NOW AVAILABLE! — The Official Directory for CART Racing
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 | Target Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard Honda |
| Photo: Scott Hughes JIMMY VASSER | |
| [on his PPG CART World Series record-tying streak of 25 consecutive race finishes, which ended at Portland] "That streak of 25 straight finishes was a real tribute to all the guys at Target/Chip Ganassi Racing. They gave me a car that was like the Energizer bunny it kept going and going and going. The sad part about what happened at Portland is it wasn't our fault. The streak ended because I was hit by somebody else with just a few laps to go." | |
 | Marlboro Penske Mercedes |
| PAUL TRACY | |
| [on the layout at Burke Lakefront Airport] "I think Cleveland is one of the better temporary circuits we go to because it's a fast track with fast corners and lots of places to pass, which you don't find at the other temporary circuits like Australia, Long Beach or Detroit. We know that the Marlboro car works real well on fast corners and is well-balanced at high speeds, so that's a big plus. We've struggled a little during the last few races with mechanical grip on the slower corners, but we've tested quite a bit during the break [since Portland] and what we've learned should give us a good set-up for when we roll off the truck in Cleveland. [On maintaining his PPG Cup lead, now at just five points (100-95) over Greg Moore] "Although we were competitive in our past two races [Portland and Milwaukee], we didn't get the results we would've liked, so we really need some good results in Cleveland. We need to get our momentum going for the next three races in a row. Hopefully, we'll have a good first practice on Friday, so we can rebuild our confidence and move us through the weekend. We feel that what we've learned during our last few tests has improved the car and will keep us competitive through the rest of the season and in contention for the PPG Cup championship." | |
 | Kmart/Texaco/Havoline Swift Ford Cosworth XD |
| MICHAEL ANDRETTI | |
| [on Cleveland's growth as a PPG CART World Series venue] "What makes Cleveland so special to us is that they showed how important a race can be to a city. When they tried to take it off the schedule, the governor, the mayor and the fans fought hard to keep the race. I think that set a precedent for the other cities to show their support for our races. It's always great to go back to Cleveland. The track has a very unique layout. The front stretch is very wide open and basically goes to a funnel effect. It's 10 lanes wide and narrows down to one or two in the first corner. That makes the start always exciting. There are a lot of good places to pass. That's good for the fans and the drivers who are doing the passing. [on last year's Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland] "Last year was frustrating at Cleveland. We had a good race car. It wasn't the best, but we put ourselves in a position to win the race because of good strategy. Unfortunately, mechanical problems put us out. We're going to give it everything we've got to bring a win home from Cleveland. The car has been good in almost every situation, but we just need to finish on the podium." | |
 | Marlboro Penske Mercedes |
| AL UNSER, Jr. | |
| [on his fondest Cleveland memory] "My best memory from Cleveland was in 1994, when I sat on the pole and won the race. It was my fifth win and third pole that season and it seemed like Marlboro Team Penske could do nothing wrong that year [winning 12 out of 16 races]. Being able to dominate like that is really fun and you have to enjoy each victory, because streaks like those don't happen often. [on returning to racing after several weeks off] "I finally had some time off and was able to take my family to our mountain home in Chama, New Mexico. It was great to get away from my hectic schedule for a few days and just relax. I've always said, though, that I can't keep my mind off of racing for very long, so I'm ready to get after it again. I only have one wish for Cleveland weekend and that's to give Roger [Penske] his 100th [Indy car] victory. Everyone on my Marlboro crew deserves something to go our way. We've worked hard all season and we can't seem to shake whatever has a hold of us. I know the remedy is plain and simple - a win. [on "moonlighting" after the 1995 Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland] "In 1995, Foreigner was in town, and I got backstage passes for their concert on Sunday night. I ended up gong on stage and singing with them and, at that time, realized I'd better keep my day job." | |
