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>>> HOLA.
LIVE FROM MEXICO CITY, THE
CULTURAL CAPITAL OF LATE MIN --
LATIN ME.
HOME TO NEARLY 20 MILLION
PEOPLE.
THEY LOVE THEIR MOTOR SPORTS IN
MEXICO.
WE ARE AT ONE OF THE SHRINES.
THE AUTODROMO HERMANOS
RODRIGUEZ.
TODAY, QUALIFYING FOR THE NASCAR
BUSCH SERIES SOUTH OF THE
BORDER.
CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY ESPN, INC.
>>> IN MEXICO CITY, IT'S A WARM,
SUN SNI SATURDAY, AND THIS IS
THE AUTODROMO HERMANOS
RODRIGUEZ, A FLAT ROAD COURSE,
FIRST BUILT FOR FORMULA ONE, R
ABOUT 2 1/2 MILES LONG, 7500
FEET.
FOR THE DRIVERS, THEY SAY IT'S A
BLAST, BUT IT'S A MAJOR
CHALLENGE FOR THE CREWS.
AND WELCOME, I'M CHRIS FOWLER.
THIS IS ABOUT MID-POINT IN THE
LONGEST STRAIGHT AWAY IN NASCAR.
THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE DOWN
HERE.
SERIOUS SPEELDS ARE ACHIEVED.
THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE WRINKLES
AT THE GRAND EXPERIMENT
CONTINUES.
YEAR THREE, GOING SOUTH OF THE
BORDER, TRYING TO MUSCLE IN ON
THE BIG MOTOR SPORTS HERE IN
MEXICO.
YOU WILL SEE CARL EDWARDS, GREG
BIFFLE AND DENNY HAMLIN.
PLUS, STRONG LATIN AMERICAN
TALENT LIKE ADRIAN FERNANDEZ AND
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, WHO HAS A
HUGE FAN BASE HERE IN MEXICO.
HE HAD THE FASTEST PRACTICE TIME
YESTERDAY.
THIS, OF COURSE, IS A MAJOR
EVENT, ALL BUILDING TO SUNDAY'S
RACE, AND ESPN FULL CIRCLE HAS
IT FOR YOU.
THE BUSCH SERIES RACE TAKES
PLACE WITH EXPANDED COVERAGE
ALONG THE NETWORKS.
WE'RE ON ESPN2, OF COURSE.
BUT THERE'S MORE.
GET SPANISH LANGUAGE ON ESPN,
STREAMING LIVE ON 360, AND IT
ALL BEGINS LIVE AT 1:30 EASTERN.
TO THE BOOTH, JERRY PUNCH, ANDY
PETREE AND RUSTY WALLACE.
>> THANKS, CHRIS.
THE QUALIFYING FORMAT A LITTLE
BIT DIFFERENTLY.
WE HAVE GROUPS OF CARS OUT.
SEVEN DIFFERENT GROUPS,
DETERMINED BY PRACTICE SPEED.
GROUP ONE, THE SLOWER CARS, UP
TO SEVEN THE FASTER CARS.
EACH IS ALLOWED SIX MINUTES ON
THE TRACK.
THAT EQUATES TO FOUR OR FIVE
LAPS IN THE GRID, DETERMINED BY
THE FASTEST LAP.
NOW, MELTED INTO ONE 43-CAR
STARTING FIELD.
GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US HERE IN
MEXICO CITY.
DRIVER, I HAVE TO ASK YOU.
YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES, FOUR, FIVE
LAPS ON THE TRACK.
HOW DO YOU GIVE ME YOUR BEST
LAP?
>> I'M GOING TO GO OUT THERE,
ATTACK THE RACETRACK.
I'M GOING TO HIT MY MARKS JUST
PERFECT.
I CAN'T SCREW UP.
I REALLY HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE
THROUGH THE Ss.
THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE TRACK.
AFTER I GET THAT DONE, I CAN'T
DO ANYTHING STUPID LIKE MISS A
GEAR, OR WHEEL HOP THE CAR,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
VERY, VERY FOCUSED, MAN.
I HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY FOCUSED.
>> ANDY, AS A CREW CHIEF, WHAT
DO YOU TELL YOUR DRIVER THAT HE
ABSOLUTELY MUST DO IN THIS
SESSION?
>> THE DRIVER ABSOLUTELY HAS TO
STAY ON THE RACETRACK.
IF YOU RUN OFF THE RACETRACK,
YOU DON'T MAKE A GOOD LAP, AND
IF YOU HAPPEN TO MAKE A GOOD LAP
EARLY AND RUN OFF, YOU ARE GOING
TO TEAR YOUR CAR UP, AND NASCAR
IS GOING TO MAKE YOU START IN
THE BACK.
AND ANOTHER THING IS STARTING
POSITION IS SO IMPORTANT AT A
ROAD COURSE IF YOU START IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE FIELD, YOU COULD
BE OVER TEN SECONDS BEHIND ON
THE FIRST LAP.
>> THE CARS IN GROUP ONE ARE
BEING PUSHED INTO POSITION.
MIKE WALLACE AND COMPANY HEADED÷
DOWN TO THEIR CARS.
THERE IS A WEALTH OF TALENT HERE
IN THE NASCAR BUSCH SERIES
GARAGE.
AND THIS FIELD CAN CERTAINLY
HAVEp■ AN INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
WITH MORE ON THAT, HERE'S DAVE
BURNS.
>> JERRY, SIX DRIVERS CALL THIS
THEIR HOME, BUT IT MAY BE THE
COLUMN BEE YAN WHO HAS A REAL
ADVANTAGE HERE.
MONTOYA WAS FASTEST IN THE
PRACTICE SESSION, AND HE MAY
HAVE THE ADVANTAGE.
HE WILL GO OUT LATE IN TODAY'S
SESSION.
HOPING TO SET FAST TIME, AND SET
THE STAGE FOR A WINNING WEEKEND
IN MEXICO CITY.
ALLEN BESTWICK.
>> DAVE, SEVERAL OF THE MOST
ACCOMPLISHED ROAD COURSE RACERS
IN THE WORLD ARE HERE TODAY,
LOOKING TO BE IN THE FIELD AND
MAYBE IN VICTORY LANE FOR THIS
RACE.
SCOTT PRUETT, BORIS SAID.
WE'LL SEE THEM LATER IN THE
QUALIFYING SESSION.
NO ONE IN THE GARAGE WOULD BE
SURPRISED IF THAT WON THE RACE
TOMORROW.
HERE'S MIKE MASSARO.
>> THERE ARE 18 DRIVERS HERE WHO
HAVE NEVER BEEN BEFORE.
WHILE EXPERIENCE IS A FACTOR, IT
DOESN'T APPEAR THAT A LACK OF IT
LEADS TO AN INSURMOUNTABLE
DISADVANTAGE.
THE FIRST TWO WINNERS HERE IN
MEXICO CITY, BOTH WERE
FIRST-TIME VISITORS.
JAMIE LITTLE?
>> MIKE, ONE THING IS FOR SURE
THIS WEEKEND.
THERE WILL BE A NEW SERIES
POINTS LEADER FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN OVER A YEAR.
KEVIN HARVICK, THE 2006
CHAMPION, WELL, HE'S SITTING OUT
THIS WEEK END IN HOPES OF
SKAFLING BACK ON HIS SCHEDULE.
WHO IS YEX IN LINE?
CARL EDWARDS.@
HE'S PLAYED BRIDESMAID MOST OF
THE LAST YEAR, AND HE'S FINISHED
HERE THIRD AND EIGHTH.
HE'S HOPING TO TAKE HOME HIS
FIRST WIN AND SERIES POINTS LEAD
OF THE YEAR.
DOC?
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, GREAT INFORMATION DOWN IN
THE PILTS.
AND HERE IS THE DOLLAR GENERAL
CHEVY FOR KERTUS DAVIS, THE
25-YEAR-OLD FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
WHO IS DRIVING FOR KEVIN HARVICK
INCORPORATED.
AND HE TOLD US THE LAST TIME HE
WAS ON A ROAD COURSE, HE WAS 15
YEARS OLD, AND BY THE WAY, HE
WAS IN A GO-CART.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE'S BEEN
ON A ROAD COURSE IN A BUSCH
SERIES ROAD.
HE TESTED WITH KEVIN HARVICK IN
VIRGINIA A FEW WEEKS AGO.
>> RIGHT NOW, JERRY, HE'S IN THE
Ss.
AS YOU SEE HIM ENTER THERE, HE'S
GOT TO HIT THE MARK JUST
PERFECT.
DRIVE AGGRESSIVE.
THIS TURN SIX RIGHT HERE, HE'S
DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHT AWAY.
I TELL YOU WHAT, IF YOU DON'T
GET OFF THAT CORNER REAL GOOD,
YOU ARE GOING TO SACRIFICE A LOT
OF SPEED.
RIGHT NOW, LOOKS LIKE HE'S RIGHT
ON TRACK.
>> THE GUYS ARE GETTING THE
SPEED BUILT UP.
MAYBE FOUR LAPS TO GET IT DONE.
AND HE'S GOING TO PROBABLY TAKE
ONE OF THE FIRST FLYING LAPS.
I SAY THE FIRST TWO OF THE LAPS
ARE PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT.
>> ANDY A LOT OF GUYS ARE NOT
REALLY TAPING THE FRONT ENDS UP
A LOT.
I THINK THEY ARE PROBABLY GOING
TO HAVE TO FASTEST SPEEDS IN
PROBABLY THE FIRST TWO LAPS.
THE MORE TAPE YOU CAN PUT ON THE
FRONT OF THE CAR, THE MORE AIR
YOU CAN PUT IN THE TIRES.
THAT'S ALL ABOUT GETTING A FAST
LAP HERE AT MEXICO.
>> AND MOMENTS AGO, KERTUS DAVIS
GOT HIS FIRST INTRODUCTION TO
THE GRASSY AREA.
HE SLID UP THERE WHERE GREG
BIFFLE HIT HIS CAR UP A TON.
>> THAT'S CALLED A MISTAKE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT
HAPPEN.
NOW HE'S REALLY KILLED HIS
MOMENTUM COMING AT THE
START/FINISH LINE THAT'S WHERE
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE MOST SPEED.
IT'S NOT OVER.
IT E TO MAKE
UP.
>> RUSTY, THIS MORNING, WALKING
TO THE GARAGE AREA, A NUMBER OF
THE DRIVERS WOULD PULL YOU
ASIDE, AND ASK YOU, THEY KNEW
YOU WERE AMONG THE DRIVERS, VERY
GOOD ON THE ROAD COURSES.
THEY WERE ASKING YOU ADVICE.
WHAT DID YOU TELL THEM?
>> THEY HAVE TO HIT THEIR MARKS.
A LOT OF GUYS SAY YOU HAVE TO BE
SMOOTH, YEAH, YOU DO, BUT
THERE'S MANY THINGS YOU HAVE TO
DO.
YOU HAVE TO BE FAST.
AGGRESSIVEMENT YOU HAVE TO TAKE
THAT RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND BARELY
NIP THE RIPPLE STRIPS.
THE NEXT ONE, TAKE THE LEFT
FRONT AND BARELY NIP IT.
WHEN YOU DO THAT JUST CARRY THE
MOMENTUM.
KEEP THAT CAR MOVING, ROCKING
AND ROLLING THROUGH THE Ss.
VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE
RACETRACK.
ABOVE ALL, STAY ON THE COURSE,
MAN.
WE DON'T WANT THEM OFF THE
COURSE.
IF THEY SLIDE OFF LIKE KERTUS
DID, REALLY KILLS EVERYTHING.
>> THIS IS RUBEN PARDO, ONE OF
THE LOCAL FAVORITES.
WHOA, HE GETS OFF THE COURSE A
LITTLE BIT.
RIGHT NOW, HE'S THE QUICKEST CAR
IN THIS SESSION.
>> THAT TURN SIX, YOU SAW HIM
GET OFF A LITTLE BIT.
THAT REALLY DIDN'T SLOW HIM DOWN
MUCH.
THE CAR LOOKED A LITTLER RADDIC.
THAT'S BECAUSE HE'S TRYING TO
STAY IN THE GAS AND NOT GET OWL
OF THE THROTTLE.
HERE IS A KEY CORNER HERE.
OFF TURN EIGHT.
HE'S WIDE OPEN AT THE START
FINISH LINE.
THAT LAP IS COMPLETE.
GET ANOTHER ONE GOING RIGHT
HERE.
DOWN INTO UNDER THE ONE.
REAL HARD IN THERE.
*** THE BREAKS.
FOURTH GEAR.
DOWN TO THIRD GEAR.
DOWN TO SECOND GEAR.
HARD RIGHT HAND TURN
HE'S GOING TO MAKE
RIGHT NOW.
>> WE HAVE TROUBLE UP
IN TURN EIGHT THIS IS
THE 68 CARD.
THIS IS PEREZ, IN THE
TELMEX DODGE.
HE'S SLID OFF THE
RACETRACK, TRYING TO
HUSTLE THIS CAR
THROUGH TURNS EVEN AND
EIGHT.
>> IT'S SO EASY TO
OVERDRIVE YOUR RACE
CAR.
HE WENT IN THERE
REALLY HOT.
LOCK UP THE BRAKES.
AND IT SCOOTS OFF
COURSE.
NOT A LOT OF DAMAGE
HERE.
BUT SURE DID KILL HIS
LAP.
>> BUT ANDY, THE THING
I SAW RIGHT HERE IS
THAT HE'S OKAY IF HE
SLIDES OFF THE COURSE.
HE CAN KEEP GOING.
LOOKS LIKE HE FLAT
SPOTTED HIS TIRES.
NOW, YOU CAN'T START
THE RACE LIKE THAT
WITH FLAT SPOTTED
TIRES.
LOOKS LIKE HE MIGHT
HAVE TO GO TO THE BACK
OF THE PACK IF HE DOES
CHANGE THE TIRES.
BUT HE CAN GO BACK OUT
AND RUN.
SOMETHING I DON'T
SUGGEST, THOUGH.
>> ANTONIO PEREZ.
HE'S PART OF THE
MEXICAN DRIVER
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
THEY HAVE A MEXICAN
NASCAR STOCK CAR
SERIES, AND HE'S BEEN
PART OF THAT.
AND HERE IS A YOUNG
MAN, RUBEN PARDO WHO
JUST GOT THIS RIDE
YESTERDAY.
HIS TEAMMATE, BY THE
KAY, CARLOS CONTRERAS
IS A TWO-TIME SEDAN
CHAMPION, AND ONE OF
THE FAVORITES FOR THE
POLL.
HE'S COMING UP LATER
ON IN THE QUALIFYING
SESSION.
AGAIN, THIS IS GROUP
NUMBER ONE ON THE
TRACK.
THEY WILL HAVE SEVEN GROUPS OF
SIX OR SEVEN CARS.
THE TOP OF YOUR SCREEN,
SCROLLING ACROSS, YOU SEE THE 44
OF PARDO.
DAVIS IN THE 34.
AND THEN ONCE AGAIN, THE 68 CAR,
PEREZ, SLIPS OFF THE RACETRACK.
>> LOOKS LIKE HE'S HAD A PROBLEM
RIGHT THERE.
HE'S GOT FLAT SPOTTED TIRES.
YOU SEE THE 34 CAR, SIMO.
HE'S GOT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY
THAT'S WHAT SIMO -- THAT'S
REALLY KILLING HIM RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S ONE THING ABOUT EUROPEAN
STYLE QUALIFYING.
>> YOU KNOW, YOU CITY SAME THING
THAT HAPPENED TO HIM IN THE
FIRST OFFTRACK EXCURSION.
HE MUST HAVE TOO MUCH BRAKE IN
THE BACK.
>> WHEN YOU GO IN THE CORNER,
YOU SLIDE OFF ONE TIME, YOU DO
IT AGAIN, THE BREAK BALANCE IS
WRONG.
YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE CAR.
THAT'S ONE THING ABOUT THE
MEXICAN DRIVERS.
THEY GET IN THIS CAR FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
THEY HAVEN'T WORKED WITH THE
CREW CHIEFS, THEY DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF THE
CAR THIS IS ABSOLUTELY KILLING
SIMO'S LAP.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU DON'T WANT.
WHEN YOU HAVE A CAR IN FRONT OF
YOU, KILLING THE MOMENTUM,
REALLY HURTS.
