IMPALA SS ON THE TRACK: Phoenix International Raceway

QUOTABLE QUOTES: ALBA COLON, GM RACING PROGRAM MANAGER FOR NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES:
"In 2007 our Impala SS drivers won both races at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR). Jeff Gordon captured his career-first victory at PIR in the spring race and set the tone for the performance of our Team Chevy drivers for the remainder of the season in the Impala SS race car.

"PIR is a popular track with our teams and drivers because it is technical due to the unique configuration for a one-mile oval. It presents challenges that test the strength of the team. There is a dogleg coming out of turn two on to the backstretch that requires the car to handle well through that transition as well as horsepower to pull through turns one and two to get to the wall and maneuver the dogleg.

"In addition, passing points around the track are limited, so the timing and strategy for drivers to make passes demands their constant focus. It provides a great race for the fans.

"Pit road is another challenge for teams at PIR. It is long, extending all the way to turn two. Qualifying is critical to secure a good pit box selection. The ability to get off and on pit road has a significant impact on a team's race outcome.

"We are looking forward to this weekend at Phoenix. With Chevrolet winning seven of the last eight races there, including working on a streak of five consecutive, we are excited to see our Impala SS teams back in action at PIR."

EVENT FACTS:
Event Name: Subway Fresh Fit 500K
Race Length: 312-laps/312-miles/500K
Track layout: One-mile oval; 11-degree banking in turns one/two; 9-degree banking turns three/four
Green Flag: 8:30 p.m. (EDT) Saturday, April 12, 2008
Live Coverage: TV: FOX, 8:00 p.m. (EDT); Radio: MRN, SIRIUS Satellite Radio

TEAM CHEVY STREET BEAT: Help Chevy Help Autism: Autism Speaks and Chevrolet announced a month-long promotion to help generate up to $1 million for the non-profit organization and create greater awareness of autism, a disorder that is now diagnosed in one in every 150 children. During Autism Awareness Month, people who visit the Autism Speaks website, www.autismspeaks.org, can click on the “Help Chevy Help Autism” icon and take a free virtual test drive of the 2008 North American Car of the Year – the all-new Chevy Malibu. Chevrolet has committed to a minimum contribution of $500,000, but every virtual test drive taken gets Chevrolet closer to its goal of donating up to $1 million to Autism Speaks to support its mission of increasing awareness of autism and raising money to fund autism research. Those who participate in the virtual test drive will be offered a free 30-day online trial of XM Satellite Radio.

FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT:
JEFF BURTON, NO. 31 AT&T IMPALA SS, CURRENT NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES POINTS LEADER: What’s unique about racing at Phoenix? “The reason it’s unique is because it has superspeedway straightaways and short track corners. It’s a fun race track to compete on. It has multiple grooves. You don’t have to run right on the bottom, you can run on top or in the middle. It’s a neat race track with short track characteristics and higher speeds. You don’t get a demolition derby as you do on the shorter tracks but you get good racing.”

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT IMPALA SS, DEFENDING WINNER OF THE SUBWAY FRESH FIT 500K: “This track is tricky, and it really challenges everyone. Turns 1 and 2 are banked, while 3 and 4 are flat. And the groove really widens out during the race. “It’s a track where we always seemed to run well, but we just never could get that victory until last year.”