IRL: Phoenix Pagan Racing Report

Pagan Racing

MCI Worldcom 200 March 27, 1999 Qualifying

Driver: Jeff Ward

Car: Pagan Racing No. 21 Dallara/Aurora/Goodyear

Qualifying Position - 5th 20.682 / 174.064 Quotes: -Jeff Ward- With the amount of time I've had in the car, I'm pleased with qualifying fifth. We're doing pretty good. We had a fuel pick up problem and we had to run about twenty gallons in qualifying which hurt us a little bit. We usually run eight so that hurt us a little bit with grip and the extra weight. I dropped three-tenths from practice time so I'm happy. We know we have a good racecar.

(On having Mitch Davis as crew chief) It helps a lot. He knows what I like in the car. There are a lot of things that I like differently from a lot of drivers. He knows what it is and we can fine-tune the car to where I like it. If I had to go into a team not knowing anybody it's a pretty tough deal. The series is so competitive right now that we need more time in the car, the Dallara, to learn what it takes and its limits. I held back and I'm extremely happy with what I left on the table.

(On tomorrow's race) I feel a lot of confidence right now in this car than I did in the other car. I'll be happy to trade last year's pole position for a win this year.

(Keys to Phoenix Int'l Raceway) Traffic. It's a good place to pass. If your car is working well, you can go high around three and four. You can go underneath in turn one and get a good drive off turn two. It's a good track to pass on if your car is working well in traffic. If it's not working well you can't get near anybody through three and four to make the pass in one and two. The key in three and four is to run under somebody's rear end so you can pass them in turn one.