>> FINAL MINUTES OF THE FIRST
SESSION, AS THEY COME BY IN THE
FIRST SESSION, AND IT'S OVER.
THE YOUNG MAN, RUBEN PARDO IN
THE 44 CAR, THAT CAR RIGHT
THERE, THE DODGE OF ARMANDO FITZ
IS THE QUICKEST.
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK, GROUP
TWO.
THEIR SIX MINUTES OF GLORY HERE
>>> BACK AT MEXICO CITY, MEXICO,
THE AUTODROMO HERMANOS
RODRIGUEZ.
NASCAR BUSCH SERIES AT MEXICO
CITYR QUALIFYING.@ñ
SOME OF THE FAVORITES, WAITING
TO GO.
HERE IS ONE DRIVER THAT JUST
COMPLETED HIS LAP, AND THAT IS
KERTUS DAVIS.
HE IS SECOND QUICKEST RIGHT NOW.
GOOD RUN FOR THE DOLLAR GENERAL
CREW AND KEVIN HARVICK
INCORPORATED RACING.
YOUNG MAN FIRST EVER ATTEMPT TO
QUALIFY A BUSCH SERIES CAR ON A
ROAD COURSE.
SOME OF THE CARS WAITING IN LINx
TO GO OUT, AMONG THIS NEXT CREW
IS DAVID REAGAN.
HE'S HAD TO OVERCOME A LOT.
>> HE RAN GREAT YESTERDAY.
HAD A FAST LAP OUT THERE.
LOST THE ENGINE.
THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE
NOW.
BECAUSE OF THAT, HE WILL BE
STARTING TAIL BACK.
HE'S QUALIFYING RIGHT NOW JUST
TO GET A GOOD PIT SELECTION FOR
TOMORROW'S RACE.
>> THE WAY THE NASCAR LETS THESp
CREWS PICK THEIR PIT STALLS IS
IN THE ORDER OF QUALIFYING.
THE FASTER CARS GET THE EARLY
PICKS.
>> HERE IS A YOUNG MAN, A ROOKIE
IN THE BUSCH SERIES, HE IS A
ROOKIE IN THE NEXTEL CUP SERIES,
AND, OH, BY THE WAY, HE'S
LEADING THE NEXTEL CUP ROOKIE OF
THE YEAR POINT STANDINGS BY
VIRTUE OF FINISHING FIFTH IN THE
DAYTONA 500.
GROUP TWO IS ON THE RACETRACK.
OUR POLL SITTER STANDING BY WITH
ALLEN BESTWICK.
>> STANDING BY HERE WITH CARLOS
CONTRERAS.
I'M GOING TO STEP INMENT YOU
DIDN'T GET THIS RIDE BUT
YESTERDAY.
YOU GOT A LOT OF SMILES ON YOUR
FACE ABOUT YOUR QUALIFYING
PERFORMANCE.
>> I'M VERY EXCITED.
THE TEAM WORK A LOT, YESTERDAY,
I DIDN'T PRACTICE, AND I FEEL
VERY GOOD, I'M VERY HAPPY,
BECAUSE, FINALLY SUPPORT ME AND
GET -- FAMILY DOLLAR GIVE ME
THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND I'M VERY
HAPPY.
>> A LOT OF ANIMATED BODY
LANGUAGE WHEN WE GOT OUT OF THE
CAR.
DOC, ONE THING IS UNIVERSAL IN
RACING, THEY ALWAYS THANK THE
SPONSOR.
>> HE UNDERSTANDS WHERE IT IS
COMING FROM.
HE WAS SO THRILLED TO GET THE
OPPORTUNITY.
YOU WATCH DAVID RAGAN IN SESSION
TWO.
YOU SEE THE DRIVERS WHO
COMPLETED SESSION NUMBER ONE AT
THE TOP OF THEIR SCREEN.
AND THAT IS THEIR TIME ON THE
RACE TRAM.
>> THIS PART OF THE TRACK, HE'S
GOING DOWN TO TURN SEVEN NOW.
INTO THE BACK STRAIGHT AWAY.
SOFT RIGHT HAND TURN ALL THE WAY
OUT THIS IS THE LAST TURN THAT
LEADS TO THE FRONT.
HE'S GOT TO GET WIDE OPEN HERE.
A LOT OF THROTTLE IN IT.
BACK ON THE COURSE.
YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THERE.
AT THE END OF THE FRONT STRAIGHT
AWAY A LOT OF SPEED.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER,
ALMOST 180 MILES AN HOURMENT
HE'S GOING TO BE DOWN, OUT OF
FOURTH, INTO THIRD, HARD BRAKE.
SEE THE NOSE FALL ON THE CAR,
HARD RIGHT HAND TURN NOW INTO
TURN ONE.
NOW, ANDY, REAL CRUCIAL PART OF
THE RACETRACK RIGHT HERE THIS IS
WHERE THE GUYS LOSE A LOT OF
SPEED.
>> THEY HAVE TO TURN RIGHT,
LEFT, THEY HAVE TO STAY OFF THE
CURVES, TOO.
THEY CAN REALLY UPSET THE CAR.
YOU WANT TO TRY TO USE EVERY
INCH OF THE RACETRACK.
YOU DON'T WANT TO HIT THE CURB.
>> THIS IS THE PART IN TURN
FOUR.
YOU SEE RAGAN COMING INTO A
PART, THERE'S TWO TURNS IN IT.
REAL ROAD RACING TURN THAT'S
WHERE THE ROAD RACE REALLY EXCEL
GOING INTO TURN FOUR.
>> HERE'S TODD KLUEVER IN THE 16
CAR THAT HE'S SHARING WITH GREG
BIFFLE AND OTHERS THIS YEAR IN
THE ROUSH-FENWAY RACING EFFORTS.
AND HE IS CURRENTLY QUICKEST.
HE'S SECOND OVERALL.
>> YOU SEE HIM CARRY THAT LEFT
FRONT WHEEL UP IN THE AIR.
JUST MISSING THAT CURB THAT'S
KIND OF NEAT HOW THE CARS SHIFT
THAT WEIGHT AND CARRY THE LEFT
FRONT WHEEL.
>> COOL TO WATCH.
I LIKE WHEN THEY LIFT THE TIRES
OFF THE GROUND.
WHEN YOU SEE THE CARS COMING TO
THE CORNER SKY HIGH.
>> AS YOU WATCH IT HERE, WATCH,
OCCASIONALLY, YOU SEE THE TOUCH
OF THE BRAKE, YOU SEE ONE OR
TWO -- THERE, HE JAMS THE
BRAKES.
WHAT DID YOU SAYED, ANDY?
>> STOMP THE BRAKE.÷
>> YES.
>> YOU SEE TURN EIGHT NOW,
HEADING DOWN THE LONG FRONT
STRAIGHT AWAY.
NOW, YOU KNOW, THAT REALLY
DIDN'T SLOW HIM UP RIGHT THERE
HE HADú MOST OF THE CAR ON THE
TRACK.
HE'S WIDE OPEN.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE BRAKE
WHEN WE GET DOWN TO TURN ONE
HERE.
YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THIS BABY
FULL PEGGED AND ON FOR AWHILE.
>> WATCH THE SPEED AT THE END OF
THIS STRAIGHT AWAY.
FASTEST PART OF THE COURSE.
WE SAW HIM HILT 170 A MOMENT
AGO.
>> THROUGH THAT TURN ONE AND
TURN TWO.
>> THAT IS A 90 DEGREE TURN.
IT'S LIKE COMING DOWN THE STREET
AND TURNING INTO YOUR DRIVEWAY
AT 125 MILES AN HOUR.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE A LOT OF GROUND
THROUGH THIS.
YOU SEE THE WHEELS COMING OFF
THE GROUND.
A LOT OF THE TEAMS HERE IN
MEXICO HAVE RUNNING A VERY SOFT
FRONT SPRING AND REAL BIG SWAY
BARS, AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE
REAR OF THE CAR SET UP
CORRECTLY, IT WILL CAUSE THE
TIRES TO COME OFF THE GROUND,
BECAUSE THAT SWAY BAR IN THE
FRONT OF THE CAR IS SO STRONG,
WHEN THAT CAR ROLL OVER, IT
TRIES TO PICK THAT WHEEL UP OFF
THE GROUND THAT IS ONE THING YOU
DON'T WANT A LOT OF.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE TODD IS DOING
A REALLY GOOD JOB NOW WITH THAT
SELECTION AND HIS TEAM AS FAR AS
WHAT HE'S PICKED NOW.
>> AND BEHIND HIM IN THIS
SESSION, AS YOU ARE WATCHING
TODD IS THE 10 CAR OF DAVE
BLANEY WHO HAD HIS TROUBLES THIS
WEEKEND THIS IS A BACKUP CAR
BECAUSE HE WAS THE FIRST DRIVER
ON THE TRACK YESTERDAY TO HAVE
HIS TROUBLES AT THE END OF THE
LONG STRAIGHTAWAY.
HE HAD TO GO TO A BACKUP, A
BRAND NEW CAR HERE IN THE FAN
FIRST CAR FOR TODD BRAUN MOTOR
SPORTS.
>> I TALKED TO THEM YESTERDAY,
THEY GOT IN THE CAR, THE POWER
STEERING WASN'T WORKING.
THESE ARE THE FIRST FAST LAPS
HE'S HAD IN THE CAR.
>> THIS TEAM HAS BEEN REALLY
GOOD.
THEY'VE HAD THE ACT TOGETHER.
THEY ARE A TOYOTA TEAM, RUNNING
WELL.
THE FIRST COUPLE RACES OF THE
YEAR, HE'S THE STRONGEST TOYOTAp
TO HAVE THE CRASH YESTERDAY WAS
TOTALLY SOMETHING THAT THEY
DIDN'T EXPECT.
>> HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THE
EARLY SESSION YESTERDAY MORNING,
COMING IN THE STRAIGHT AWAY.
THE CAR VEERED RIGHT AND HEAD ON
INTO THE WALL.
>> WE THOUGHT MAYBE HE WHEEL
HOPPED THE CAR, BUT HE WENT
DOWN, TALKED TO THE TEAM, THEY
SAID THE RIGHT FRONT BOLTS CAME
OUT, AND THEY LOST CONTROL.
WE TALKED TO THE CREW CHIEF,
THAT'S WHAT THEY TOLD US.
AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT'S
VERY HARD TO BELIEVE.
VERY SELDOM DOES THAT HAPPEN.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE SUSPENSION
BOLTS TIGHTENED.
>> BLANEY WON HIS FIRST EVENT AT
LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY LAST FALL.
AND A GREAT SECOND PLACE FINISH
AT DAYTONA IN THE SEASON OPENER.
AND NOW IN A BACKUP CAR HERE.
AND RIGHT UP ON THAT CURBING.
>> THAT'S ONE THING, A LOT OF
THE DRIVERS USE THE CURB.
I THINK IT'S DRIVER TECHNIQUE.
YOU WAUSHED JUAN PABLO MONTOYA,
HE WAS JUST TICKLING THE
CORNERS.
HE SAID HE PREFERS TO DO IT THAT
WAY.
SCOTT PRUETT, HE USES A LOT OF
THE CURB.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THAT LAP A MOMENT AGO MAKES
BLANEY THE FASTEST IN THIS
SESSION, AND SECOND QUICKEST
OVERALL.
SO HE HAS NOW TAKEN THE LEAD IN
THIS SESSION WITH A SPEED OF
100.626 MILES AN HOUR.
90.804 SECONDS FOR HIS LAP ON
THIS 2.518 MILE ROAD COURSE.
SO, SESSION TWO IS OVER.
AND BLANEY, THE QUICKEST IN THIS
SESSION, WHICH PUTS HIM■
>>> AND WELCOME BACK LIVE.
IT'S QUALIFYING DAY FOR
TOMORROW'S RACE, AND MEXICO
CITY.
THE MEXICAN FANS HAPPY BECAUSE
PARDO, ONE OF SEVEN
MEXICAN DRIVERS IN THIS RACE,
THE FASTEST SO FAR IN
QUALIFYING.
GUYS LIKE MON DAY YA, HAMLIN,
BIFFLE STILL TO COME.
WE HAVE TIM BREWER JOINING ME IN
THE STUDIO.
ALL THE DRIVERS TALK ABOUT HOW
MUCH FUN THIS COURSE IS, THE
THIRD DIFFERENT KIND OF RACE
COURSE IN THREE WEEKS FOR BUSCH.
FOR THE CREW CHIEFS AND THE
CREWS, NOT SO MUCH FUN.
A LOT OF HEADACHES TO GO WITH
THE TUMMY ACHES DOWN HERE.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF HEADACHES
INVOLVED.
BRAKES, PRIME, PRIME EXAMPLE.
WHEN RUSTY WAS TALKING ABOUT THE
CAR GETTING DOWN IN THE CORNER
THAT THING BURIED THAT NOSE, YOU
HAVE TO KEEP THE BRAKES ON THE
CARS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD BRAKE
BALANCE.
IF YOU CAN GET THAT, YOU ARE
GOING TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE FOR
THE RACE.
CONSISTENCY WITH IT, WE HAVE TO
GO DOWN AND GET FORWARD BITE,
PRIME DEAL HERE.
YOU CAN'T GIVE IT UP.
ACCELERATION.
BACK TO THE BRAKES,
TRANSMISSION, BE KIND TO IT.
IN AND OUT OF GEAR, UP THROUGH
THE GEARS, BE SMOOTH.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, GOING TO
BE A REALLY GOOD EFFORT IF YOU
HAVE ALL FOUR GEARS WORKING.
>> THE HEAVY DUTY BRAKES HERE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT RACE STRATEGY
NOW.
80 LAPS AROUND THIS COURSE.
200 MILES.
7500 FEET, THE ELEVATION PLAYS
INTO IT WITH THE FUEL STRATEGY?
>> YEAH.
ANY TIME YOU GET IN A SITUATION
TO WHERE WE'RE ON A TARGET HERE.
WE HAVE, WHATEVER THE REST OF
THE GUYS DO, WE DON'T REAL
LITTLE CARE ABOUT.
AS SOON AS WE HAVE THIS THING
FULL OF FUEL, WE HAVE GOOD
TIRES, WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO
MAKE IT TO THE CHECKERED FLAG.
TRACK POSITION VERY IMPORTANT
HERE.
WE'RE IN A SITUATION, OUT FRONT,
WE CAN DICTATE WHAT'S HAPPENING
TO THESE THINGS, AND WE CAN
CONTROL THE GUYS BEHIND US.
WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A GOOD
EFFORT OF WINNING THE RACE.
>> ONE ASPECT OF QUALIFYING, TO
PIT THE -- PICK THE PIT STALLS.
THEY HAVE THE NEXTEL CUP GUYS
FLYING IN HERE TO TRY TO GRAB
THE PRECIOUS COUPLE OF SECONDS.
>> YOU CAN'T GIVE UP ANYTHING ON
PIT ROAD.
THAT'S THE REASON -- IF YOU ARE
SLACK IN ONE AREA, TIRE CHANGE,
JACK MAN, YOU ARE GOING TO BRING
THAT A-TEAM IN HERE.
IT'S GOING TO BE DEFINITE.
YOU COME IN FIFTH, YOU GO OUT
FIRST, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A
BETTER OPPORTUNITY OF WINNING.
BRING THE A-TEAM.
>> A-TEAM ON THE WAY SUNDAY.
JERRY, BACK TO YOU GUYS.
>> THANKS, GUYS.
WE HAVE GROUP THREE ON THE
RACETRACK.
YOU ARE LOOKING AT TODD SOUZA.
A 42-YEAR-OLD DRIVER FROM
CALIFORNIA WHO STARTED OUT
DRIVING IN DIRT, NASCAR
SOUTHWEST TOUR, THE GRAND
NATIONAL WEST SERIES.
AND AS YOU WATCH HIM TRY TO GET
HIS CAR UP TO SPEED, LET'S CHECK
IN WITH MIKE AND DAVE BLANEY.
>> JERRY, DAVE WAS THE FASTEST
IN GROUP TWO.
STILL, A LITTLE BIT
DISAPPOINTED.
WHY?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BE.
REALISTICALLY, THAT'S PROBABLY
ALL WE WERE GOING TO GET.
FIRST LAP ON THE CAR, YOU KNOW,
CAN'T GRACE THAT ONE.
