NASCAR Cup

Watkins Glen: Paul Menard preview

Paul Menard on Watkins Glen International: "Watkins Glen is a really fast track and you can drive a little harder around that one as opposed to Sonoma. Sonoma is more of a technical track and Watkins Glen is more about horsepower. I really enjoy the ...

Edited: Aug 4, 2010, 5:23 PM

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Paul Menard on Watkins Glen International: "Watkins Glen is a really fast track and you can drive a little harder around that one as opposed to Sonoma. Sonoma is more of a technical track and Watkins Glen is more about horsepower. I really enjoy the road courses and Watkins Glen has always been one of the dates on the schedule I look forward to the most."

Crew Chief Slugger Labbe's Thoughts on WGI: "One of the new twists this year at Watkins Glen International is that Goodyear has finally changed the tire. We've been on the same tire there for years and they just developed something new. Three teams went up there and did a tire test about a month ago and the speeds were up. Getting used to the tire and what it wants will be important and if the speed is quicker like they say it is, getting our transmission ratios would be key as well. We are actually allowed to change transmission ratios at a road course event unlike a normal race weekend. Depending on how fast the tire is we'll be adjusting our gear and transmission ratios to compensate for the new tire.

"The other new thing is that now we qualify on Saturday where in the past we've always had one practice on Friday and then qualified that same afternoon. This year we have two practices on Friday, come in on Saturday and qualify and then we're done until the race. We have a two-hour break in between the first and second practice so we'll be able to work on our car and get our gear ratio closer if need be. Our plan as it stands right now is to be in full blown race trim and then make one or two qualifying runs at the end. We've had this type of schedule a couple of times this year, so we know what we're up against as far as the schedule goes."

Chassis History: Crew chief Slugger Labbe and the No. 98 RPM crew have prepared chassis No. 254 for this weekend's event. This is the same car the team ran at the road course in Sonoma, Calif. earlier this season.

The Eau Claire, Wis. native stands 57 markers outside the top 20 in the NCSC driver point standings

-source: rpm

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