 | Brahma Sports Team Reynard Ford |
| SCOTT PRUETT | |
| [on the importance of setup for Cleveland] "Cleveland is a very challenging track. Getting the set-up right is the key. You have to compromise when you are setting the car up and getting it right is difficult. The Cleveland track is also challenging because it is difficult to pick out reference points for braking. It's flat and bumpy, with no banking or trees, and then the water runs along the side, giving you a distorted view of where you are on the track. It's great for the spectators because it is the only road or street circuit where the fans can see the whole race from the grandstands." | |
 | PacWest Motorola Reynard Mercedes |
| MARK BLUNDELL | |
| [on following up his victory at Portland, the first of his PPG CART World Series career] "It's going to be hard to top Portland, but I guarantee we'll be trying. Cleveland is great because it's so wide and you can place the car almost anywhere on the track. You can really use the circuit to your advantage if you're clever. We've just come off a good test at Elkhart Lake, which should point us in the right direction for the Cleveland track, since both are very fast. I hope the fans save some of their excitement from the All-Star game for us, because we'll put on a fantastic show." | |
 | Ralphs/Food 4 Less Della Penna Racing Lola Ford |
| RICHIE HEARN | |
| [on making his first competitive appearance at Cleveland] "I've been to the Cleveland Grand Prix as a spectator, but not as a driver. It looks busy. A lot of drivers say it is a very physical and tough track because it is so bumpy. It looks like you can really race there, because it is very wide and you can pass. I've seen most of the track from the television broadcasts. The track looks interesting and Turn One is very wide. It seems like it will be a good place to race and pass a lot of different places. It is a new venue for the Ralphs-Food 4 Less team and Cleveland is a great city. I'm looking forward to going there." | |
 | Kmart/Budweiser Swift Ford Newman/Haas Racing |
| CHRISTIAN FITTIPALDI | |
| [on the racing environment at Cleveland] "To get fan support is important everywhere, but fans in Cleveland have shown really great support. It's great to race under those conditions. As for the track, it's very challenging. It's different because it's dead flat. There are no reference points for braking. However, if you overshoot your braking area and go into the grass, you can still come back to the track. The street circuits and concrete walls at ovals aren't as forgiving. [on his recovery from a broken right leg sustained at the Sunbelt IndyCarnival Australia] "My leg feels good. I'm not using the crutches anymore. I'm walking as normal as possible. The three-week break [between Portland and Cleveland] was very good. I was able to get some 'R and R' [rest and relaxation] as people in the U.S. call it, over the long weekend. I went to a very sunny, relaxing place to play. Now, it's time for work. I'm excited to get to Cleveland, which will be my second race back. Overall, Portland was a pretty good race [Fittipaldi qualified a career-high third and finished fourth]. There's always room for improvement unless you win. Hopefully, we'll have a great race in Cleveland." | |
 | MCI Arciero Wells Reynard Toyota |
| MAX PAPIS | |
| [on his upcoming debut at Burke Lakefront Airport] "All I really know about Cleveland is that it was a very exciting race last year and my friend Alex Zanardi almost won. I think it is going to be a tough race because it is a flat circuit with a lot of bumps. My engineers are going to need to concentrate and to come up with a set-up that will give us the best traction we can. I think it will be a tough race and a tough track for the car. [on the development of the Toyota RV8B engine, with eight test days scheduled during the month of July] "Regarding what we are doing for the engine, I am very pleased. We are running the RV8B and we are working on a new evolution. We are doing a lot of long runs. [At the California Speedway test in late June], we did 450 miles on one day, then 500 miles the next. It is running really well. St. Louis was a very low point; we had a lot of problems with the engine. We are really recovering very strong. I have seen a lot of involvement from Toyota both in Japan and TRD [Toyota Racing Development] in Costa Mesa. That means a lot to me. It means our program is stepping forward very fast." | |
 | Pennzoil Special Reynard Ford Davis/Craig Racing |
| GUALTER SALLES | |