AND DRIVER DOESN'T HAVE SIX OR
SEVEN LAPS YET.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
WE GOT ALL DAY TOMORROW TO
FIGURE IT OUT.
>> HOW DIFFICULT HAVE THINGS
GONE, HAVING TO GO TO THE BACKUP
CAR HERE SO FAR?
>> WE JUST DIDN'T GET ANY LAPS
IN YESTERDAY, AND -- BUT YOU
KNOW, AND I HADN'T BEEN HERE
BEFORE EITHER.
I ONLY GOT A COUPLE OF LAPS IN
THE FIRST CAR.
IT'S BEEN HARD.
BUT IT ICE NOT, YOU KNOW,
TERRIBLY DIFFICULT.
JUST A LITTLE BIT HERE AND THERE
ADDS UP.
LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE TOMORROW.
>> OBVIOUSLY A HARD CRASH ON
FRIDAY.
WHAT WENT WRONG?
>> WELL, SOMETHING IN THE FRONT
SUSPENSION GIVE, AND IT JUST
TURNED RIGHT, RIGHT ON THE
STRAIGHTIOWA WAND GOT AWAY
BEFORE I COULD GET AHOLD OF IT.
I PROBABLY MADE IT WORSE WITH
THE BRAKES, BUT NEVER HAD THAT
HAPPEN BEFORE, I DON'T THINK.
AND YOU CAN ALWAYS -- TOOK ME A
LONG TIME HOW TO CRASH ON A
STRAIGHT AWAY.
I DID IT.
>> YOU WALKED AWAY SAFELY, AND,
JERRY, THIS GUY SHOULD BE A
FACTOR.
HE'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF
EXPERIENCE IN ROAD COURSE
RACING, BUT HE'S NEVER BEEN HERE
BEFORE.
>> HE'S THIRD OVERALL IN THE
OVERALL QUALIFYING SESSION.
THIS CAR, BY THE WAY, OF -- YOU
SEE THAT RIBBON ON THE ROAD OF
THE CAR THAT IS FOR BREAST
CANCER AWARENESS.
HE HAS TURN LEFT WITH THE CURE
ON THE BACK OF THE REAR DECK
THERE.
HE'S BEEN A LONG-TIME DRIVER ON
THE WEST COAST TRYING TO BRING
AWARENESS FOR BREAST CANCER
RESEARCH.
>> DON'T OVERDRIVE IT NOW, LET'S
GO.
>> YOU HEAR THE CREW CHIEF NOW
TALKING TO HIM.
THAT'S MICHAEL MUNYOS, TELLING
HIM NOT TO BE AGGRESSIVE DOWN IN
TURN ONE.
>> THAT'S THE MONEY LAP.
DON'T MESS UP.
STAY ON THE COURSE.
DON'T OVERBRAKE IT, DON'T MISS A
GEAR, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND AS WE WERE TALKING -- YOU
CAN HEAR, WE GOT A NEW LEADER.
NUMBER 28 CAR.
>> HE'S IN THIS SESSION, IN THE
28 CAR.
AS YOU LOOK AT THE 36 COMING BY,
AND THAT IS BRENT SHERMAN.
AND THERE IS GERMAN QUIROGA.
>> YOU DID OUTSTANDING WITH
THAT.
YOU ARE TALKING, I LOOK UP AT
THE SCREEN.
HE POPS UP NUMBER ONE, HOW AM I
GOING TO PRONOUNCE THAT?
I REALLY LIKE THIS STYLE OF
QUALIFYING.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ABOUT 14 CARS
ALREADY QUALIFIED, AND IF WE
WERE TO USE A SINGLE CAR
QUALIFYING, WE'D BE HERE FOR
THREE, FOUR HOURS.
THEY ARE SENDING THEM OUT ONE
CAR EVERY 20 SECONDS.
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RUN UP ON
EACH OTHER UNLESS SOMEBODY HAS A
PROBLEM.
I REALLY LIKE THIS EUROPEAN
STYLE QUALIFYING THESE GUYS ARE
DOING.
>> BRENT SHERMAN, ANDY, IS VERY
WELL ACCUSTOMED TO TURNING LEFT
AND RIGHT AT HIGH SPEEDS A
FORMER AIR FORCE FIGHTER PILOT
THAT'S FLOWN EVERYTHING THE AIR
FORCE HAD.
AND HERE'S THE 28 CAR, BY THE
WAY.
THIS IS THE CAR THAT IS
CURRENTLY, THE POLL SITTER, AND
WHAT A LAP.
101.667 MILES AN HOUR, THE CAR
OWNED BY JAY ROBINSON AND TROY
STAFFORD.
THESE ARE DALE EARNHARDT
INCORPORATED ENGINES.
>> THESE ENGINES HAVE PLENTY OF
POWER.
THEY HAVE TO GET IT TO THE
GROUND.
AND, I REALLY LIKE THIS STYLE OF
QUALIFYING.
YOU HAVE THE FASTER CARS COMING
IN BEHIND THE OTHER GUYS.
IT'S REALLY FUN TO WATCH THEM
MOVE UP IN THE STANDINGS.
>> FOLKS IN THE STATES MIGHT NOT
HAVE HEARD OF THESE DRIVERS.
I HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW.
BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING
INTERNATIONAL NOW WITH ESPN.
WE'RE SHOOTING THIS ALL OVER THE
WORLD.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND
THE WORLD THAT KNOWS THESE
DRIVERS, JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T
KNOW THEM, HEY, AROUND THE WORLD
THEY DO.
>> YOU SEE THE Xs ON THE BRAKE
DUCTS.
THEY HAVE TAPE ON THEM TO GET
LESS AIR FLOW THROUGH THE FRONT
OF THE CAR AND MAKE MORE DOWN
FORCE.
THEY HAVE TO UNTAPE THAT FOR THE
RACE.
>> I DID THAT ONE TIME, TOO.
I FORGOT TO DO THAT.
THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS BLACK,
AND WE HAD BLACK TAPE ON THERE,
AND NOW, YOU CAN SEE IT.
THEY AREN'T GOING TO MAKE THE
SAME MISTAKE.
LOOK AT ME, A BIG X, TAKE IT
OFF.
>> WELL, FOR MORE ON GERMAN,
LET'S CHECK IN WITH ALLEN
BESTWICK.
HE SLIPPED A LITTLE BIT.
>> HE WILL CATCH HIS BREATH
THERE.
HE'S A 26-YEAR-OLD FROM MEXICO
CITY.
HE NEVER MET THE MEMBERS OF THIS
RACE TEAM UNTIL FRIDAY MORNING
WHEN HE SAT IN THE CAR FOR THE
FIRST TIME, THE CREW CHIEF TOLD
ME, WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT HIS
CREDENTIALS WERE, WHAT WE WERE
DOING HERE, AND THEN THE KID
WENT OUT AND PRACTICED THEIR
CAR.
AND THIS TEAM WAS PUMPED UP.
THEY SAID TO ME, THIS YOUNG MAN
CAN DRIVE A RACE CAR.
AND LATE THEY ARE SEASON, FOLKS
IN THE STATES MAY SEE QUIROGA,
HE'S GOING TO RUN EAST SERIES,
TO WORK HIS WAY THROUGH THE
DIVERSITY PROGRAM.
MAYBE WE WILL SEE HIM IN THE
BUSCH SERIES BEYOND JUST HERE IN
MEXICO CITY.
>> THE DRIVERS ARE DRIVING THE
CARS, SAYING IT IS A DREAM COME
TRUE TO BE ON THE SAME RACETRACK
WITH SOME OF THE ALL-TIME GREATS
IN ROAD RACING IN ADRIAN
FERNANDEZ OR MONTOYA.
IT WOULD BE LIKE GETTING A
CHANCE TO PLAY GOLF WITH TIGER
WOODS.
>>> AND THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF
WHAT IS A VERY PICTURESQUE
CULTURE HERE IN MEXICO CITY.
AND THERE IS ONE HAPPY NATIVE
DRIVER, GERMAN QUIROGA.
WHAT A JOB HE'S DONE IN THE 28
CAR THUS FAR.
BUT AMONG THOSE WAITING TO GO,
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, AND A COUPLE
OF DRIVERS HAVE MISSED THEIR
OPPORTUNITIES.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY DO MISS A
SHOT, DAVE BURNS?
>> IF IT'S NOT EXCUSED BY
NASCAR, THERE IS A SITUATION
THAT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW WHICH
NASCAR BUSCH SERIES RACE
DIRECTOR EXPLAINED TO ME THIS
MORNING.
IF YOU MISS YOUR SPOT IN YOUR
GROUP, ARE YOU ALLOWED TO GO TO
THE TAIL END OF THE NEXT GROUP.
YOU MUST GET YOUR CAR READY BY
THAT TIME IF YOU DON'T MAKE IT
BY THAT TIME, THEN LU NOT GET A
LAP, AND YOU'LL JUST START AT
THE REAR OF THE FIELD.
AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE
23 CAR.
THEY HAD A CRACKED FUEL NECK,
AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT.
IT WAS UNSAFE.
SO THEY MADE THEM REPLACE ITMENT
HE MISSED HIS SPOT IN THE FIRST
THE SECOND E END OF
GROUP, AND BRAD WILL NOT TAKE A
LAP AND HE WILL START AT THE
TAIL END OF THIS FIELD.
JAMIE LITTLE?
>> WELL, DAVE, ANOTHER ONE OF
THE DRIVERS FORCED TO GO TO THE
BACK OF THE FIELD, P.J. JONES.
WE TALKED ABOUT KEVIN HARVICK
AND THAT 21 CAR, IS WHERE HE WON
THAT CHAMPIONSHIP.
P.J. JONES IS IN IT.
I KNOW THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST
OPPORTUNITIES YOU'VE HAD FOR
EQUIPMENT.
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE END OF
PRACTICE?
>> WELL, YESTERDAY WE HAD A
LITTLE BIT OF AN ENGINE PROBLEM,
AND THREE OF THE RCR MOTORS.
WE CHANGED IT, SOME OF THEM WERE
PRECAUTIONARY.
WE HAVE TO START DEAD LAST
TOMORROW, BUT -- YOU KNOW, I
THINK, YOU KNOW, THE CAR'S
PRETTY GOOD.
LONG RUNS, AND DRIVING FOR RCR
HAS BEEN A DREAM COME TRUE AND
AUTO ZONE, AND SO, I THINK WE'LL
PUT IT UP FRONT TONIGHT.
>> GUYS, P.J. HEADING OUT.
THAT IS EVEN THOUGH HE STARTS IN
THE BACK, THIS QUALIFYING EFFORT
IS FOR PIT SELECTION.
DOC?
>> ABSOLUTELY, JAMIE.
P.J., VERY GOOD WHEN HE RAN THE
CHAMP CARS AND CART.
FINISHED SECOND TO JUAN PABLO
MONTOYA.
HE MAY HAVE THE SHOT TO RUN WITH
HIM UP FRONT, BUT HE'S GOING TO
HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO ON SUNDAY.
HERE IS MICHEL JOURDAIN JR.
>> HE'S A GREAT ROAD RACER.
YOU SEE HIM ACCELERATING DOWN
THE BACK STRAIGHT AWAY.
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
HE IS REALLY GETTING IT DONEMENT
IT'S P-1 RIGHT NOW.
THE FASTEST CAR THAT'S QUALIFY
SOD FAR, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, HE'S
ANOTHER GUY THAT HAD TO CHANGE
ENGINES AND HE'LL GO TAIL BACK.
HALL'S JUST DOING THIS HOT SHOT
RUN RIGHT NOW, GOT A GOOD
SELECTION FOR THE PITSES IT'S
FUN FOLLOWING HIM AROUND.
HE CAN FLAT DRIVE IN THE ROAD
COURSES.
>> DO YOU THINK HE'S JUST
QUALIFYING FOR A PIT SELECTION,
A LITTLE BIT OF PRIDE, TOO?
>> IT IS PRIDE.
HE WANTS TO SLOW OFF, TELL
EVERYBODY, YOU CAN GET THE JOB
DONE.
NOT HIS FAULT THAT THE ENGINE
BLEW UP.
>> MICHEL HE ONE TOP TEN FINISH
IN 23 NASCAR BUSCH SERIES
STARTS.
YES, THAT IS THE 17 CAR THAT
MATT KENSETH DROVE TO VICTORY AT
CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY, ONE WEEK
AGO FOR ROUSH FENWAY RACING.
THE 35-YEAR-OLD FROM MEXICO
CITY.
MAKING HIS 24th CAREER START
HERE IN NASCAR'S BUSCH SERIES.
>> SAW THE CAR SLIDE OUT A
LITTLE BIT THERE.
NICE START IN THE Ss.
THIS IS THE MOST CRITICAL PART.
I TALKED TO MONTOYA, HE SAID A
LOT OF THE GUYS I'M WATCHING ARE
GIVING UP A LOT THROUGH THE Ss.
THEY ARE OVERDRIVING IT.
MICHEL LOOKS VERY SMOOTH THROUGH
HERE.
RIGHT FRONT CORNER ON THE RIPPLE
STRIPS THERE.
OUT OF THE THROTTLE, BACK IN.
NOW, THE FAST PART HERE, NEED TO
GO WIDE OPEN HERE.
SEE THAT?
THIRD GEAR NEVER LIFTED.
BOY, IF YOU CAN DO THAT, YOU ARE
GOING TO GET A GOOD LAP.
>> SOUNDS LIKE HE'S GOT A GOOD
HANDLING CAR.
YOU SEE THE BACK END STEP OUT.
WE CALL THAT LOOSE.
LOOKS LIKE HE'S GOING TO COME ON
IN THE PIT THERE.
>> RUSTY WATCHING MICHEL, LOOKS
LIKE HE DIDN'T USE THE RIPPLE
BUMPS VERY MUCH AT ALL.
SOME OF THE OTHER CARS USE THAT
TO HELP TURN THE CAR AND GOES
ACROSS THE RIPPLES.
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT THAT
WAY, IT'S ALL DRIVER TECHNIQUE.
>> AND WE ARE BEING TOLD THE
PROBLEMS FOR THE 14 CAR, KYLE
KRISILOFF IN THE GLAMOUR GIRL
FORD, AND HERE MOMENTS AGO, UP
UNTIL TURN EIGHT, A BIT OF A
TROUBLE SPOT.
>> BOY, KYLE DID A GREAT JOB
SAVING THAT THING.
THAT IS ONE OF THE FASTEST PARTS
OF THE RACETRACK.
YOU LOSE IT THERE, BUT HE SAVED
IT.
GOOD JOB.
>> WE SAW GREG BIFFLE GET LOOSE
THERE, AND HE HAMMERED IT
AGAINST THE WALL.
>> NICE AND SMOOTH THERE.
>> TODAY, AS I WENT BY THE
GARAGE, I WISHED KYLE HAPPY
BIRTHDAY.
HE TURNED 21 TODAY.
AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, WHAT A
DAY, MY FIRST EVER STOCK CAR ON
A ROAD COURSE, IT'S MY BIRTHDAY.
MAYBE SOMETHING GOOD WILL
HAPPEN.
HE GREW UP RUNNING FORMULA
FOURS.
FINISHED SECOND IN THE
ATLANTICS, AS WELL.
HAS SOME EXPERIENCE.
>> WHAT'S THAT MEAN?
TEQUILA TONIGHT?
WHAT'S THE DRINKING AGE HERE IN
MEXICO, ANYWAY?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.
>> I DON'T KNOW.
>> HE'S PROBABLY THINKING, I'M
21, I CAN DO WHAT I WANT.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
AND HE DID A GREAT JOB SAVING
IT.
MAYBE THAT WAS THE BIRTHDAY
PRESENT, KEEPING IT ON THE
TRACK.
>> THERE ARE A GROUP OF DRIVERS
HERE THAT ARE JUST -- IT'S
AMAZING HOW THE AGE IN NASCAR,
AND NEXTEL CUP AND NOW IN THE
BUSCH SERIES CONTINUES TO MOVE
DOWN.
YOU GET THE YOUNG TEENAGERS THAT
HAVE GOTTEN SO MUCH EXPERIENCE
IN THE NASCAR BUSCH EAST OR WEST
SERIES, ARE NOW COMING TO RUN IN
THE NASCAR BUSCH SERIES
FULL-TIME.
>> IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW YOUNG THEY
ARE NOW.
DO YOU KNOW HOW YOUNG I WAS WHEN
I FIRST STARTED NASCAR CUP?
