UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 - Jeff Green Notes

Jeff Green Notes, Quotes: UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400
‘Softer Tires Key to Puzzle’

This weekend Jeff Green and the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team head back west to the 1.5-mile Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway for Sunday’s UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. The team prepares, again, for new “softer” Goodyear tires that have been put into use this season. The tires wear more quickly and thus put even greater emphasis on the handling of the cars. The team tested at the track in January.

Green is the only driver to have raced for the sport’s biggest names. Throughout his career, he has driven for Cup’s most legendary names, such as Junior Johnson, Felix Sabates, Richard Childress, Dale Earnhardt, and now Richard Petty. Green is in his first full season driving the legendary Petty Enterprises #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge. The 2000 NASCAR Busch Grand National champion, he holds the record for the largest points margin after winning the championship by 616 points. He is also a two-time NASCAR Nextel Cup pole winner, winning poles at the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and the pole for the 2003 Daytona 500.

The thoughts of #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker driver Jeff Green heading into Las Vegas:

“We tested at Vegas in January and things were pretty good. The new tires, however, are still the biggest thing that we’re trying to figure out. The tire itself, that’s great, but it’s so much softer and it ‘gives’ so much easier. It falls off pretty fast, then you are left with a lot less grip for longer runs. We’re still working on our setup for that.

“That’s our biggest concern right now. We know our engine package is better with Evernham Engines and our cars are better aerodynamically too. The Charger is a good car and Dodge keeps giving us help in that area. Trying to figure out the new tire, for us, has been the biggest challenge. Our car hasn’t handled as well as we’d like for it on longer runs.

“I think a few other guys have a better handle on it, but there are others who are struggling with it too. Last year we saw people struggle with it. This year the compound is softer and it’s putting a lot of emphasis into handling - the real goal of the tire. We’ve seen some guys make it work out for them, but we’ve seen others who haven’t. We might be on the right side of the coin right now, but we keep working on it.

“The idea of the softer tire was great. It brings back control of the car to our hands. We’re fighting the handling and fighting the condition of the car. It makes everyone work a little bit harder to make the cars better. Everyone has to get used to it. Sometimes it makes you slide a ton in the corners, sometimes you just feel like you have no grip, but that’s a part of it. You have to make adjustments to the car to make it react to the track and tire. It’s a puzzle that we’re putting together right now.

“Looking ahead of that, we’re in pretty good shape. We had a good run at Daytona, had a little problem at California, but still came away OK there too. We have a little ground to cover at Vegas, but we feel like we can make that up. These races, although early in the season, are so important to making the Chase. Everyone is still eyeing that goal because we’re so early into the season. There is a lot of racing left, but this is the time when you can lose more than gain. You don’t want to get out of position for a run at the championship by having bad weeks now.

“There are some good guys out there who have had some pretty bad races. Matt (Kenseth) is a former champion and his team has had some bad luck - the same with Michael (Waltrip). Those are good teams and good drivers stuck in the back right now. I can’t imagine they had any fun during the weekend off. We just have to concern ourselves with good solid races at this point.

“You can’t overlook any track. This Cheerios/Betty Crocker team is preparing pretty hard for Vegas. A weekend off and we’re ready to get back racing. We’ve got some work to do, but we’re anxious to get to Vegas.”