I am looking forward to the challenge. The
Bell Mirco -- PKV Racing team had a good test the Friday after the
crash at Road America, so we had a chance to work on a few things that I
think will help us in Surfers Paradise. This will be my first time
competing in Australia. I have heard from the other drivers what a
fantastic event it is, so I am looking forward to the experience. As far
as the circuit is concerned, I was in Surfers about a month ago and had a
chance to drive the roads in a street car. That gave me an idea of the
layout, but you really can't tell a lot driving a regular car in
traffic. The other drivers have told me it is a very challenging circuit
and exciting to drive. I am just looking forward to experiencing the
event and I am confident that the Bell Micro -- PKV Racing team will
be as competitive as we were at Road America, where we were in position
for a top-six finish, before the crash."
Antonio Pizzonia #18 Lexington Energy Services/Rocketsports
Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
"I am very excited to be returning
to the Champ Car field with Rocketsports Racing. Australia, I have been
told, is a very challenging street-course to run, but I am ready for the
fight. I look forward to getting back into the #18
Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone Rocketsports car and giving it my very
best this weekend for the team and our new sponsor Lexington Energy
Services. It is exciting to have them on board with us, so I hope to
have a good race and finish with a positive result."
-credit: ccws
