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2001 Schedule and Results
MBNA America 500 - Raybestos Rookie Qualifying Quotes
RYAN NEWMAN WAS THE HIGHEST QUALIFYING RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE CONTENDER AT
ATLANTA, TAKING THE SECOND STARTING POSITION IN TIME TRIALS. HE HAS NOW BEEN
THE HIGHEST QUALIFYING ROOKIE IN TWO OF THE FIRST FOUR WINSTON CUP RACES THIS
SEASON. NEWMAN WAS ALSO THE HIGHEST QUALIFYING ROOKIE LAST WEEK AT LAS
VEGAS, TAKING THE SECOND STARTING POSITION.
RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 12 ALLTEL FORD:
"It's been pretty uneventful so far (today), which was the bad thing. We
were sitting 18th at the end of practice but when it came to qualifying, the
guys came together. We went back with what we tested with here with the car
as far as the setup and it felt a lot better. We were able to get one good,
smooth, lap in. It's hard to get out there and go as hard as you can for one
lap sometimes at these speeds. Hopefully we can stay on top of the pile for
the rest of the day."
WHY DID YOU PICKED UP SO MUCH FROM PRACTICE?
"We came out on fresh tires. We really didn't get a good fresh tire run in
practice. I was hoping we would, just so we would have the confidence. We
still did all right."
YOU WON THE POLE LAST MAY AT CHARLOTTE, ANOTHER 1.5-MILE SUPERSPEEDWAY. WHY
DO YOU RUN SO WELL AT TRACKS LIKE ATLANTA AND CHARLOTTE?
"They're fun. There's room to race on them and there's room to pass. You
carry a lot of corner speed. I guess it reminds of when I was driving a
midget for ten years, six years or whatever."
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE'S CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 15TH.
"It was a great lap. I chickened out a little bit through three and four. I
drug the brake a little harder than I should have. I was yelling at myself
the whole way off turn four. It's one of those things when you don't have
provisionals if you sail it off in there and cross that line and put the car
in the fence you're going home. You are hauling the mail here (at Atlanta).
I should have stayed after it a little harder but I didn't. Qualifying wise,
I was a little too cautious in Las Vegas and I came here to step it up a
little bit more. I had a great car to do it. We're going to have track
position and a good pit stall (for the race). We should be all right (in the
race) if we don't pit when the caution comes out."
CARL LONG, NO. 85 NOOPCO DODGE. LONG DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RACE.
"We just didn't have enough practice to get this car dialed in like I wanted.
The car was too tight. I drove in (the corner) and it pushed up the track
and it broke loose trying to force it to the bottom. On the second lap I had
to force it a little more, and I really had a bad lap so I didn't even finish
it because I knew I had messed it up in turns one and two."
2001 Schedule and Results
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