Race No. 14
Texaco Havoline 200
Elkhart Lake's Road America
Elkhart Lake, WisconsinAugust 14 - 16, 1998
Saturday Quotes from Elkhart Lake: | Marlboro Penske Mercedes Qualified: 13th |
| ANDRE RIBEIRO | |
| I am thankful to have such a resourceful team. Today, during practice, the leg felt pretty good considering the injury. It's still sore, but I think with some rest and if I can keep the leg elevated, we should be ready tomorrow. | |
 | Valvoline/Cummins/Craftsman Special Walker Racing Reynard Honda Qualified: 5th |
| GIL de FERRAN | |
| We might have had the car for the pole today, but unfortunately I went off on my last set of tires and spun in the gravel at turn three. You have to run with so little downforce there, and that makes the back end of the car very nervous. | |
 | Kmart/Texaco/Havoline Swift Ford Qualified: 1st |
| MICHAEL ANDRETTI | |
| Until this afternoon, it seemed like every time we started to get something going this weekend we'd get a red flag, and I'd wonder, 'How am I going to ever catch a break?' But it was a perfect qualifying session. We made a small change on the second set of tires and it helped. This feels like a win to me today. Hopefully some of our success will transfer to tomorrow. I want to also say how good our Goodyear tires are, they did a lot of work lately and it is paying of. Also, look at the grid. The top-four are Fords. This track is known as a horsepower track so that tells you something about the engine. | |
 | Miller Lite Team Rahal Reynard Ford Qualified: 3rd |
| BOBBY RAHAL | |
| This morning was kind of uneventful. We made some changes and ran on cold tires, and I really think I had my best lap on tires that had 110 miles on them. In the first part of the [qualifying] session, we couldn't get going, then the Patrick guys [Adrian Fernandez and Scott Pruett] got together and we were able to make some changes that the car really liked. As the owner of the second and third cars on the grid, I'm thrilled, and hoping that maybe we can do one better tomorrow. I've raced all around the world, as Michael [Andretti] has, and I rate this as one of the top-five race tracks, not only in the country, but in the world. This is a drivers' track and drivers love coming here. I was pleased I was second and then my teammate dropped me to third. I wasn't so pleased then. | |
 | Shell Team Rahal Reynard Ford Qualified: 2nd |
| BRYAN HERTA | |
| It was a pretty good day throughout. We made some significant gains yesterday in the car and today was just fine tuning. I had a good lap going, then [Gil] de Ferran spun off and I thought they were going to red flag the session. Luckily, they didn't, and it gave me enough time to get in one more good lap. I knew it was going to be really, really close. So, I just threw everything I had at it in that last corner and made it to the light and figured I'd sort it out after that. | |
 | Hollywood Reynard Mercedes Qualified: 21st |
| MAURICIO GUGELMIN | |
| It's been a tough weekend. We've been through three engines, two turbos and a throttle linkage -- and there's still a day to go. | |
 | Herdez Competition Payton/Coyne Reynard Ford Qualified: 24th |
| MICHEL JOURDAIN | |
| At the beginning, when I was trying hard to improve my times I made a mistake and I went off. The undertray was a little bit damaged and the crew cleaned the front. Then, with fresh tires and with eight minutes to go, they only refueled the car for three laps instead of more, since we wouldn't have enough time to pit again. I did a good third lap, but not good enough, preparing everything to be faster in the next one and then, we didn't have enough fuel to do it. | |
 | Visteon Reynard Ford Qualified: 4th |
| SCOTT PRUETT | |
| Jimmy (Vasser) got off the track and kicked up a bunch of rocks and I got through the rocks and they were still attached to the tires and when I got to the next turn, the car slid right out from under me. So I am sitting there and the next thing I know Adrian (Fernandez) comes sliding right up next to me and actually bumps into the back of my car. When I got back to the pit, the Visteon guys did a great job. We had to change skid plates, end plates on the front wing, end plates on the rear wing, check everything out, get the gravel out of everything and to salvage a fourth out of it, I am pretty pleased. [On his move to Arciero/Wells Racing in 1999] CART racing is the ultimate in musical chairs. It is the time of the year where rumors are flying and I'm glad this one has been put to rest. I am happy to announce that in 1999 I will be joining MCI, Arciero-Wells, and Toyota in its efforts. Many drivers leave a 'bad situation' in search of something better and this is not so in my case. I have thoroughly enjoyed my years with the entire Patrick Racing Team. We have made great strides together and I have grown so much as a driver. I have nothing but gratitude to Pat Patrick, Jim McGee, and my team. | |