WHEN I GOT INTO CUP, I WAS 27
YEARS OLD.
AND NOW THEY ARE IN AT 19.
>> THEY WOULDN'T LOOK AT YOU
TODAY.
THEY WOULDN'T PUT NEW A CAR.
>> I'M TOO OLD, MAN.
THEY DON'T NEED YOU, DUDE.
>> BUT YOU WERE STILL PUTTING IT
ON THE KIDS ON YOUR LAST YEAR.
>> 38 WAS CONSIDERED TO BE PRIME
AT ONE TIME.
>> THAT'S THE END OF THIS
PARTICULAR SESSION.
THAT WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
>> SO, JOURDAIN, JR. DOING A
NICE JOB THERE.
LOOK AT THE@o÷<
>>> BACK LIVE IN MEXICO CITY,
MEXICO.
NASCAR BUSCH SERIES QUALIFYING.
AS A NUMBER OF DRIVERS READY TO
GO OUT.
MICHEL JOURDAIN, JR. AT THE TOP
OF THE SPEED CHARTS.
BOBBY HAMILTON, GREAT EFFORT
THERE.
SCOTT WIMMER, THIRD QUICKEST
OVERALL.
GERMAN QUIROGA, JR.
HIS FIRST EVER TRIP TO THE
NASCAR BUSCH SERIES, FOURTH
QUICKEST.
YOU SEE RUBEN PARDO, LAST YEAR'S
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR IN THE NASCAR
BUSCH EAST SERIES IN THE TOP
FIVE.
ALLEN BESTWICK STANDING BY WITH
OUR PROVISIONAL POLL SITTER.
MICHEL JOURDAIN JR. TALKING WITH
HIS CREW CHIEF, AND THE TEAM
OWNER OF HIS CAR.
YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE LAP?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO
CHANGE ENGINES, SO, WE ARE
STARTING IN THE BACK.
WE WANTED TO GET A GOOD LAP.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT
OF GUYS THAT ARE GOING TO GO A
LOT FASTER, BUT WE KNOW WE'RE
NOT GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO GO
FOR THE POLL, SO, WE JUST WANTED
TO GET A GOOD, A DECENT PIT
SELECTION, AND HAVE THE CAR IN
ONE PIECE FOR THE RACE.
>> STARTING IN THE BACK
TOMORROW, ON A COURSE WHERE IT
CAN BE DIFFICULT TO PASS.
I KNOW YOU'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT
ALREADY.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> WELL, IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'RE
JUST GOING TO HAVE TO BE REALLY
PATIENT TOMORROW, ESPECIALLY THE
FIRST TWO-THIRDS OF THE RACE,
AND HOPEFULLY WE GET A GOOD
STRATEGY.
HOPEFULLY THE YELLOWS GO OUR
WAY, AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE A
GOOD, A GOOD COMPLETE CAR THERE
AT THE END, I THINK WE CAN HAVE
A SHOT FOR SURE.
>> THANKS FOR THE TIME.
MICHEL JOURDAIN, JR.
AND LET'S GO TO MIKE HA --
MASSARO.
WHERE DID YOU MISS A LAP?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT'S FAST
AND NOT HERE, BECAUSE YOU ARE
SHIFTING GEARS.
BUT THAT'S INCREDIBLE FOR ME, I
LIKE, LOST AT THESE
PLACES, AND, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT,
THESE GUYS RAN GOOD HERE LAST
YEARMENT IT'S MORE CAR THAN IT
IS ME.
EVERYBODY THAT'S SITTING BEHIND
THIS DEAL, McDONALDS, EVERYBODY,
FORD, WE'RE BUILDING THIS THING,
AND WE'RE GOING TO GET IT
BETTER.
IT SHOWS THE EQUIPMENT WE GOT.
WE'RE SECOND RIGHT NOW, WE WON'T
END UP THERE, BUT TOP 15, WHICH
IS HUGE FOR ME AT A ROAD COURSE,
I'M LIKE LOST AT A EASTER EGG
HERE.
DIDN'T, I'VE BEEN REALLY
TRYING TO FOCUS ON THE SHIFT
POINTS, AND DRIVING IN THE
CORNERS STRAIGHT.
RON FELLOWS DRIVE ME AROUND HERE
YESTERDAY MORNING, AND LEARNED A
LOT, SO, JUST, I'M GLADDED TO
BE -- NORMALLY I WOULD BE
THROWING STUFF AND KICKING
ANIMALS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I
DON'T LIKE THESE PLACES.
IF YOU HAVE GOOD EQUIPMENT, LIKE
WE GOT HERE TODAY, IT'S PRETTY
FUN.
IT'S COOL, YOU ARE SECOND,
THIRD, JUMPING, EVERYTHING
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO IN A
STACK CAR.
>> GOOD TO SEED YOU ARE NOT
THROWING SOMETHING.
I'M GOING TO THROW IT TO JAMIE
LITTLE.
>> THANKS SO MUCH, MIKE.
CARLOS CONTRERAS, ONE OF THE
LOCALS HERE.
YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THE FANS
OUT HERE ROOTING FOR YOU.
BUT YOU PRACTICE VERY WELL
YESTERDAY.
YOU ARE GETTING READY TO FALL IF
I.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FORWARD TO
SEEING?
>> WELL, WE ARE VERY EXCITED,
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME WITH
NASCAR RACING IN MEXICO, SO, I'M
VERY HAPPY.
THE CAR WAS GOOD YESTERDAY.
THE FAMILY DOLLAR DODGE WAS
VERY, VERY FAST.
ACTUALLY, WE WERE THE FASTEST
CAR FOR AWHILE IN SECOND
PRACTICE, SO, MONTOYA, HE BEAT
US.
BUT TODAY IS THE DAY.
WE ARE READY.
WE ARE ALMOST READY FOR OUR
QUALIFYING, THE FASTEST SIX
CARS, SO I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE
FAMILY DOLLAR DODGE.
WE ARE READY FOR THE POLL.
>> ALL RIGHT, CARLOS.
FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN HIM IN THE
22.
DOC?
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
CARLOS CONTRERAS.
ONE OF THE FAVORITES HERE.
TWO-TIME SEE DAN SERIES.
MUSTANG CUP CHAMPION IN MEXICO
CITY.
MORE QUALIFYING TO COME.
>>> WE'RE ABOUT SET FOR GROUP
FIVE IN QUALIFYING.
AND TOMORROW, IN TWO LANGUAGES
YOU CAN ENJOY THE SERIES EVENT
IN MEXICO CITY.
ESPN2 HAS THE REST.
DEPORTES WILL BE SIGH MULL CAST
ON ESPN.
THE ENGLISH TELECAST, AS
WELL.
THAT'S 1:30, AND FOR MORE, LOGON
TO ESPN.COM.
GROUP FIVE ABOUT READY.
LET'S GO TO JERRY IN THE BOOTH.
>> THANKS, CHRIS.
THE HEAVIER HITTERS GETTING
READY TO GO OUT.
THERE'S DAVID GILLILAND.
THIS IS THE YOUNG MAN THAT SAT
ON THE POLL FOR ROBERT YATES AT
DAYTONA.
AND HERE IS THE 1 CAR OF J.J.
YELEY.
JAMES FINCH-OWNED CAR.
J.J. AMONG THE QUICKER CARS IN
HIS SESSION YESTERDAY THE NAY
VERY CAR, SHANE HUFFMAN, DRIVING
FOR DEAL EARNHARDT JR.
AND HERE'S A YOUNG MAN, STEPHEN
LEICHT.
THAT THESE ROBERT YATES CAR.
HE WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE, FOR A
YOUNG MAN WITHOUT A LOT OF ROAD
COURSE EXPERIENCE.
AND OF COURSE, AS YOU HEARD
JAMIE LITTLE MENTION EARLIER,
CARL EDWARDS.
HE SHOULD BECOME OUR POINTS
LEADER, BECAUSE KEVIN HARVICK IN
FRONT OF HIM IN POINTS IS NOT
HERE FOR THE WEEKEND.
>> YOU SEE THE Xs ON THE FRONT
OF THE GRILL, TO MAKE SURE THEY
DON'T UNPLUG THE GRILLS.
CARL'S BEEN GOOD.
HAD A HUGE CRASH HERE LAST YEAR
IN PRACTICE, REALLY DESTROYED
THE CAR.
BACK WHEN THEY HAD THE FRONT
STRAIGHT AWAY.
YOU SEE THE WHITE LINES ON THE
TRACK THAT'S BEEN REMOVED.
AND THAT'S LET THE SPEEDS GET UP
CLOSE TO 180 MILES AN HOUR THIS
IS A GUY WITH A GREAT CAR.
AND I BELIEVE THIS GUY MIGHT
JUST POP UP TO NUMBER ONE IF HE
KEEPS ON THE COURSE, AND REALLY
HAS A GOOD, SMOOTH LAP.
YET AGGRESSIVE AROUND THIS
PLACE.
>> I GOT TO THINK HE'S GOT ONE
EYE ON THAT CHAMPIONSHIP, TOO.
HE DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE ANY
MISTAKES.
HE WANTS TO GET A GOOD SOLID
STARTING SPOT AND GET A GOOD PIT
STOP.
I KNOW HE WANTS TO WIN.
BEING SOLID, WHEN YOU TRY TO GO
FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP IS JUST AS
IMPORTANT.
>> THE TIME HE HAS TO BEAT IS
88.489 SECONDS.
102 MILES AN HOUR, SET BY MICHEL
JOURDAIN JR. IN THE ROUSH FENWAY
CAR, NUMBER 17.
>> WE'RE TRYING TO GET A CAMERA
AROUND TO THE REST OF THE CARS.
P.J. JONES IS OUT THERE, DRIVING
A RICHARD CHILDRESS ENTRY.
WHEN YOU HAVE SEVEN CARS ON THE
RACETRACK, IT'S HARD TO FOLLOW
ALL OF THEM, ISN'T IT?
>> AS YOU LOOK AT CARL EDWARDS,
AND THE SCOTTS COLORS, CARL, OF
COURSE, RUNNER 7 UP IN THE BUSC
SERIES LAST YEAR.
FINISHED SECOND IN POINTS.
HE IS THE 2005 NASCAR BUSCH
SERIES ROOKIE OF THE YEAR.
AND HE IS DRIVING THE ENTIRE
SEASON.
ONE OF FIVE DRIVERS WHO ARE
GOING TO RUN DOUBLE DUTY THIS
YEAR.
RUN BUSCH AND CUP.
NASCAR BUSCH SERIES AND NASCAR
NEXTEL CUP.
HERE IS THE QUICKEST ON THE
TRACK.
AND J.J. YELEY, ONCE AGAIN, IN
THIS CAR.
JAMES FINCH-OWNED CHEVROLET IS
THE QUICKEST IN THE SESSION.
AND HE'S SECOND OVERALL.
>> WE SEE SOME SMOKE OUT OF THAT
LEFT FRONT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, MAYBE
SOMETHING ON THE BREAKS THAT GOT
HOT, MAYBE SMOKING.
HE NEEDS TO IMPROVE ON THIS A
LITTLE BIT.
LOOKS LIKE HE MAY HAVE AN OIL
LINE LOSE.
HE'S GOT SOMETHING SMOKING.
SURE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
HE STILL NEEDS IMPROVE THE LAP.
>> J.J., A 30-YEAR-OLD OUT OF
FEEX NIX, -- PHOENIX, ARIZONA.
STILL SMOKE.
>> THAT'S ENGINE SMOKE.
IT'S COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE
BAY.
NOW WE SEE IT OUT THE BACK.
>> YEAH, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
IT'S A TIRE RUB.
THE TIRES HAVE A LOT OF
CLEARANCE AROUND THE FENDERS.
YOU SEE THE BROWN OIL COMING
DOWN FROM UNDER THAT ENGINE, IT
LOOKS LINE, GUYS, THAT'S
SOMETHING THEY DON'T WANT TO
HAVE HAPPEN.
IF THEY HAVE TO WORK ON THIS
CAR, THAT MEANS THEY HAVE TO GO
TAILBACK.
>> AS YOU WATCH THE 1 CAR.
PRETTY INTERESTING STORY FOR
GREG BIFFLE IN THE 37 YARDS, THE
YARDMAN FORD.
>> THAT THING'S SMOKING REAL
BAD.
>> AND HERE IS GREG BIFFLE.
THIS IS A BACKUP CAR.
IT IS A BRAND NEW CAR THEY HAD
BUILT TO RUN AT MONTREAL.
IN THE FINAL SESSION YESTERDAY,
THEY LOST THEIR PRIMARY CAR OVER
IN TURN EIGHT.
IN FACT, WE WILL SHOW YOU WHAT
HAPPENED WITH THE CAR HE WANTED
TO RUN HERE IN THE LAST SESSION
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
AND RUSTY, TURN SEVEN AND EIGHT
HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT FOR A LTH OF
DRIVERS, INCLUDING GREG BIFFLE.
>> HE GOT IN THERE AWFUL HOT.
INTO THE GRASS, AND HE GOT OUT
INTERVIEW, SAID,
PUT THE GRASS
THERE.
RIPS THE LEFT HAND SIDE OFF THE
CAR.
THE TEAM WORKED CRAZY GETTING
THE STUFF FIXED BACK UP.
WHAT A HARD HIT, ANDY.
>> THOUSAND THEY ARE DOWN TO THE
LAST CAR.
THEY GOT THE BACKUP OUT THERE
NOW.
GREG CAN'T WRECK THIS CAR.
THIS IS THE ONLY WUNG THEY HAVE
NOW IF HE WOULD WRECK THIS CAR,
HE WOULD BE IN REAL TROUBLE.
>> THEY HAD TO GET THIS OUT AND
GET IT PIECED TOGETHER, AND WITH
THE ENGINEMENT HE'S HAD NO LAPS
OF PRACTICE, NOTHING UNTIL RIGHT
NOW.
HE'S BEEN ON THE TRACK, WHAT,
THREE LAPS?
MAKE IT FOUR.
HE ONLY HAS FOUR LAPS ON THE
RACETRACK WITH THIS CAR AND IS
BEING SHOWN SIXTH ON THE SPEED
CHARTS.
>> HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB.
THOSE CREW GUYS ARE REALLY GOOD
AT PREPARING THE CARS AND
GETTING THEM JUST RIGHT.
THEY KNOW THE BRAKES THEY HAVE
TO HAVE, THEY KNOW THE GEARS.
THEY JUST PUT THIS THING
TOGETHER THE BEST THEY CAN AND
REAL LITTLE RELYING ON GREG TO
PULL THEM OUT OF THIS RIGHT NOW.
>> AND GUESS WHAT, GUYS?
WE HAVE A NEW PROVISIONAL POLL
SITTER THE FASTEST GUY IN THIS
SESSION -- AND THERE HE COMES,
THAT IS CARL EDWARDS, HAS JUST
BLOCKED 102.536 MILE PER HOUR
LAP, AND CARL IS OUR CURRENT
PROVISIONAL POLL SITTER ATOP THE
SPEED CHARTS.
>> THAT'S A PRETTY IF I GOOD
LAP.
I'M NOT SURE THAT'S GOING TO
HOLD UP.
YOU SEE PETE KAY THERE, HIS CREW
CHIEF.
THEY WANT JUST A LITTLE BIT
MORE.
THAT'S NOT QUITE ENOUGH.
THE GUYS YESTERDAY COULD RUN A
LITTLE FASTER THAN THAT.
SOME OF THE FASTER CARS.
SO, LOOKS LIKE HE'S PROBABLY
SLOWING IT UP A LITTLE BIT,
TAKING THAT LAP THEY'VE GOT,
BUT, DON'T THINK THEY WILL BE
GOOD *** FOR THE POLL.
>> LOOK AT THE GRILL ABOVE THE X
IN THE CENTER.
HE'S PULLING A LOT OF AIR.
HE'S GOT THE BREAK DUCTS OPEN.
I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO HAVE
THAT MUCH AIR.
IF THEY WERE TAPED UP MORE, THAT
CAR WOULD PROBABLY GO QUICKER
YET.
THEY WERE GOING FOR THE SECOND
OR THIRD LAP.
>> THEY DON'T WANT TO GET THE
ENGINE HOT, EITHER.
THEY ARE RUNNING FOR A
CHAMPIONSHIP.
THEY DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS
THING UP.
AND SOME OF THE ROUSH CARS HAVE
HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS.
THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF THE
ENGINE, BEING CONSERVATIVE AND
GETTING A GOOD, SOLID LAP.
>> CARL EDWARDS QUALIFIED THIRD
FOR HIS FIRST EVER EVENT HERE
BACK IN 2005.
HOPING TO KEEP THAT CAR ON THE
FRONT ROW.
>> GREAT JOB, CARL.
WE'RE GOING TO CHECK IT OUT IN
PIT ROAD.
WATCH OUT WHEN YOU COME DOWN.
>> HE'S CHAK ACTUALLY STILL TWO
TENTHS OF A SECOND SLOWER.
BUT RIGHT NOW, HE'S THE QUICKEST
CAR OF THE SESSION THAT WE'VE
HAD GO OUT TO QUALIFY, GROUP
FIVE.
>> JERRY, MUST HAVE HAD TWO I
BELIEVE IT'S HOTTER OUT THERE
TODAY.
I DON'T THINK THIS RACETRACK IS
AS GOOD A CONDITION TODAY AS IT
WAS YESTERDAY.
>> YOU SEE THE BEST FINISH.
THIRD IN 20056789.
AND THERE IS JACK ROUSH.
HE GIVES A BIG THUMB'S UP TO HIS
DRIVER, CARL EDWARDS.
RIGHT NOW, ROUSH HAS THE TOP TWO
IN CARL ING
EDWARDS AND MICHEL JOURDAIN JR.
EDWARDS, THE BEST IN GROUP FIVE,
AND RIGHT NOW, THE BEST OV
>>> JUST SOME OF THE GREAT
CULTURE THAT IS MEXICO CITY,
MEXICO.
THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN THE
WORLD, NASCAR BUSCH SERIES
QUALIFYING COMING YOUR WAY LIVE.
THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR THE
CARS HAVE RACED HERE SOUTH OF
THE BORDER.
AND RIGHT NOW, OUR POLL SITTER
IS THAT MAN RIGHT THERE.
THE ROUSH-FENWAY DRIVER, CARL
EDWARDS.
AND LET'S TAKE A LAP AROUND THE
RACETRACK.
RUSTY?
>> HARD RIGHT HAND TURN ONE.
OFF OF TURN THREE, DOWN INTO
TURN FOUR.
ENTERING THE Ss.
WE JUST LEFT IT.
A LOT OF STRAIGHTAWAY SPEED OFF
TURN EIGHT, AND BACK TO THE
START FINISH LINE.
NOW, ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL
PARTS OF THE RACETRACK, THE
HAIRPIN.
GOING INTO TURN ONE.
LOOK.
A LOT OF GUYS SLIDE OFF AND THEY
GO FROM ONE, THEY GO CLEAR OVER
TO TURN THREE.
I'VE SEEN GUYS PICK UP SPOTS
RIGHT THERE.
IF THEY WHEEL HOP, DO SOMETHING
WRONG, THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN
THE GRASS.
EXIT DOWN THREE, AND YOU ARE
BACK DOWN TO TURN FOUR.
PRETTY COMPLICATED RACETRACK.
YOU CAN MAKE A LOT OF MISTAKES
HERE.
>> AND THIS TRACK OPENED IN
1962.
WE ARE AT 7500 FEET.
NAMED AFTER THE RODRIGUEZ
BROTHERS.
RICARDO LOST HIS LIFE HERE IN
1962.
AND UP SEE THE LONG AND VERY
HISTORIC HISTORY OF THIS
RACETRACK SO MANY DIFFERENT
KINDS OF VENUES THAT THEY HAVE
HOSTED HERE OVER THE YEARS.
WELL, CURRENTLY, OUR POLL SITTER
IS STANDING BY WITH ALLEN
BESTWICK.
>> IT'S CARL EDWARDS.
YOU WERE ALL SMILED.
WHAT DID YOU THINK?
>> ABOUT SECOND FASTEST WE'VE
RUN ALL WEEKEND.
REALLY HAPPY WITH IT.
I HAVE A FEELING IT'S ONLY GOING
TO STAND UP HERE FOR ANOTHER
MINUTE OR SO BEFORE BORIS GETS
BACK AROUND.
IT'S A LOT OF FUN.
REALLY GAD TO BE HERE.
SCOTTS, MIRACLE GROW, EVERYONE'S
DONE A GREAT JOB.
HAVING FUN.
>> WHAT WILL YOU BE HAPPY AS AN
END RESULT?
>> FOR THE WEEKEND?
>> FOR QUALIFYING, WHERE THIS
ENDS UP?
>> IF WE CAN BE IN THE TOP EIGHT
OR SO, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
TO GET TO RACE UP THERE WITH
THOSE GUYS, AND HOPEFULLY THIS
WILL STAND UP FOR THAT.
IT WILL BE A TOP TEN.
THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING FOR.
IF WE CAN SURVIVE THE RACE AND
HAVE GOOD POINTS, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT.
>> THANKS, CARL.
>> ALL RIGHT, RIGHT NOW, 88.406
SECONDS.
102.536 IS THE TIME TO BEAT.
AND HERE IS ONE OF THE ALL-TIME
FAVORITES IN MEXICO.
ADRIAN FERNANDEZ.
BEST FINISH HERE, TENTH.
A 10th AND A 12th HERE.
DRIVING THE LOWE'S CHEVY FOR
RICK HENDRICK MOTOR SPORTS.
AND ADRIAN FERNANDEZ, ONE OF THE
MOST POPULAR DRAVRS AND OVERALL
ATHLETES IN MEXICO.
IN FACT THIS YEAR, HE WAS VOTED
ONE OF THE 300 MOST INFLUENTIAL
PEOPLE IN THE HISTORY OF THIS
COUNTRY.
THAT'S HOW INFLUENTIAL FERNANDEZ
IS.
>> THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
AND IT'S A GREAT CHOICE TO PUT
HIM IN.
HE'S LOCKED THE TIRES UP JUST A
LITTLE BIT THERE.
GOT OFFLINE JUST A LITTLE BIT.
BUT HE'S VERY, VERY GOOD AT THIS
TRACK.
HAD A HARD CRASH A YEAR AGO OFF
TURN SIX AND GOT IN THE WHILE.
LOOK AT THE REAR END COMING
AROUND, ANDY.
>> HE'S DRIVING HARD.
THIS IS THE HOME TRACK.
HE'S JUST PUMPED UP TO THE MAX.
HE'S GOT TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO
OVERDRIVE IF YOU GET TOO PUMPED
UP AND YOU OVERDRIVE THE CAR,
YOU LOCK THE WHEELS UP AND JUST
ISN'T GOOD FOR THE LAP.
HE'S GOT TO CALM DOWN JUST A
LITTLE BIT, HIT THE MARKS AND
GET A GOOD QUALIFYING LAP.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING ADRIAN WENT
THROUGH LAST YEAR.
SOME SAY HE DRIVES TOO HARD.
BUT HE GETS THE RESULTS.
HE'S FUN TO WATCH.
THE TIRES ARE IN THE AIR.
RIGHT NOW, HE'S COMING OFF TURN
SIX WHERE HE CRASHED A YEAR AGO.
HE NEEDS TO CARRY THAT SPEED.
RIGHT THERE, OFF -- HE DID A
GOOD JOB.
LAST YEAR HE GOT IN THAT GRASS
AND HIT THE WALL.
WIDE OPEN NOW.
PERFECT EXIT.
>> NOT WATCH HIM -- WATCH THE
HANDS ON THE WHEEL HERE IN THAT
TURN.
>> WELL, HE HIT THE CAR JUST A
LITTLE BIT.
HE'S REALLY SAWING THAT THING,
JERRY.
HE DOESN'T WANT TO GET THE LEFT
REAR TIRE OFF IN THAT GRASS AND
REALLY SACRIFICE THAT LAP.
THAT'S ONE THING YOU DON'T WANT
TO DO.
>> THE GUYS ARE BUSY INSIDE THAT
CAR.
THEY HAVE TO SHIFT IT, BRAKE IT.
REALLY A LOT OF WORK GOING ON
INSIDE THERE.
>> AND HOW ABOUT OUR NEW POLL
SITTER WHO WAS OUR OLD POLL
SITTER.
A YEAR AGO.
BORIS SAID, IN THE DODGE.
HE DROVE LAST YEAR THE NUMBER
NINE CAR.
AND BORIS CAN REALLY GET IT DONE
DRIVING THE EVERYONE HAM DODGE.
>> THIS GUY HAS TAUGHT SO MANY
KIDS AND DIFFERENT DRIVERS HOW
TO RUN ON A ROAD COURSE.
HE'S WON ALL OVER THE WORLD.
HE WAS THE POLL SITTER LAST
YEAR.
AND IF YOU WANT TO WATCH A
PERFECT QUALIFYING LAP, YOU
WATCH A GUY LIKE BORIS SAID.
HE FLAT KNOWS HOW TO GET IT
DONE.
>> TWO-TIME POLL SITTER IN THIS
SERIES.
11 BUSCH SERIES STARTS, FORMER
TRANS-A.M. SERIES CHAMPION.
AND THIS SESSION HERE HAT A LOT
OF VERY, VERY QUICK CARS IN IT,
AS YOU WATCH THE CREWS WATCHING,
PAUL WOLFE.
WATCHING AS THE 9 CAR ON TRACE
TRACK.
BORIS SAID.
AND JUST LIKE WE SAID A MOMENT
AGO, THESE GUYS ARE SO CLOSE,
RON FELLOWS NOW PUTS UP A GOOD
LAP IN THE 10 CAR.
>> DOWN TO THE LAST TWO GROUPS.
AND THE POLL SITTER IS GOING TO
COME OUT OF THE GROUPS.
THEY HOPE THEY CAN POST A LAP,
PUT PRESSURE ON THE GUYS IN THE
FINAL GROUP TO OVERDRIVE THE
CAR.
>> THIS IS REAL PROFESSIONAL
HERE.
FELLOWS IS ANOTHER WORLD CLASS
ROAD RACER THAT'S DONE A LOT.
KEVIN HARVICK'S CAR RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW, HE'S THE FASTEST CAR
ON THE TRACK AT 127.99 FOR
SPEED.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING -- IT'S
VERY EXPECTED, OUT OF FELLOWS.
I EXPECTED HIM TO RUN THE WAY HE
DID.
>> RON FELLOWS THE LAST
NONAMERICAN TO WIN A NASCAR
BUSCH SERIES RACE.
RON, OF COURSE, FROM WINDSOR,
ONTARIO.
HE HAS THREE NASCAR BUSCH SEIES
WINS TO HIS CREDIT.
ALL COMING AT WATKINS GLEN.
THIS CAR HE'S DRIVING, BY THE
WAY, IS OWNED BY KEVIN HARVICK.
HE DROVE IT AT CALIFORNIA.
TONY STEWART DROVE THIS CAR DOWN
AT DAYTONA BEACH.
>> AS WE WATCH THE SPEED HERE.
HE'S GOING TO GAIN UP HERE TO,
YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO 170 MILES AN
HOURMENT HE'S GOT TO PUT THE
BRAKES ON REALLY HARD AND SLOW
THAT THING DOWN.
AND YOU SEE HOW MUCH SPEED THEY
HAVE TO BLEED OFF HERE.
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 56 MILES AN
HOUR IN TURN ONE.
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL -- YOU CAN
SEE, IT'S ALL ABOUT HAVING A
RHYTHM AND KEEPING IT ON THE
TRACK AND GETTING THROUGH THE
Ss.
THAT'S WHERE THE ROAD RACERS ARE
SO DARN GOOD AT.
ESPECIALLY A GUY LIKE FELLOWS,
BORIS SAID, AND KEVIN HARVICK.
HIS TEAM -- WE NEED TO TALK
ABOUT THAT.
HE REAL LITTLE PREPARES THIS
EQUIPMENT WELL.
HE'S GOT A BEAUTIFUL SHOP UP
THERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
GOOD ENGINES.
TELL WHAT YOU -- HEAR THAT,
FIRST.
THAT'S A GOOD FEEL.
YOU ARE P-1.
MAKES HE FEEL GOOD.
>> YOU COME WITH THE CHEST ALL
BLOWED UP.
>> THEY EVEN HAVE A POST IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE CAR FOR A
WINDSHIELD WIPER.
>> THEY WILL RUN IF IT RAINS
HERE.
THEY ARE PREPARED TO RUN.
THEY WOULDN'T RUN IN REAL HEAVY
RAINS.
THEY WOULD PUT RAIN TIRES ON
THESE THINGS AND GO OUT THERE IN
THE WET CONDITION.
>> RON PHYSICAL LOWS, A TWO-TIME
WINNER, HE'S BEEN TO LAMONT,
HE'S WON AT THE ROLEX 24 AT
DAYTONA.
HE'S A THREE-TIME AMERICAN GT1
CHAMPION.
>> HE'S PROVEN HE'S A THREAT FOR
SURE.
>> SPEAKING OF THREATS, HERE'S
THE AUTO ZONE CHEVY FOR P.J.
JONES.
THIS IS THE RICHARD
CHILDRESS-OWNED CAR.
WE TOLD YOU P.J., A TWO-TIME
INDY 3500 PARTICIPANT.
HE'S THE SON OF THE 1963 WINNER,
PARNELLY JONES.
>> HE'S SHOWING UP IN FOURTH
SPOT RIGHT NOW.
>> HE'S NOT THE GUY -- WE SHOULD
EXPLAIN THIS GUYS.
IF THIS GUY -- THOUGH HE HAS TO
GO TAILBACK, BECAUSE HE HAS TO
CHANGE AN ENGINE, IF HE SITS ON
THE POLL, IF HE GRABS THE POLL,
NASCAR CREDITS HIM WITH THE
POLL.
JUST LIKE MICHEL JOURDAIN, AND
THE REST OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE
TO GO TAILBACK.
THOUGH THEY HAVE TO GO TAIL THE
BACK, AT LEAST --
>> TAILBACK?
THAT'S A POSITION ON A FOOTBALL
TEAM?
>> I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS.
THE WHOLE WORLD -- WE WILL TELL
YOU, AGAIN.
TAILBACK MEANS YOU HAVE TO GO TO
THE BACK OF THE PACK BECAUSE
SOMETHING WENT WRONG.
THEY WANT US TO EXPLAIN A LOT OF
STUFF.
SOMETIMES I FEEL SILLY
EXPLAINING IT.
BUT TAILBACK, WE'RE GOING TO THE
BACK OF THE PACK.
>> ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF
THE PACK, OKAY.
THERE'S PMD J. JONES, AFTER THEY
HAD TO MAKE THAT ENGINE CHANGE,
AND CURRENTLY FOURTH.
AND HOW ABOUT ANOTHER SECOND
GENERATION DRIVER?
HERE IS THE HOME LIFE
COMMUNITIES DODGE FOR STEVE
WALLACE.
AND THIS YOUNG MAN HAS COME A
LONG WAY IN A YEAR, WITH SOME
TRAINING DURING THE OFFSEASON.
>> BORIS SAID REALLY HELPED HIM
A LOT.
RIGHT NOW, HE'S IN 15th QUICK
POSITION THAT'S NOT WHAT HE
EXPECTED.
HE WAS FIFTH YESTERDAY.
ENDED UP 12th.
HE'S GOING TO BE DISAPPOINTED.
BUT BORIS SAID REALLY DID SO
MUCH FOR THE YOUNG GUYS.
INCLUDING STEVEN.
>> STEVE WALLACE WAS THE FASTEST
DODGE AT CALIFORNIA LAST WEEK.
AND YOU SEE THE YELLOW BUMPERS.
HE IS A ROOKIE, BUT LEARNING IN
A HURRY.
>> WE SEE THAT YELLOW TAPE ON
THERE.
I SAW YELLOW TAPE ON THE BACK OF
GREG BIFFLE'S CAR.
SHE A BUSCH SERIES CHAMPION.
BUT HE HAS TO HAVE THE STRIPES,
ALSO.
BECAUSE HE'S A ROOKIE AT THIS
TRACK.
>> THAT'S CRAZY.
JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T RUN
THIS TRACK, THAT MAKES YOU A
ROOKIE.
THERE'S NOT A ROCK KEY, BORIS
SAID.
HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
>> BORIS SAID, CURRENTLY SECOND
QUICKEST.
RON FELLOWS IS FASTEST.