| [on the demands of the Burke Lakefront Airport circuit] "Cleveland is a demanding track for the driver and the race can be very tiring as well. It's a track that suits me [Salles won the 1996 PPG-Firestone Indy Lights race at Burke Lakefront Airport]. I like races where you have to push hard from start to finish, and Cleveland is that type of course. The bumps from the airport runways and taxiways aren't good for the car or the driver, but the track does reward setup, strategy and aggressive driving. Cleveland is a special course because there are so many lines going into each of the turns, especially Turn One, where a driver always has to be ready for any challenge. Of course, there is only one true fast line around Cleveland but a successful pass can be completed almost anywhere. [on how last year's Indy Lights victory at Cleveland helped him land a PPG CART World Series ride this year] "Before Portland [site of his first career Indy Lights victory last year], I was still growing as a driver and still learning about the series and racing in America. But after Portland, I was able to think that I could race in the PPG CART World Series in 1997. With my wins in the next two races [at Cleveland and Toronto], I made the Indy Lights championship a priority and getting a CART ride a goal for 1997." | |
 | Shell Reynard Ford Team Rahal |
| BRYAN HERTA | |
| [on mid-season momentum] "Momentum at this time of the year is so important, and it was here in Cleveland that we kind of kick-started our season last year. After our fifth-place finish here, we never finished lower than sixth for the rest of the season, and we ran off five podium finishes. We're hoping to leave town with a little of that Cleveland magic this time around, too." | |
 | Team Kool Green Reynard Honda |
| PARKER JOHNSTONE | |
| [on the challenge of Burke Lakefront Airport] "Cleveland leads your imagination to the limit in terms of passing zones; so much of it is so wide open that you could pass virtually anywhere. That, and the fact that you can see 90 percent of the track from the stands makes it one of the best events from a spectator perspective. The track is technically challenging because you have a lot of low speed corners and a big high-speed sweeper that ends in a concrete wall. It's bumpy, which puts a premium on having the right spring and damper combination to handle the track surface. [on his musical tie to the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum] "A good friend of mine, Steve Witser, is the principal trombonist for the Cleveland Orchestra. He and I went to rival high schools in the Oakland [Calif.] area, but we toured together as members of the Oakland Youth Symphony - he with the trombone and me with my trumpet. We were both principal chairs, and we toured Europe together. I love talking with him about his life, because I look at him now - with his recording contracts, teaching at the conservatory and tours of Europe - and I think, 'That's what my like would be like if I'd chosen music.' " [on racing at an airport, where he could be flying his RV-4 aerobatic plane] "Racing at Cleveland combines two of my greatest loves - auto racing and flying. It's kind of an odd feeling, though, to drive a car along the runway at speeds faster than my plane goes." | |
 | Target Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard Honda |
| ALEX ZANARDI | |
| [on his duel with winner Gil de Ferran at last year's Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland] "I thought we had the fastest car, but that wasn't the way it worked out. I think we put on a great show for the fans. At the end, I passed him [de Ferran] but ran wide onto the marbles [pieces of tire rubber on the outer edge of the groove] and he passed me back As a professional driver, I was trying as hard as I could to win the race, but also, I wanted to be sure and not hit Gil. There is no question I could have put him off the road had I not been careful. It is important for people to understand that. With the line Gil was taking, it forced me to go to the outside. Had I braked just a little earlier, maybe I would not have slid out quite so much, and could have remained ahead of him." | |
 | Valvoline/Cummins/Craftsman Special Reynard Ford |
| GIL de FERRAN | |
| [on defending his Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland title] "I think that there are two factors which work in our favor in Cleveland; the first being our past successes there, and the second being our strong performances on the road courses which we've run so far this season. The combination of those two things I think bodes well for our chances at Cleveland." | |