 | LCI International Tasman Motorsports Group LCI Reynard Honda Qualified: 12th |
| TONY KANAAN | |
| It was a pretty good day. I found a better line and we were able to improve our position. I am paying for not being here before and for my little experience, but I am learning. I would like to say thanks to all my guys. We were having a bad day yesterday and we turned the situation around pretty quick. I think that is the best joy a driver can have with everyone supporting you and supporting each other. So I learned, they learned and we improved the car. | |
 | Arciero/Wells Reynard Toyota Qualified: 23rd |
| ROBBY GORDON | |
| [On Robby's replacement by Scott Pruett on the Arciero/Wells Racing team in 1999] I held an option to renew my contract with Arciero-Wells which had to be exercised by August 1. I thought it was everyone's best interests to explore other available opportunities. My relationship with Toyota, Cal Wells and Frank Arciero have been nothing short of exemplary. The Panasonic/Duskin/MCI team was able to bring Toyota its best-ever finish and best-ever qualifying in the time that we've been together. We are working to finalize our plans for the 1999 season. | |
 | Team Kool Green Reynard Honda Qualified: 6th |
| DARIO FRANCHITTI | |
| It's a tightrope and you've just got to go for it. We didn't even get the tires up to temperature before I spun off. You're not going to move up if you're sitting in the grass. I got a little bit wide on that last corner, hit the bumps the wrong way and that sent the back of the car around. As long as we can pass in the race tomorrow, we'll be okay. | |
 | Team Kool Green Reynard Honda Qualified: 17th |
| PAUL TRACY | |
| I'm driving 200% and I just can't get any more out of the car. We just don't have the setup - there's not enough grip in the car. We'll just have to try to make the car better. We'll see what we can do in tomorrow morning's warm-up and then go for it in the race. | |
 | Forsythe Player's/Indeck Reynard Mercedes Qualified: 16th |
| PATRICK CARPENTIER | |
| We were quick here in testing three weeks ago. We had a lap time of 1:40.1. If we can find that speed for tomorrow, we’ll be able to run up at the front. Tomorrow’s going to be a tough race. You have to drive hard all the time. If you can go flat out, you’ll be able to pass for position. | |
 | Tecate Beer/Quaker State Patrick Racing Reynard Ford Qualified: 9th |
| ADRIAN FERNANDEZ | |
| Scott (Pruett) was already in the sand trap and I don’t know if I hit water or oil but I spun also. [Joking] I just wanted to see if Scott was okay. It’s was difficult after losing so much time to repairs and a penalty but to end up qualifying in the top-ten is fine. But I did the best I could with the time we had. I am happy to start in the top-ten, now we just have to finish the race. | |
 | Baan Software Davis Racing Lola Ford Qualified: 27th |
| ARND MEIER | |
| We improved, but not as much as I would have liked. Still, I think we will have a good race tomorrow. It should be exciting. | |
 | Forsythe Player's-Indeck Reynard Mercedes Qualified: 8th |
| GREG MOORE | |
| It’s difficult to be in the slow qualifying session because you run into a lot of traffic. We never really got a clear run for the pole because we got blocked a couple times. I think we have a good shot at winning the race. We’ll just need to be perfect in the pits and fast on the track. | |
| PAT PATRICK | Team Owner Patrick Racing |
| I have very much enjoyed working with Scott. He is a fine young man and an outstanding driver. The work and dedication he demonstrated in helping bring Patrick Racing and the Bridgestone/Firestone program back to CART competition, and the fact that we were able to capture Bridgestone/Firestone's first victory in their return to CART, is one of the proudest moments in Scott's and my racing careers. I wish Scott the best of luck during the rest of his racing career. | |
| CAL WELLS III | Team Co-Owner Arciero/Wells Racing |
| [On the move of Scott Pruett to his team in 1999] Scott brings additional maturity and focus to our partnership with Toyota, MCI and our ever improving development program. His unique understanding of the dynamics of Champ Car racing is unequaled in the industry. He will go a long way in teaming with Max Papis to take Toyota to the front. | |