Indy ORP: Bill Windham preview

Confident Bill Windham Likes Chances Of Qualifying for U.S. Nationals
Bill Windham is back at the track and ready to pick up the pace.

For the  first time in his abbreviated NHRA Pro Stock driving career, Windham
arrives  brimming with confidence in what he can do at the controls of the
Big O Tire  Chevy Cobalt.  Yes, it has been a month since he got behind the
wheel, but  he believes he has a legitimate chance to be among the 16 starters in
the Mac  Tools U.S. Nationals, Aug. 31-Sept. 3, at O'Reilly Raceway  Park.

"Our car ran strong at Sonoma once we solved a fuel system  problem," said
Windham, of El Dorado Hills, Calif.  "I'm really fired up,  because I think we
have a good shot at qualifying at Indy.  I really felt  good in the car at
Sonoma.  The driver did his job on all four of our  runs.  I hit my shift points
and that helped boost my confidence  level."

Windham's Cobalt -- which he and partner Greg Mitchell own -- is prepared by Eddie Guarnaccia, crew chief for Windham's teammate, Kenny Koretsky, driver of Greg Hill's Indicom Electric/Nitro Fish Cobalt. Windham went for the quickest rides of his rookie year at Sonoma, his home track. His best was 6.691 seconds at 206.45 mph, yet the time was three-hundredths of a second shy of the 16th qualifier. His other times improved with each run: 6.857, 6.775 and 6.773 seconds.

"It will be  exciting to make the show for the first time at Indy," added
Windham. "Eddie  does a good job preparing the car and Steve Schmidt gives us
good  horsepower."

Windham's team could benefit from the U.S. Nationals schedule that includes two night sessions -- 6:15 Friday and 6:05 Saturday.

"The 'hero runs' (quicker elapsed times during the cooler evening  sessions)
hurt us earlier, but I have confidence in the driver and the car  here.  We
want to do well for Big O Tire Stores at Indianapolis and the  franchisees.

"I am working hard on the 2008 season. My goal is to run all the races next year."

-credit: bwr