RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE CONTENDER RAIN DELAY QUOTES FOR THE POCONO 500 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES RACE AT POCONO RACEWAY, JUNE 10, 2007.

Earlier this week Dave Charpentier was named crew chief for Raybestos Rookie Paul Menard.

DAVE CHARPENTIER, CREW CHIEF, No. 15 PITTSBURGH PAINTS/MENARDS CHEVROLET: HOW IS IT TO BE BACK AS A CREW CHIEF? “Well, it’s actually pretty good to be back as a crew chief for the first time with the equipment, people and organization that can compete at the top level of the sport. Obviously with Martin’s win last week at Dover DEI demonstrated we build great racecars, great motors and a good organization in place. To this get kind of opportunity with this type of organization and with Paul is great. There’s no doubt that Paul can get it done. He ran seventh at Atlanta last year, he’s run top-15 several times we just need to understand him and give him what he needs as a driver. I talked to Chad Knaus last night and he was explaining that Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson run totally different setups because it’s what they need in their racecars. They have the same basic equipment to start with and then they tailor the setups to the drivers and are both real successful. I’ve always believed that Paul needs something a little different Martin or Dale Jr. You have to have somebody that will understand, talk to ‘em and work together with them so we both get better as a combination or as a team.” HOW DIFFERENT IS THIS OPPORTUNITY COMPARED TO SOME OF THE CREW CHIEF OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PAST? “The job description isn’t but there’s a couple of main points. One, we’re already a team. All these guys already know me, I already know these guys so it’s like being at home whereas some of the other opportunities you walk in and they change one person, the crew chief, and you already walk into a team that’s already been together, worked together for a long time and already kind of has a way of doing things. You try to adapt to their style or adapt them to your style and there’s always a transition period. With this, there was no transition period. These guys have worked together; I’ve worked with them for a long time. I’ve been at DEI all totaled almost eight years so it’s very comfortable. No adjustment or transition period at all and having been with Paul for almost two years already we know each other. There’s no get acquainted period. We’re not trying to be politically correct [smiles]. We already know each other. We’re not in danger of hurting each other’s feelings or things like that. It’s made it real easy and real exciting.” IS THE IDEAL SITUATION TO HAVE A CREW CHIEF THAT IS EQUAL PARTS ENGINEER AND OLD SCHOOL RACER? “I think you look at each situation uniquely. You definitely have to have the technical bases covered within the organization somehow. You need the seven-post tests, you need the scale model tests, and you need all those pieces in place to compete at this level effectively. How you integrate that into your team is kind of organizational.”