 | Miller Lite Reynard Ford Team Rahal |
| BOBBY RAHAL | |
| [on racing in Cleveland] "Cleveland has always been very kind to me. As a native of nearby Medina, I've always been warmly welcomed by the fans and, fortunately, had a fair amount of success on the track , too. I won my very first Indy car race in the inaugural Cleveland event back in 1982, so this event has some special significance to me. We've also finished on the podium six times here. Let's hope that trend continues this weekend." | |
 | Hollywood Reynard Mercedes |
| MAURICIO GUGELMIN | |
| [on his anticipation of the Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland] "The way we've been running, I look forward to every race this year, and Cleveland is no exception. We have a car that's running very well everywhere. The only thing you can say for sure about the Cleveland circuit is that it's really fast. You can't really call it a street course or a road course. It's an airport course, totally unique in America. We're ready - no 'ifs' or 'buts.' " | |
 | Castrol/Jockey AAR Racing Reynard Toyota |
| P.J. JONES | |
| [on the layout at Burke Lakefront Airport] "The Cleveland track is wide open. There's a great deal of room to pass and various lines to drive on. The layout allows you to race hard, at less of a risk. It always seems to be hot in Cleveland and the drivers who are in the best shape do better in the heat. We'll just have to wait and see." | |
 | Castrol/Jockey AAR Racing Reynard Toyota |
| JUAN MANUEL FANGIO II | |
| [on the improvement shown by the All American Racers team] "We had a good finish in Cleveland last year [13th]. I think things are looking better and better for All American Racers. The chassis keeps improving and the reliability seems to be a little better. The Cleveland race circuit is great for spectators; they can see a lot of the track from the grandstands. It's also a good track for the drivers. There's a number of different lines to run on and some of the best racing happens there." | |
 | Brahma Sports Team Reynard Ford Cosworth |
| RAUL BOESEL | |
| [on past success in Cleveland] "Normally, I do well in Cleveland. It is a very demanding place. It is especially difficult because it is very flat, there are no trees and with the water there are no reference points, which makes it hard to find your braking points. It is usually very hot there and it is a very physical track. There are a couple of places to pass. It is a safe circuit with lots of runoff area, so you can drove over the limit and take a few more risks." | |
 | Team Kool Green Team manager |
| BARRY GREEN | |
| "I always think of Cleveland as more of a street circuit, because it's so flat and wide open, and it certainly lends itself to a real street fight. Everyone's out there fighting for position, and fighting to hang in, which makes for a super exciting race." | |
| Davis Racing Team owner | |
| GERALD DAVIS | |
| [on the team's prospects for success at Cleveland] "It's hard to know why, but Cleveland was always a strong track for Hall Racing and I believe that success will carry over to Davis Racing, based on Gualter's run last year. He had a strong run at Portland, where he also won last year, that saw him crack the top five when the car caught fire and put us out. We're still looking at putting together the best run possible to give Gualter a shot at the CART Rookie of the Year title. Two years ago, when we had Gil de Ferran as a rookie, we only had eight points after Portland and he come through to win the rookie title in the final race of the season. Sure, Portland was a disappointment to drop out when we were doing so well, but the speed we showed in practice and the race bode well for us through the rest of the season." | |
 | Target Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard Honda Team Owner |
| CHIP GANASSI | |
| [on a busy week ahead] "What a great week in Cleveland! The [baseball] All-Star game is Tuesday [July 8], and I'm looking forward to being at Jacobs Field for that. [Ganassi is a general partner in the ownership group of the Pittsburgh Pirates]. The All-Star Game is an American tradition and I'm sure Cleveland will be a great host. And then the Grand Prix on Sunday. For whatever reason, our team has had good results at Burke Lakefront Airport over the years [Bryan Herta finished second and Jimmy Vasser third in 1995; Alex Zanardi finished second in 1996], and I think we'll be right there again. [The best finish of Ganassi's 28-race Indy car career was second at Cleveland in 1984]." | |
Source: CART News Service