BUT THERE ARE SOME GUYS COMING
OUT NOW WHO HAVE GOING TO BE
TOUGH TO BEAT.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA COMING UP
NEXT.
>>> HI, I'M CARLOS CONTRERAS.
WE ARE IN MEXICO CITY, SO, THIS
IS MY TOWN.
OKAY?
COME ON.
LET'S GO.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
AVENUES IN MEXICO.
AND BEHIND ME, THIS IS THE
BIGGEST MONUMENT IN MEXICO.
IT MEANS INDEPENDENCE ANGEL.
SO, INDEPENDENCE DAY IN MEXICO
IS SEPTEMBER 16th, NOT CINCO DE
MAYO.
NO MARGARITAS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, CARLOS.
HERE IS CARLOS, HE WAS THE
FOURTH QUICKEST CAR OVERALL IN
THE FINAL PRACTICE SESSION.
THIS IS THE FINAL GROUP, GROUP
SEVEN.
WHERE ALL THE FASTEST CARS ARE
GROUPED TOGETHER.
IT IS THEIR SHOT.
THESE ARE THE HEAVY HITTERS THE
FAVORITES TO WIN THE POLL.
>> JERRY, EVERY YEAR, HE JUMPS
RIGHT IN THIS CAR AND GETS IT
DONE.
HE'S ONE OF THE NATURAL BORN
ROAD RACERS.
HE LOVES THIS RACETRACK, THE
COUNTRY.
LOOK AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR.
IT'S SEALED UP REALLY GOOD.
THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.
>> NAY HAVE THE CAR SET UP GOOD.
THEY WENT OUT RIGHT OFF THE
TRACK AND WERE FAST, AND I KNOW
THEY ARE VERY, VERY EXCITED
ABOUT COMING TO MEXICO, HOME
CITY, HOME COUNTRY FOR CARLOS,
AND HE'S REALLY PUMPED UPMENT
HE'S GOING FOR THE POLL HERE.
>> AND THE GUY THAT IS THE
ABSOLUTE OUTOVER FAVORITE TO WIN
THE POLL, ONE OF THE PIG TIME
FAVORITES HERE TO WATCH, HE'S
NOT MEXICAN, HE'S COLUMBIAN.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA.
HE WAS THE QUICKEST CAR IN
QUALIFYING, MAKING ONLY HIS
SEVENTH CAREER START.
BUT THE FIRST EVER ON ROAD
COURSE.
AND THERE'S REGAN SMITH, THE
QUICKEST IN THIS SESSION
CURRENTLY -- ON THE TRACK, I
SHOULD SAY, OF THIS SESSION, AS
YOU SEE THE CARS THAT ARE ON THE
TRACK.
AND JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, AND HE
IS SECOND QUICKEST RIGHT NOW,
BEHIND SKOUT PRUETT.
>> I TELL YOU, SCOTT AND JUAN
PABLO WON THE 24 HOURS OF
DAYTONA TOGETHER.
THESE TWO GUYS, OUT OF CHIP
GANASSI STABLE ARE PROBABLY THE
GUYS YOU NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
OH THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T
SEEN OUT OF MONTOYA ALL WEEK
LONG.
LOOKING THE TIRES UP.
BUT HE'S GOING FOR IT RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT TENDS TO HAPPEN WHEN
YOU REALLY HUS THE CAR.
>> GOT A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING
REALLY FAST.
HE JUMPED UP TO THE POLL, AND
RIGHT BEHIND HIM CAME SCOTT.
HE JUMPED UP TO THE POLL.
NOW WE HAVE CARLOS CONTRERAS IN
SECOND PLACE WITH MONTOYA IN
THIRD.
VERY EXCITING LAST SEGMENT.
>> AND HERE, SCOTT -- THERE'S
THE 41 CAR, THE WIGLEY JUICY
FRUIT GUM CAR.
SCOTT IS THE ONLY SEVEN-TIME
WINNER OF THE 24 HOUR OF
DAYTONA.
HOW GOOD IS THAT?
>> THAT'S REALLY GOOD.
TALKING WITH DIFFERENT THINGS.
I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE CARS.
LOOK AT HOW FRONT THE AIR DAM IS
ON THAT CAR.
HE'S RUNNING A SOFTER SETUP.
A LITTLE BIT STIFFER.
TOO LOOSE.
HE SAYS, OVER THE RADIO.
YOU CAN SEE THE CAR REALLY
ROLLING OVER A LOT.
DIFFERENT SETUP
THAT MON TOY YASHGS HIS
TEAMMATE.
>> WHAT HE'S SAYING RIGHT NOW,
TOO LOOSE, THESE TIRES HAVE THE
BEST GRIP WHEN THEY ARE BRAND
NEW.
HE GOT THE GOOD OUT OF THEM ON
THE FIRST LAP.
CALLS IT GOOD.
>> THAT LAP IS CERTAINLY RIGHT
NOW GOOD ENOUGH FOR A NEW TRACK
RECORD, THE TRACK RECORD WAS
HELD BY GETTERS BACK IN 2005,
103.366 MILES AN HOUR, AND THAT
LAP BY PRUETT, 103.647.
A NEW TRACK RECORD.
AND WE STILL HAVE CARS IN THIS
SESSION ON THE TRACK.
HERE'S MONTOYA.
HE'S CURRENTLY THIRD QUICKEST AS
CARLOS CONTRERAS IS GOING BY.
AND THE SPEED, MONTOYA TRYING TO
GET MORE SPEED.
>> I THINK WHEN HE LOCKED UP
THAT TIRE, MAY HAVE SPOTTED THE
TIRE.
HE'S NOT BEEN ABLE TO IMPROVE ON
THE FIRST LAP, LIKE I SAID.
HE GOT ALL THE GOOD OUT OF THE
TIRES.
HE'S TRYING TO IMPROVEMENT IT'S
VERY DIFFICULT AFTER HE SLID
THAT TIRE ON THE BRAKE.
>> THERE YOU SEE THE SPEEDS OF
THE DRIVERS.
GETTERS, BY THE WAY, WAS THE
TRACK RECORD HOLDER.
HE SAT ON THE POLL HERE IN 2005.
DENNY HAMLIN, IN THE 20 CAR, HE
WON THIS RACE A YEAR AGO.
REGAN SMITH, VERY IMPRESSIVE.
IN THE BOBBY GINN MOTORSPORTS
EFFORT.
>> FIVE OF THESE GUYS ABLE TO
OUTRUN RON FELLOWS.
>> THEY ARE WATCHING ON PIT
ROAD.
THE CREW CHIEF FOR JUAN PABLO
MONTOYA.
HOW LONG DO YOU LET HIM RUN?
I GUESS HE MADE THE CALL.
>> I'D SAY PULL IT IN RIGHT NOW.
>> HE COULDN'T GET THE TIMING
IMPROVED.
HE'S TELLING HIM OVER THE RADIO,
THERE'S NOTHING LEFT HERE.
AND HE'S THIRD, SO, THAT'S A
GREAT RUN FOR THAT TEAM.
THEY GOT FIRST AND THIRD OUT OF
CHIP GANASSI'S TEAM.
CARLOS CONTRERAS, THE OWNER OF
THAT TEAM, ALSO, SO, THE TOP
THREE CARS ARE ALL KIND OF
RELATED, SO TO SPEAK.
>> HE WAS WITH US THIS MORNING,
HIS MOM AND DAD ARE HERE, AND
HIS WIFE CONNIE, AS YOU HEARD
THE FANS CHEERING.
I MEAN, HE IS AMONG THE
FAVORITES HERE, COMING FROM
FORMULA ONE, AFTER THAT
SUCCESSFUL SIX-YEAR CAREER IN
EUROPE, ON THE FORMULA ONE
CIRCUIT.
>> HE'S VERY DISAPPOINTED, HE
DIDN'T GET TO BACK UP THE
PRACTICE RUN.
HE RAN REALLY FAST IN PRACTICE.
THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO BACK IT
UP.
AND HE'S DISAPPOINTED NOT TO GET
THE POLL HERE.
>> WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT, A
GALLANT EFFORT.
HE WILL GO BACK DOWN, SIT WITH
THE TEAM, TALK ABOUT THE WAY THE
CAR HANDLED, ADJUSTMENTS THEY
MIGHT WANT TO MAKE.
THAT GENTLEMAN RIGHT THERE,
CARLOS CONTRERAS, HE'S GOT A HOT
ROD.
HE'S GOING TO FEEL REALLY GOOD
ABOUT THAT RUN.
>> HE JUST, BY A MERE SECOND.
>> CARLOS CONTRERAS, DRIVING THE
CAR, THE FAMILY DOLLAR CAR.
DOING A HECK OF A JOB TO GET CAR
LOS ON THE TRACK.
HE WASN'T HERE BRIGHT AND EARLY.
HE SAID, I KNOW CAN I GET IT
DONE.
>> HE KNOWS ALL THE BACK STREETS
TO GET HERE.
>> A HALF AN HOUR BEFORE THEY
WERE GETTING ON THE TRACK, HE
WASN'T HERE.
THEY WERE GETTING A LITTLE
NERVOUS.
BUT RIGHT NOW, FORMER TWO-TIME
MUSTANG SERIES CHAMPION ON THE
OUTSIDE OF ROW ONE.
THIS GUY RIGHT HERE IS THE MAN
OF THE HOUR, ALLEN BESTWICK?
>> LET ME WALK IN HERE AND GRAB
THE MAN WHO JUST WON THE POLL,
TAKING CONGRATULATIONS FROM HIS
CREW.
CONGRATULATIONS, FAST LAP.
WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE?
>> HI TO MY FAMILY AT HOME,
FIRST THING IS, IT WAS REAL GOOD
AND THEN IT WAS LOOSE.
IT STARTED OUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN
WE FINISHED UP THE DAY
YESTERDAY, THE CAR WAS TORCH
FREE, AND WE TRIED TO TIGHTEN IT
UP.
WE SAW IT IN THE GT CAR, SEEMS
LIKE THE TRACK IS LOOSER, SO WE
EVEN NEED TO GO MORE FURTHER FOR
THE RACE, DO MORE TIRE CHANGE.
BUT THE DODGE RAN GREAT.
I'M EXCITED TO BE STARTING FROM
THE POLL.
AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN HAVE A
GOOD RACE TOMORROW.
>> YOU HAD A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS
TO WIN ONE OF THESE ROAD RACES.
ON THE BUSCH SERIES SIDE, YOU
ARE WITH ONE OF THE TEAMS THAT'S
BEEN ONE OF THE FRONT RUNNERS
FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
HOW DOES THAT CHANGE YOUR
CONFIDENCE LEVEL?
>> IT'S GREAT WORKING WITH
GANASSI.
WE ALL JUST WANT TO WIN RACES.
WE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS TOGETHER
WITH THE GRAND AM SIDE.
SO, HOPEFULLY KEEP OUR FINGERS
CROSSED, WE CAN MAKE SMART
CALLS.
A LOT ABOUT GOING ROAD RACING,
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD CAR AND
MAKE GOOD CALLS DURING THE RACE.
WE HAVE A RACE HERE TODAY, COME
BACK WIN TOMORROW, IT WOULD BE
JUST LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE.
>> SEE IF THAT DREAM DOES COME
TRUE.
SCOTT PURETT, THE POLL SITTER
HERE TODAY.
>> 46-YEAR-OLD, MAKING ONLY HIS
SEVENTH START IN THE BUSCH
SERIES.
HIS SECOND POLL RUN.
HE WON IT BACK IN 2001, PICKED
UP HIS CAREER BEST FINISH OF
EIGHTH.
HE HOPES TO BE ABLE TO RUN WELL,
RIGHT BEHIND HIM IN THE GRID
WILL BE STARTING THIRD, JUAN
PABLO MONTOYA.
LAST TIME WE SAW SCOTT AND
MONTOYA TOGETHER, YOU HEARD
RUSTY SAY THEY TEAMED UP TO WIN
THE 24 HOURS OF DAYTONA.
AND THEY WILL FOLLOW EACH OTHER
TO THE GREEN FLAG.
THIS GUY, MONTOYA, THIRD
OVERALL.
WHAT A GREAT STARTING FIELD WE
HAVE.
HERE'S THEp■ú■ú■ú■p■ú■@■■■@■@■@■
>>> SO THE QUALIFYING POSITIONS
ARE SET FOR TOMORROW'S NASCAR
BUSCH SERIES MEXICO CITY.
YOU CAN ENJOIM THE ACTION IN
ESPN FULL CIRCLE.
ESPN2 WILL HAVE RACE COVERAGE
BEGINNING AT 1:30 EASTERN.
ESPN DEPORTES IN SPANISH, ON
ESPN, AS WELL.
LIVE STREAMING ACTION ON ESPN
360.COM.
1:30 EASTERN TIME FROM MEXICO
CITY.
RACE THREE OF 35 IN THE BUSCH
SERIES.
CHRIS FOWLER BACK WITH TIM
BREWER.
LET'*** A NUMBER OF TOPICS
HERE, AS QUALIFYING IS OVER.
SCOTT PRUETT, SEVENTH CAREER
BUSCH RACE, ON THE POLL FOR THE
SECOND TIME.
HE'S GOING TO HAVE 100 MORE LAPS
ON THIS RACE COURSE TIM.
HE'S DOUBLE DIPPING TOMORROW.
AN EDGE?
>> HE'S GOING TO LEARN FROM IT.
TRACK CONDITIONS ARE GOING TO BE
DIFFERENT TOMORROW.
69 DEGREES IS THE FORECAST.
81 HERE TODAY.
BUT SCOTT, HE WENT AFTERNOON
THIS POLL POSITION RUN.
TAPE ON THE NOSE OF THE CAR, A
LOT OF DOWN FARCE ON THE FRONT.
PROBABLY THE REASON HE GOT
LOOSE ON THE SECOND LAP.
HE'S GOING TO LEARN ENOUGH IN
THE MORNING ABOUT THE PRACTICE
SESSION, EXCUSE ME, THE RACE IN
THE MORNING, AND HE'S GOING TO
GET OUT OF THAT CAR, TELL THE
GUYS, YOU NEED TO DO THIS, GIVE
ME FOR FORWARD GRIP ON THE CAR,
AND I'LL BE IN GOOD SHAPE.
>> A COUPLE OF ASPECTS, THE
INTERNATIONAL FLAIL VOR, VERY
MUCH IN EVIDENCE HERE THIS IS
THE MOST INTERNATIONAL RACE
EVER.
AND IN THE TOP TEN, SIX
AMERICANS, THE COLUMBIAN,
MEXICANS, AN AUSTRALIAN,
AMBROSE, JUST OUT OF THE
QUALIFYING.
SO THE EXPERTISE COMING TO THE
FRONT.
>> BORIS SAID, YOU CAN'T SAY
ENOUGH ABOUT HIM.
RON FELLOWS, WON A LOT OF RACES.
FAMILIAR ARE THE BUSCH CARS.
HE'S GOING TO BE GREAT.
MONTOYA, THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE
THERE, HE GOT IN THAT CORNER A
LITTLE BIT HOT.
MIGHT HAVE FLAT SPOTTED THAT
TIRE TO WHERE IT MIGHT BE A
LITTLE BIT OF A DETERRENT AT THE
FRONT OF THE RACE IF HE HAS TO
CHANGE THE TIRE.
I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK
AT IT, TO SEE IF ANY TIRES ARE
SHOWING.
>> THE DISAPPOINTMENT ON HIS
FACE, MAYBE MORE SO BECAUSE OF
THAT, NOT THAT HE DIDN'T GET THE
POLL.
BUT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED
TO CHANGE THE TIRES.
YOU HAVE TO START WITH THE
PROBLEM, OR TRY TO RIDE IT OUT.
>> I TELL YOU WHAT, HE'S IN A
CATCH-22 DEAL.
I WOULD RIDE IT OUT,
ANTICIPATING A CAUTION.
BUT AT THAT, THAT DETERMINATION
DEPENDS ON, IF CORDS ARE SHOWING
ON THE TIRE, BUT I THINK A LOT
OF IT WAS DUE TO MAYBE NOT
HAVING A LOT OF HEAT IN THE
BRAKES.
YOU LEAVE PIT ROAD, YOU GET ONE
CHANCE TO COME AROUND HERE.
MAYBE HE JUST WASN'T ACCUSTOMED
TO THE BRAKE BIAS.
>> ONE LITTLE MISTAKE, BOOM,
TIRE PROBLEM, COULD HAVE AN
IMPACT.
