Sonoma: Bobby Labonte qualifying report

TRG Motorsports and team driver Bobby Labonte put down their season's best qualifying run on Friday at Infineon Raceway. The team fought tight conditions and brake issues in the first practice but made the right adjustments for an eighth-place starting position for Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350.

Kasey Kahne will try to obtain another win by starting on the pole with a lap time of 76.30 seconds and a speed of 93.893 miles per hour. Reigning champion Jimmie Johnson will start on the outside pole. Comments from Adobe Road Winery Chevrolet Driver Bobby Labonte after qualifying:

Bobby Labonte "Our lap was pretty uneventful, which is good. That is what you want to do here. In my last qualifying run in practice we had trouble with the brakes, so to balance that out we put different brake pads on it. I think that was better. The team all had confidence going in. I felt confident that the lap I had going was going to be a better lap. I tried not to make any mistakes and do everything right. That is hard to do here. I have qualified in the top-five and also in the last five. It's so hard to hit everything right here every time but we did today."

Comments from Adobe Road Winery Chevrolet Team Owner Kevin Buckler on the qualifying lap:

"What a great team effort. Watching Bobby on the monitor he hit every single corner and made it a good run here. That's what it's all about here for qualifying. The car seemed like it had a really good, stable setup on it. We are all very happy to get our car back in the top-10 in qualifying like that. It's great for everyone, keeping up spirits and attitudes. We are really appreciative to all of the TRG Motorsports partners and Adobe Road Winery for helping us get out here this weekend."

-source: trg motorsports