Fernandez Gains Experience on Flat PIR Oval

Adrian Fernandez

November 13, 2005 - Adrian Fernandez had two goals Saturday during his debut in a Busch Series car at Phoenix International Raceway.

Qualify well and finish the race on the crowded mile oval.

Both goals were accomplished.

Fernandez posted a 16th-place qualifying run Saturday morning and then fought “a big push” during the race before finishing 28th that afternoon.

“We wanted to run all day and learn all that we could,” said Fernandez whose only other oval stock cars races have come at Lowe’s, California, and Texas speedways.

“This track is different than any of the other tracks where I have raced the No. 5 Lowe’s Monte Carlo. This track is so flat and 42 other cars racing with you can make it pretty tough.”

Although he was a new face in the NASCAR garage, Fernandez was well known at the track.

He won his first race in America at PIR in the early 1990s and throughout the weekend open wheel drivers like Paul Tracy, Michel Jourdain and others racing notables like car designer Adrian Reynard visited the Mexico City native in the NASCAR garage.

“It was really neat to be here for the NASCAR weekend,” said the resident of Paradise Valley, Ariz. “To see all the cars, all the sponsors. That was really eye-opening. NASCAR is certainly successful. All of the open wheel guys were asking me how I was adjusting to NASCAR and I kept telling them this is like nothing I have ever done before.”

Crew Chief Chad Walter said the team tested Fernandez at PIR earlier in the month.

“It didn’t take us long to come to the realization that PIR in a stock car is a lot different than an Indy car,” laughed Walter.

Fernandez began the race well climbing as high as 14th place as he held his own among drivers who have raced stock cars their entire careers. But as the race progressed, he had more and more difficulty making the Lowe’s car turn in the corners.

“I really have to use the brakes to get the car to turn,” Fernandez told the team over the car radio.

Eventually Fernandez reported brake problems and that slowed his lap times and he fell down a lap to the leaders on lap 88.

Fernandez lost another lap later in the race as the team attempted to correct the handling problem. Despite their best efforts the turning problems continued.

Fernandez managed to avoid several accidents and raced in tight quarters throughout the 200-lap race.

“Finishing 28th isn’t what we are after, but I realize learning about these cars is going to take some time. We ran the whole race learned a lot so I think it was a good day.”

Carl Edwards won Saturday’s race out dueling Clint Boyer and Matt Kenseth in the final laps.

Fernandez and the No. 5 team return to action Saturday in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.