>> THE LITTLEST THING YOU
OVERLOOK OR THE BIGGEST LITTLE
THING MAY BE THE BIGGEST THING
TO GRAB YOU BY THE TAIL.
>> LET'S GO TO ALLEN.
>> A LITTLE NORTH OF THE BORDER,
RON FELLOWS.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT MAPLE
LEAFS HOCKEY, OTHER THINGS.
AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
SIXTH PLACE RESULT FROM TODAY'S
QUALIFYING SESSION.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> NO, IT'S PROGRESS.
THAT'S SECOND BETTER THAN WE
WERE YESTERDAY.
WE'RE -- WE CAN'T BE UNHAPPY
WITH THAT.
WE WOULD LIKE TO BE FASTER, BUT@
ALL THE GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT
JOB WITH THE CAMPING WORLD
CHEVY, AND HI TO THE BOSS, THE
HARVICKS.
>> I'M SURE THEY'RE WATCHING,
TOO.
HOW DID WE END UP IN THIS DUSTY
OLD GOLF CART HERE ANYWAY?
>> NEEDED A PLACE TO SIT AND
TALK ABOUT HOCKEY.
YOU TOLD ME YESTERDAY THAT YOU
HAVE CUT BACK ON SOME OF YOUR
ENDURANCE RACING, YOUR SPORTS
CAR RACING TO CONCENTRATE ON
TRYING TO GET A COUPLE MORE OF
THE NASCAR WINS.
WHY?
>> WELL -- THE TIMING WAS RIGHT
FOR ME TO CUT BACK ON THE
CORVETTE STUFF.
I LOVE IT.
BUT YOU KNOW, IT -- TIME WAS
RIGHT.
AND I THINK THAT, FOR ME, I'VE
GOT UNFINISHED BUSINESS, IN
PARTICULARLY NEXTEL CUP.
AND IT'S BEEN -- SINCE THE BUSCH
SERIES STARTED GOING BACK ROAD
RACING, I WANT TO GET A WIN
HERE.
KEVIN'S BEEN VERY PATIENT HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO GET WINS IN THE
CHEVY.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME,
SO -- AND THAT'S ULTIMATELY, YOU
KNOW, WE'VE HAD TREMENDOUS
SUCCESS WITH THE CORVETTES, AND,
BUT WE HAVE SOME UNFINISHED
BUSINESS HERE.
>> GOOD LUCK TOMORROW, RON.
DOC?
>> THANK YOU, ALLEN.
AND HE, OF COURSE, THE LAST
NONAMERICAN TO WIN A NASCAR
BUSCH SERIES EVENT.
HERE ARE THE DRIVERS THAT HAVE
BEEN IN THIS 33 FOR THE YEAR.
TONY STEWART, KEVIN HARVICK.
YOU FEEL A TREND GOING HERE
GUYS?
RON FELLOWS, QUALIFYING AWFULLY
WELL.
HE WILL START IN SIXTH HERE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF ROAD COURSE
SPECIALISTS IN THE TOP TEN, BUT
HOW ABOUT THIS GUY WHO WAS A
STOCK CAR REGULAR WHO QUALIFIED
FIFTH OVERALL?÷
JAMIE?
>> DENNY HAMLIN, ONE YEAR AGO,
HE WON HIS FIRST RACE, AND IT
WAS RIGHT HERE ON A ROAD COURSE.
AND HE WASN'T A SPECIALIST.
DENNY, YOU QUALIFIED FIFTH
TODAY.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
>> IT'S NOT BAD.@
I KNOW IN RACE TERM, OUR CAR ñ
KEPT GETTING FASTER AND FASTER.
A LOT OF GUYS IN FRONT OF US GOT
WORSE AS THEY WENT.
I'M HAPPY WITH WHERE WE ARE.
WE KNEW WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE
POLL MATERIAL.
BUT TOP FIVE IS A GOOD STARTING
SPOT.
AND IN THE LONG RUN, OUR CAR
WILL COME TO THE FRONT.
>> ONE OF YOUR TEAMMATES, BRAD
COLEMAN, A ROOKIE, NEVER RACED
HERE.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE
TOMORROW IN THE RACE?
>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE
CONDITIONS ARE GOING TO BE WARM,
SO, IT'S GOING TO BE HANDLING
RACETRACK FOR SURE.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE HOWEVER
CAN KEEP THE CAR ON THE TRACK
SMOOTH.
AND IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE, YOU
KNOW, THE GUY TO BEAT.
THIS PLACE IS KNOWN TO BE HARD
ON TRANSMISSIONS AND MOTORS, AS
WELL.
THE SHIFTING SMOOTH AND
EVERYTHING LIKE THAT IS GOING TO
BE VERY IMPORTANT.
AND I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT IN WHAT
WE HAVE.
>> WELL, HE KICKED IT OFF HERE
LAST YEAR, WINNING THE ROOKIE OF
THE YEAR.
PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
>> IT WAS.
HE LED 40 LAPS HERE FROM THE
OUTSIDE FRONT ROW.
WON IT HERE.
26-YEAR-OLD OUT OF VIRGINIA,
DRIVING FOR JOE GIBBS RACING.
CURRENTLY BEING SHOWN IN THE
>>> WELCOME BACK TO MENTION QUO
CITY, MEXICO.
AND THE FIELD IS SET.
YOU SEE SCOTT BREW WET -- PRUETT
DRIVING FOR GANASSI.
SECOND CAREER POLL.
FLANKING HIM, CARLOS CONTRERAS.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA WILL START
BEHIND HIM IN ROW TWO.
JORGE GOETERS IS THERE.
LAST YEAR'S WINNER, DENNY
HAMLIN, AND RON FELLOWS IN ROW
THREE.
BORIS SAID, IMPRESSIVE YOUNG
DRIVER, REGAN SMITH.
STARTING OUTSIDE OF ROW FOUR.
CARL ELD WARDS, CURRENTLY SECOND
IN THE POINT STANDINGS, AND P.J.
JONES, ROUNDING OUT THE TOP TEN
IN QUALIFYING.
>> MICHEL JOURDAIN A GREAT RUN
GOING.
HAD TO GO TAIL BACK.
THAT'S ONE THING HE DOESN'T WANT
TO DO.
HE CAN GET BACK TO THE FRONT
THROUGH PIT STOPS.
MARCOS AMBROSE, OUTSIDER, ROW
SIX.
STEPHEN LEICHT.
GREAT RUN.
NEVER BEEN TO THIS TRACK BEFORE.
REALLY PICKED UP.
AND BRAD COLEMAN.
ANOTHER JOE GIBBS RACER.
J.J. YELEY IN ROW EIGHT.
GREG BIFFLE ON THE OUTSIDE.
>> AND A BIG SURPRISE HERE.
ADRIAN FERNANDEZ THAT'S A
SURPRISE.
I EXPECTED HIM TO BE UP THERE IN
THE FIRST THREE.
17th IS A SURPRISE.
YOU HAVE BOBBLE BYHAM MILTON
BESIDE HIM.
SCOTT WIMMER IN THE OTHER RCR
CAR, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY
THAT NAME, JERRY, I'M GOING TO
LET DO THAT.
>> I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO DO
THAT.
>> DAVID GILLY LARD.
STEVE WALLACE, THE YOUNG
19-YEAR-OLD.
JASON LEFFLER, IN THE TOYOTA.
RUBEN PARDO, THE FORM EARL
NASCAR BUSCH EAST SERIES ROOKIE
OF THE YEAR.
DAVID REUTIMANN.
BRENT SHERMAN, THE YOUNG DRIVER
THAT'S DONE A GOOD JOB EARLY IN
THE YEAR.
SHANE HUFFMAN.
MIKE WALLACE IN THE SEVEN CAR.
ROGELI OH LOPEZ, THE REIGNING
SERIES CHAMPION FOR THE NASCAR
MEXICAN SERE LEES FROM LAST
YEAR.
JON WOOD IN THE OUTSIDE OF ROW
15.
>> DAVE LAY NOOE.
PRETTY GOOD RUN FOR WHAT HE WENT
THROUGH YESTERDAY.
LOT OF PROBLEMS.
BIG CRASH.
TODD KLUEVER UNTIL ROW 16.
J.R. FITZPATRICK.
KYLE KRISILOFF.
HE SAVED IT A GOOD SAVE OUT OF
THE YOUNG MAN.
GOOD JOB.
>> AND DAVE RAGAN.
HEM'S GETTING A LESSON HERE IN
MEXICO.
HE'S IN THE 18th ROW.
STANTON BARRETT.
AND THEN KERTUS DAVIS, STARTING
IN THE 19th ROW WITH TODD SOUZA.
AND BRIAN SIMO ALONGSIDE ANTONIO
PEREZ.
>> AND HERE ARE SOME CARS THAT
DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO GO OUT.
BRAD KESELOWSKI, JOHN YOUNG AND
ALEX GARCIA WE ROUND OUT THE
STARTING FIELD FOR THE NASCAR
BUSCH SERIES FOR THE THIRD
CONSECUTIVE YEAR IN MEXICO CITY.
LET'S GO TO DAVE WHO IS STANDING
BY WITH THE FORMER RECORD HOLDER
IN QUALIFYING.
>> YEAH, OF COURSE, JERRY, YOU
KNEW WHEN THEY TOOK AWAY THE
STRAIGHTAWAY, THEY WERE GOING TO
BLOW AWAY THE RECORD.
ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE POLL?
>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO
BE IN THIS SPOT.
THIS IS OUR THIRD YEAR IN THIS
RACING CAREER, SO, I AM VERY
PLEASED WITH NASCAR TO HAVE A
RACE THIS WEEKEND IN MEXICO
CITY.
>> AND YOU TOLD ME EARLIER JUST
HOW BIG THIS RACE IS FOR SOMEONE
WHO GREW UP IN MEXICO.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THIS IS FOR US, LIKE DAYTONA
500, EVERYBODY IS WATCHING.
WE KNOW THAT, SO WE NEED TO FIND
A VERY GOOD TEAM, EVERYBODY'S
LOOKING FOR A SPONSOR, GOOD
SPONSOR TO BE IN A BETTER TEAM,
SO, THIS IS EXCITING FOR US,
FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, AT THIS
RACE, SO IT'S VERY GLAD TO HAVE
EVERYBODY HERE.
>> AND I WANT YOU TO TELL THE
FANS SOMETHING THAT'S
INTERESTING THE ONLY PERSON
ALLOWED IN THE IMPOUND AREA WAS
YOUR WIFE.
SHE DID SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL.
WHAT DID SHE DO?
>> SHE -- I LOVE HER, YOU KNOW,
YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT.
SHE WAS -- SHE WANTS TO BE
PROTECTED, BY GOD, SO SHE PUTS
SOME HOLY WATER ON MY CAR, TO BE
PROTECTED FOR ALL MY SLAPS, SO,
I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT
THATMENT SHE LOVED TO DO THAT,
SO, THAT'S A VERY GOOD, LIKE,
OUR SUPER TIGS FOR US.
>> HE HAD A GOOD FEELING WHEN HE
KNOWS HIS WIFE DOES THAT BEFORE
EACH ONE OF MY RACES.
ALLEN?
>> WITH BORIS SAID WHO IS
SMILING THROUGH THE
DISAPPOINTMENT.
SEPTEMBER SPOT --
SEVENTH SPOT.
>> I FEEL PRETTY BAD.
I HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS HERE.
TESTING REALLY GOOD.
WE CAME HERE, AND BEEN FIGHTING
TIGHT, TIGHT, TIGHT ALL DAY.
BUT WE GOT SOME GREAT SPANNERS,
ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS ON SPIT
ROAD.
BETTER.L WE CAN
I'M DISAPPOINTED.
I WAS COMING HERE HOPING TO WIN.
NOW I HOPE FOR A TOP THREE OR
FOUR.
WE'RE GOING TO RACE REAL HARD
AND SEE WHERE THE CHIPS FALL AND
CAN'T WAIT FOR TOMORROW.
>> IN A RACE WHERE YOUR CAR IS
NOW IMPOUNDED AND YOU DON'T
ANYTHING TO IT BEFORE YOU START
THE RACE.
YOU WILL SPEND ALL NIGHT
THINKING ABOUT, WHAT, THE FIRST
PIT?
>> YEAH, THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN
DO.
THAT'S TOUGH, THESE IMPOUND
RACES.
YOU ARE ALWAYS LIKE, MAN, IF WE
HAD ONE MORE SESSION, WE COULD
GET THE CAR BETTER.
I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD CAR.
WE DIDN'T SPEND ANY TIME DOING
QUALIFYING RUNS.
WE RAN ABOUT 40 LAPS ON A SET OF
TIRES AND RAN GOOD.
SO, I MEAN, I THINK IF WE CAN
RUN LONG RUNS WE'LL BE OKAY.
>> THANKS, BORIS.
THE PROFESSOR WILL START
TOMORROW IN SEVENTH SPOT.
MIKE?
>> EMOTIONAL JUAN PABLO MONTOYA.
I KNOW YOU WANTED THE POLLMENT
YOU DIDN'T GET IT.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS RIGHT
NOW?
>> A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATING.
EVERYBODY HERE DID A REALLY GOOD
JOB.
YOU KNOW, DECIDED TO MAKE AS A
TEAM, SOME CHANGES, AND THEY
WERE THE WRONG ONES, AND JUST
HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE.
IT WAS REALLY TIGHT.
I WAS SURPRISED IT WAS THAT
FAST.
I LOST TIMES FROM THE LAP
YESTERDAY, AND THE LAP WASN'T
THAT SPECIAL.
WE HAVE A REALLY FAST CAR.
BUT, WE'LL SEE.
>> HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THE CAR TO
FEEL STARTING THE RACE?
>> WELL, IT'S GOING TO FEEL LIKE
IT QUALIFIED.
YOU CAN'T CHANGE IT.
JUST TAKE IT AS IT COMES.
>> ENOUGH ADJUSTABILITY IN IT?
>> I THINK SO.
WE'LL SEAL WHAT WE CAN DO.
>> YOU SET HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR
YOURSELF FOR THIS WEEKEND.
THAT SAID, HOW MUCH MORE PRESHL
ON YOURSELF FOR THIS PARTICULAR
WEEKEND?
>> I PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON
MYSELF EVERY WEEKEND, IF IT IS
GOOD OR BAD.
YOU NEED TO GIVE IT 100%, AND
EVERYBODY GIVES YOU 100%.
SOMETIMES YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE
A GREAT WEEKEND, SOMETIMES YOU
ARE GOING TO SUCK, BUT EVEN WHEN
YOU ARE SUCKING, YOU CAN STEP IT
UP AND MAKE THE MOST OUT OF IT.
>> SOMETIMES WE SEE DRIVERS WHEN
THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT HEATED UP,
LIKE YOURSELF, THEY DRIVE
HARDER.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
>> I BRAKE THE SAME PLACE I DID
YESTERDAY, DID THE SAME THINGS.
THE CAR DIDN'T STEER.
YOU KNOW?
THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN.
>> WELL, THANK YOU.
AND GOOD LUCK ON SUNDAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GUYS?
OBVIOUSLY A DISAPPOINTED MAN.
HE REMAINS OPTIMISTIC, THINKING
HE CAN GET THE CAR TO VICTORY
LANE.
>> MIKE, THANK YOU.
HE WILL BE OUR INRACE REPORTER.
TALKING TO RUSTY WALLACE.
HIS CREW CHIEF TALKING TO ANDY.
AND INTERESTING, HE'S VERY
FRUSTRATED.
SAID THEY MADE CHANGES TO THE
CAR AND THE CAR WAS TIGHT.
>> I'M SURPRISED, TOO.
HE HIT THE BRAKES, SLID THAT
RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND THAT COULD
HAVE MADE THE CAR TIGHTER LATER.
THEY HAD A GREAT LAP YESTERDAY.
HE WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WHEN
THEY DIDN'T BACK IT UP.
THAT LAP YESTERDAY WOULD HAVE
GOT HIM THE POLL.
I KNOW HE'S DISAPPOINTED.
>> YOU COULD SEAL HE LOCKED THE
RIGHT FRONT WHEEL UP, SLID OFF
THE COURSE.
SLID UP THE COURSE MORE THAN HE
WANTED TO.
I TALKED TO HIM THIS MORNING, HE
FELT REALLY GOOD ABOUT THE LAP.
