Darlington: Ryan Newman post qualifying interview

RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 39 U.S. ARMY IMPALA SS -- Qualified 3rd:

ON THE LAP

"I didn't really know what to expect after the rain. I felt that the car definitely had more speed in it; I just didn't know what to expect after the rain. We picked up a good bit and it was a great effort on everybody's part. I was not perfect. I was a little bit free down in (Turns) 1 and 2, a little bit too loose and I thought about running a second lap and then I got loose again in (Turn) 1 and I shut her down. Kenseth put down a great lap and embarrassed us on the second lap. It kind of ruffles my feathers when I guy who can't qualify that well beats me, but I'll be all right."

WHAT DID YOU THINK MIGHT CHANGE ABOUT THE TRACK BECAUSE OF THE RAIN?

"It got faster and faster the more rubber we got on it in practice. We just kept getting faster and faster all day. When the rain usually comes, it changes that chemistry a little bit and obviously cools the track off. So the way the tires adhere to it, or whatever oils and properties come out of it, it's definitely different and I just really didn't know what to expect. So I think it definitely picked up a little bit. But on other race tracks, it would have picked up more. So it was an unknown until we got our lap in."

-credit: gm racing