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Indianapolis: Ward Burton preview

"When it comes to prestige in racing, Indy is certainly the hallowed ground of all forms of motorsports. Indy is definitely world known. The Indianapolis 500 speaks for itself and then you have the Brickyard 400 that has added more prestige and ...

Published: Jul 31, 2003, 11:25 AM

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"When it comes to prestige in racing, Indy is certainly the hallowed ground of all forms of motorsports. Indy is definitely world known. The Indianapolis 500 speaks for itself and then you have the Brickyard 400 that has added more prestige and now we have F1 that has brought more recognition. It is the pinnacle of racing."
- Frank Stoddard, crew chief of #22 Caterpillar Dodge

First recollection of Indy--

"Indy has always been a special place for me," said Stoddard. "When I was 14, my dad and I went out there and met my grandparents. My grandparents had an Airstream and there was a group of Airstreams that went to the race. We spent almost two weeks there watching practice and qualifying. We did everything there was to do there, the museums, the shops and the track. It was pretty cool to be 14 and have all your racing heroes that you're used to seeing on television right in front of you. It was a feeling like no other, one that made you have chills."

Cat equipment for the Brickyard 400--

"We're taking car #76, our Chicago car to the Brickyard. We fell like it is the best car we have for the flat, big track. We finally got the car good enough at the end of the race and Ward was able to pick up spots on the track and race with the rest of the leaders. We hope we can get the #22 handling well enough at the start of the race and just make it better as the race goes on."

What it would mean to win the Brickyard 400--

"Obviously, you always look forward to racing at Indy. I've been fortunate to be with a team that was capable of winning the race the last three or four years. I feel like it would mean more to win the Brickyard 400 than it would to win the Daytona 500 because you have to work harder to get the car to work that track. It is a difficult track to handle at and it is difficult for the driver to develop a feel for.

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