HE WAS COMPARING THE WAY HE
DRIVES TO SCOTT PRUETT.
HE DOESN'T GET UP ON THE CURBS.
AND THAT'S WHAT SCOTT DID IN
ORDER TO GET THE POLL.
THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
AND SCOTT WILL TELL YOU THAT.
BUT HE USES IT MORE, SCOTT DOES.
THE CURBS THE CARS GETTING IN
THE AIR.
ONE THING, HE HAD A REAL FLAT
PLATFORM IN THE FRONT OF THE
CAR, JUAN PABLO DID.
SCOTT PRUETT'S CAR LOOKED
TOTALLY DIFFERENT THE FRONT END
UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE LEFT
SIDE.
A LOT OF BODY ENGLISH, I CALL
IT.
THESE DRIVERS CAN MANIPULATE THE
CARPS, AROUND THE CORNERS, WITH
GAS PEDALS, BREAK PEDALS.
AND HE USES HIS HANDS A LOT.
TAKE A LOOK AT PRUETT HERE ONCE.
SEE HOW HARD THE CAR IS ROLLED
OVER, WAY UP ON THE CURB.0
YOU NEVER SAY JUAN PABLO DOING
THAT.
>> I TALKED TO BOTH OF THE CREW
CHIEFS, AND THEY DO HAVE
DIFFERENT SETUPS.
AND THAT'S KIND OF A DRIVER
PREFERENCE THING.
SCOTT REALLY LIKES HIS CAR.
HE PUT HIS SETUP ON THE POLL.
AND JUAN PABLO AND HIS GUYS ARE
TRYING TO GET THEIR CAR FLAT ON
THE TRACK.
>> HE'S BARELY TICKLING THE
CURBS.
HE'S KEEPING THE CAR FLAT.
PRUETT DOES A DIFFERENT STYLE.
EACH ONE OF THEM'S RIGHT.
YOU KNOW WHY?
THEY WERE TEAMMATES IN THE BEST
ROAD RACE IN THE WORLD, THE 24
HOURS OF DAYTONA, AND THEY WON
IT.
IF I WANT SOMEBODY TO DRIVE MY
CAR HERE, WOULD I PICK THEM?
HECK YEAH.
>> HE'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL WHERE
HE'S GONE.
RIGHT AWAY, HE WAS A FORMULA
3,000 CHAMPIONSHIP.
HE WON THE CART TITLE.
SEVEN VICTORY, THE 2000 INDY
500.
SEVEN GRAND PRIX WINS, INCLUDING
MONACO, AND HE'S RIGHT NOW,
HOPING TO GET HIS FIRST WIN IN
NASCAR'S BUSCH SERIES, HERE
TOMORROW IN MEXICO
>>> COVERAGE OF THE ARENA
FOOTBALL LEAGUE ON ABC CONTINUES
TOMORROW.
REGIONAL GAMES.
EITHER DEFENDING CHAMPION, THE
CHICAGO RUSH TAKING ON KANSAS
CITY, OR THE DALLAS TEAM, VERSUS
THE NEW YORK DRAGONS.
THAT'S SUNDAY ON ABC AT 12:30
EASTERN TIME.
>>> SIDEKICK TIM BREWER'S GONE
BACK TO THE GARAGE AREA HERE IN
MEXICO CITY.
TALKING ATHE ADJUSTMENTS MADE
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE DRIVER IN
A ROAD COURSE CAR.
>> ONE THING WE'RE GOING TO HELP
THE DRIVER, PERFORMANCE AND
COMFORT WITH, SHIFTER HANDLE.
THIS LONG SHIFTER HANDLE, HE HAS
TO MOVE THIS THING SIX INCHES,
FORWARD AND BACK.
LOOK AT THIS PERFORMANCE HERE.
INCH AND A HALF THROUGH, BACK UP
THROUGH THE GEARS, BACK DOWN
THROUGH THE GEARS, ENABLES HIM
TO GET THE HANDS BACK ON THE
WHEEL TO DO A BETTER JOB DRIVING
THE RACE CAR.
>> THAT IS A GREAT POINT, TIM.
AND I KNOW RUSTY OVER THE YEARS,
YOU WERE A FAN, THAT JUST CAME
IN TO RACING, JUST A FEW YEARS
AGO, AND THAT MAKES A BIG
DIFFERENCE.
>> JERRY, THAT'S ALL ABOUT
DRIVER PREFERENCE.
WHEN I DROVE THE CAR, I LIKED
THE LONG SHIFTER HANDLES.
I LIKE THE THAT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT A DRIVER LIKE
MARK MARTIN, HE LIKES A SHORT
SHIFTER HANDLE TO DO WHAT TIM
WAS SAYING IN THERE MOVE IT REAL
QUICK.
GET THE HAND BACK ON THE WHEEL.
A LOT OF PREFERENCE THERE.
IT'S ALL ABOUT WHAT MAKES YOU
FEEL GOOD IN THE CAR.
>> THERE'S ANOTHER REASON THEY
RUN THE SHORT SHIFTERS, TOO.
YOU CAN TAKE THE LEVERAGE AND
DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION.
AS A CREW CHIEF, I'M GOING TO
PUT THAT IN THERE SO HE CAN'T
TEAR UP THE TRANSMISSION.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S CHECK IN
WITH JAMIE LITTLE WHO IS
STANDING BY WITH ADRIAN
FERNANDEZ.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
FIRST TIME WE SAW HIM HERE.
ADRIAN, FROM MEXICO CITY.
A LOT GOING ON.
WHAT ARE YOU HOLDING HERE?
>> THIS IS FOR VALENTINAMENT OUR
FRIENDS FROM OAKLEY GAVE A
PRESENT FROM OUR DAUGHTER.
>> THE WIFE IS NOT HERE BECAUSE
HE'S SEVENTH MONTHS PREGNANT.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST
CHILD.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RACE.
QUALIFYING TODAY, 17th.
NOT WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE HOPED
FOR.
WHAT DID YOU SEE OUT THERE?
>> I'VE BEEN VERY QUICK THE LAST
TWO YEARS.
HOPEFULLY THIS IS A SIGN.
ALWAYS HAPPENS SOMETHING.
SO, I THINK THIS TIME, YOU KNOW,
IT'S GOING TO BE BETTER THE CAR
IS CONSISTENT.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE
OKAY.
KYLE BUSCH LAST YEAR DIDN'T
QUALIFY THAT WELL AND HE WAS
VERY FAST ON THE RACE.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HOPING.
ON QUALIFYING, I CAN'T GET ANY
PRIP.
I SAW MY LAP TIME, I HAVE TO GET
MORE ON THE SECOND.
I ALMOST LOST IT ON THE LAST
CORNER.
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT.
WE ARE FEELING GOOD.
>> CAN YOU PASS 16 CARS TO GET
TO THE FRONT?
>> I HAVE PASSED 30 BEFORE.
I THINK I CAN PASS 17.
>> ALL RIGHT.
DAVE?
>> JAMIE, WITH GREG BIFFLE NOW,
CATCHING UP AFTER A QUALIFYING
RUN, WHICH WAS INTERESTING,
BECAUSE IT WAS IN A CAR THAT YOU
HADN'T HAD ON THE TRACK.
YOU WRECKED YOUR PRIMARY CAR
THIS IS EXCITING FOR YOU.
>> IT WAS.
THE LITTLE LACK OF COMMUNICATION
THERE WITH THE NASCAR OFFICIALS,
THEY WAVED ME OFF INTO PIT ROAD.
APPEARED TO BE OFF INTO PIT
ROAD.
THEY SAID WE DIDN'T QUALIFY IN
OUR GROUP, WE GINT QUALIFY.
OUR GROUP WAS OUT THERE.
SO, NATCHRILY, I WENT, MADE A
LAP AND THREE QUARTERS UNTIL THE
SESSION WAS OVER.
THEY SAID I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO
BE IN THAT GROUP, THEY WERE
GOING TO SEND ME.
SO, WE WENT AND DID IT AGAIN.
SO, I HAD TO TRY IT AGAIN ON HOT
TIRES, AND WE ENDED UP 15th OR
16th, 16th, SO, NOT TOO BAD.
YARDMAN FUSION DID PRETTY GOOD.
THEY WEREN'T QUITE READY, NEWT
AND THE GUYS WORKED WELL TO GET
THE BACKUP READY.
PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT
STARTING POSITION, REALLY.
AND WE HAVE A GOOD CAR.
I THINK WE HAVE A SOLID CHANCE
AT A TOP FIVE.
>> IT'S MEANT TO BE THE MONTREAL
CAR.
SO, WITH ONE OR JUST A FEW LAPS
OUT HERE, IS IT SOLID AND READY
TO GO?
YOUR CAR IS IMPOUNDED NOW.
>> IT FELT REALLY GOOD.
AND THEY SPENT EXTRA TIME MAKING
SURE THAT THE CAR WAS READY.
AND THE BREAKS WORKED EXTREMELY
WELL.
THE CAR TURNED WELL.
JUST A LITTLE BIT LOOSE TO THE
LEFT.
TIGHT TO THE RIGHT, JUST A
SIMPLE WEDGE ADJUSTMENT.
BUT THE CAR, NO GREMLINS IN IT.
RAN GOOD, STOPPED GOOD.
WE HAVE A GOOD CHANCE.
>> TEAMMATE TO JORGE GOETERS, BY
THE WAY.
DOC?
>> ON A SAD NOTE, LONG-TIME
NASCAR OFFICIAL PEOPLE BAB
PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK.
ONE OF NASCAR'S OLDEST AND MOST
RESPECTED OFFICIALS, WORKING AS
AN INSPECTOR FOR 55 YEARS THAT
MADE HIM THE LONGEST TENURED IN
NASCAR HISTORY.
BAB STARTED WHEN THE BUSCH
SERIES WAS HERE YEARS AGO,
REMEMBER, AS A TOUGH BUT FAIR
INDIVIDUAL WHO NEVER HAD AN
ENEMY.
PETE BABB WAS 79 YEARS OLD.@@@ú@
>>> AND WELCOME BACK, REVIEWING
THE TOP FIVE QUALIFIERS.
DENNY HAMLIN, WON THIS A YEAR
AGO, STARTING FIFTH.
HE'S THE ONLY CHEVY IN THE TOP
FIVE.
QUALIFYING FOURTH, ONE OF THE
MEXICAN HEROES, JORGE GOETERS.
LOCAL FANS WILL HAVE A LOT TO
CHEER ABOUT.
INTRIGUING FRONT OF THE GRID FOR
THEM.
GOETERS IN A DODGE.
DODGES IN THE THREE FASTEST.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, FRUSTRATED
AT THE END OF THE QUALIFYING.
SAID ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE, NOT
THE RIGHT ONES.
HE WILL HAVE TO SORT THINGS OUT.
MEXICAN CARLOS CONTRERAS, LOCAL
RACER.
ESPN DEPORTES COMMENTATOR.
RECOGNIZED HIM FROM A LOT OF
STARTS IN THE TRUCK SERIES IN
THE LATE '90s.
AND THE POLE SITTER IN THE
NUMBER ONE CAR IS SCOTT PRUETT.
VETERAN OPEN WHEEL DRIVER.
ROAD COURSE EXPERT.
HE WILL HAVE THE POLE FOR THE
THIRD RUNNING FOR THE RACE IN
MEXICO CITY.
AND A COOLER BUT SUNNY DAY ON
SUNDAY HERE TOMORROW.
JERRY, BACK TO YOU GUYS.
>> THANKS, CHRIS.
SCOTT WILL BE DOING DOUBLE DUTY
THIS WEEKEND.
DRIVING FROM THE POLE HERE, BUT
WHEELING THE LEXUS DAYTONA PRO
TOE TYPE IN THE GRAND AM EVENT.
LET'S LOOK, IF WE SHOW YOU BOTH
CARS, AND HOW THEY ARE DIFFERENT
IN LINES ON THE RACETRACK.
>> JERRY, TAKE A LOOK.
YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE DAYTONA
COMING IN THE FRAME HERE
SHORTLY.
SEE HOW LOW HE IS.
LOOK AT THE WHITE LINE.
LOOK AT THE RIGHT SIDE.
THESE CARS HAVE GOT SO MUCH DOWN
FORCEMENT THEY CAN HOLD THIS
INSIDE LINE, JUST BECAUSE THEY
DON'T HAVE TO GO THAT FAR OUT.
>> AND THAT'S NOT DRIVER
TECHNIQUE.
SCOTT IS DRIVING BOTH OF THE
CARS.
THAT'S DEFINITELY THE CAR.
YOU SEE HOW WELL THAT PRO TO
TYPE STICKS TO THE ROAD THE
BUSCH CARS ARE HARD TO DRIVE.
>> ANDY, I TELL YOU, THE PRO TOE
TYPE HAS ALMOST TWICE THE DOWN
FORCE, THAT CAN HOLD THE CAR TO
ROAD.R
AND THE CAR ON THE OUTSIDE, THE
ONE HE WAS ON THE POLE WITH
TODAY, MUCH HEAVIER, A LOT OF
MOMENTUM.
A LOT DIFFERENT FEEL.
>> SHOWS YOU HOW VERSATILE SCOTT
IS, BECAUSE HE CAN DRIVE BOTH
CARS, GET OUT OF ONE, GET IN
ANOTHER.
>> HE LED ALL 100 LAP AS YEAR
AGO IN THE DAYTONA PRO TOE TYPE.
HE WILL CO-DRIVE WITH
>>> SET FOR RACING EXCITEMENT ON
SUNDAY.
LET'S CHECK WITH THE REPORTERS.
>> STEPHEN LEICHT PICKED UP A
FULL SECOND OVER HIS PRACTICE
TIMED.
QUALIFIED 13th.
WHERE DID YOU FIND THE SPEED?
>> I THINK MOST OF IT WAS ME
BEING COMFORTABLE.
THE GUYS DID A GREAT JOB WITH
IT.
THIS TEAM HAS WORKED HARD THIS
WEEK END.
AND REALLY, THEY'RE ALLOWING ME
TO HAVE SOME FUN.
I HAVEN'T BEEN ON A ROAD COURSE
SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID.
>> BEST OF LUCK.
ALLEN?
>> WITH A VERY HAPPY CARLOS
CONTRERAS.
SECOND FASTEST IN YOUR HOMETOWN.
THOUGHTS?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
CAN YOU SEE MY FACE?
MY SMILE.
I'M VERY HAPPY.
IT WASN'T MY JOB.
IT WAS THE NEW FITZ MOTOR STOPS,
ALL MY CREW, THE FAMILY DOLLAR
DODGE, REAL LITTLE NICE WEEKEND.
AND VERY EXCITED FOR TOMORROW.
>> GOOD LUCK TOMORROW.
HE'LL START IN THE FRONT ROW.
JAIL ME?
>> BRAD COLEMAN, ONE OF THE
ROOKIES TO WATCH TOMORROW.
QUALIFIED 14th WHAT WAS THAT
QUALIFYING COUPLE OF LAPS LIKE
FOR YOU FROM A ROOKIE'S
PERSPECTIVE?
>> IT WAS HAIRY AND ON THE EDGE.
THE TRACK IS REAL HOT.
A COUPLE PEOPLE LAID DOWN SOME
OIL.
THE CHEVY WAS ALL GOOD.
I HAVE A GREAT TEAM BEHIND ME.
GOT TO GO GET MY ENERGY BEFORE
THE RACE.
WE HAVE A GREAT CAR.
>> ALL RIGHT, GUYS, BRAD
COLEMAN, HE JUST TURNED 19 YEARS
OLD THIS WEEK.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE ROOKIE,
AND HIS TEAM GIVING HIM A LITTLE
LOVE, DOC.
>> ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
YOUR THOUGHTS QUICKLY?
>> RIGHT NOW, REAL LITTLE
SURPRISED THAT BORIS SAID DIDN'T
DO BETTER.
WE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO GET
THE POLL.
>> AND THE KIDS UP FRONT.
FERNANDEZ STARTING IN 17th SPOT.
GOING TO BE WORKING HIS WAY TO
THE FRONT.
>> OUR FULL CIRCLE COVERAGE
COMING YOUR WAY SUNDAY, 1:30
EASTERN TIME, ESPN2.
ALL OVER IT.
NASCAR'S BUSCH SERIES STARS, AND
SOME OF THE GREATEST ROAD
RACERS, INTERNATIONAL FEEL,