'25' HOPING FOR REPEAT POLE PERFORMANCE:
During the NEXTEL Cup Series' most recent visit to California Speedway, Brian Vickers started from the pole position and led 44 laps en route to a 13th-place finish in the Sept. 5 event. In a pair of Cup starts at the two-mile oval, Vickers has qualified no worse than sixth and maintains an average starting position of 3.5.
HENDRICK DREAMIN' OF FIFTH FONTANA WIN:
Car owner Rick Hendrick has claimed four Cup Series victories in nine opportunities at California Speedway. Roger Penske and Jack Roush each have two wins at the two-mile D-shaped oval, while Robert Yates owns one.
HAMILTON 'HAPPY' TO BE HOME:
GMAC Racing crew member Chris "Happy" Hamilton returns home this weekend during the NEXTEL Cup Series stop at California Speedway. From nearby Redlands, Hamilton works as a fabricator for the No. 25 team and is also the catch-can operator during pit stops on race day. He most recently worked with Hendrick Motorsports' NASCAR Busch Series operation, where he was a part of the 2003 championship-winning team with Vickers and crew chief Lance McGrew.
VICKERS AND LABONTE AT RACEFEST:
Vickers and Labonte are two of the drivers making appearances Thursday evening at the Racefest in Fontana, Calif. Both are scheduled to arrive at 6:30 p.m. PT for autographs.
VICKERS MAKES DAYTONA PROGRESS:
Prior to the 47th running of the Daytona 500, Vickers had never finished better than 39th in a February event at Daytona International Speedway, completing just 100 out of a possible 320 laps in two appearances dating back to 2003. He finished 42nd during the 2003 Busch Series season-opener and 39th in last year's "Great American Race" as a NEXTEL Cup rookie.
NEW CAR FOR GMAC RACING:
The No. 25 team will field a new car for this weekend's 500-miler at California. Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 334 will make its race debut after being introduced by the team during preseason testing at the two-mile Fontana-based oval.
BRIAN VICKERS, DRIVER OF THE NO. 25 GMAC/ditech.com CHEVROLETS:
(HOW MUCH DID THE SPOILER CHANGE AFFECT YOUR CAR DURING PRESEASON TESTING AT CALIFORNIA AND LAS VEGAS?) "I thought the changes would feel more drastic. We've had to make adjustments to our setup in order to compensate for the spoiler reduction, but most teams really haven't raced in traffic yet. The real test will come during the California race weekend. At the Vegas and California tests, there was little side-by-side activity and everyone was content to stay single-file or pull over and let the faster car go by. It remains to be seen what will happen when we go three-wide into the first turn at California. I guess we'll know what it's like for sure when that happens."
VICKERS:
(GOODYEAR HAS PREPARED NEW TIRE COMPOUNDS FOR THIS SEASON. HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT THAT WHAT WAS RUN IN 2004?) "The level of grip with the new tires really seems to fall off after 15-to-20 laps, but I think that's good and it will produce some better racing. I'm in favor of the changes Goodyear has made because I grew up racing big heavy cars with tires that fell off and lost grip. To be successful, you have to be smooth with the steering wheel, the throttle and brake. Being hard or aggressive on these tires is not going to be fast, especially in the long run."
LANCE MCGREW, CREW CHIEF OF THE NO. 25 GMAC/ditech.com CHEVROLETS:
(ON THE SPOILER REDUCTION.) "We learned some things about the balance of the car during our test, but I think the spoiler reduction will substantially affect how the cars handle in traffic and side-by-side. Unfortunately, our first opportunity to experience those conditions will be in the race on Sunday. During the tests, no one was very willing to simulate race conditions. I know we weren't."
