Target Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard Honda
ALEX ZANARDI
I was real confidentthis afternoon. We made the car a little better this morning andthen we went out and ran into traffic. I thought it would be all right,that traffic wouldn't be a problem this afternoon, but I was wrong.I've won races when I've started even further behind. This is agood place to start, and I'm looking forward to a good daytomorrow. I think Dario and Bryan will try to get safely throughTurns One and Two, and if they don't, I'll try to take advantage.

	Shell Team Rahal Reynard Ford
BRYAN HERTA
Yesterday was really adisaster. We hit the track not knowing which way to go with ourset-up and our guess was wildly wrong. I think we were 27th afterthe morning session. I've got to give a lot of credit to Ray Leto, myengineer and the crew. They transformed the car completely andgave me a car I was comfortable with, so they deserve the creditfor what we accomplished today. I couldn't catch a clean lap onmy first set of tires. I was fortunate on the second set to get threeor four good, clean laps in a row and put in a good time.

 

	Hollywood Reynard Mercedes
MAURICIO GUGELMIN
We had a lot of understeer. Push, push, push. It's not easy to drive a car like that, especially with so many walls around. Apart from that, the car ran great. We'll keep working on the front end. It's going to be a tough race. We'll have to be very careful under braking. We just have to run consistent and solid and try to pick up places in the pits and wherever we can on the track.

	PacWest Motorola Reynard Mercedes
MARK BLUNDELL
We're struggling to find the next level of grip. We make progress in one corner and lose out in another. It's a disappointment because we've been unable to get a consistent good lap in. Our times aren't where they should be, but it's hard to assess why.

	LCI International Tasman Motorsports Group LCI Reynard Honda
TONY KANAAN
It was a pretty good day for us again. This is my best qualifying ever ona road course. I still think I could have done a little bit better, but itwas my mistake. I was trying too hard. I made a mistake on my fast lap andwe lost a couple of tenths. It feels very good to qualify at the front.We've started in the back and finished at the front. Now we are starting atthe front and we need to try to finish at the front. I think we have apretty good chance to make our first podium tomorrow.

	Team Kool Green Reynard Honda
DARIO FRANCHITTI
This morning,we were working on the race set-up so we weren't too concernedabout speed. This afternoon, we got a good time in on our first setof tires, but we flat-spotted the second set and I felt sure one ofthese guys [Herta or Zanardi] would do better than me, especiallyafter I made a rather large mistake myself. I'm quite surprised,actually, that they didn't. It was a great job by Team KOOL Green.I'm quite happy. I think our team's been confident that they coulddo the job. But [the victory at Road America] gives you that extralittle bit you need to get in front and stay there, and I feel moreconfident now, since it was at the end of 1996 that I won my lastrace.

	Team Kool Green Reynard Honda
PAUL TRACY
It was a great qualifying session for us. I had a good run on the first set of tires and that gave us a solid baseline. I had a strong lap going on the second set and then got blocked. I tried to recuperate on the next lap, but the best of the tires were gone. It's a decent starting position and it's a long race with a lot of walls and a lot of place to make mistakes. If we drive a clean race, we can be on the podium.

	Baan Software Davis Racing Lola Ford
ARND MEIER
The car was very stable for qualifying. I think we could have gone quickerhad I not had a problem with my engine on the final lap, but I'm happy I got agood run. I felt I should have done a faster time on an earlier lap, butthat was destroyed by another car that got in my way." [On winning the Budweiser Accelerator award]: I think this shows the fans how much progress we've made on the track. It'sa real nice award.

	Castrol/Degree All American Racers Team Owner
DAN GURNEY
It is with mixed emotions that we see PJ leave after seven yearswith our team. He won Toyota's and AAR'sfirst-ever 24-hour race at Daytona and helped Toyota win twoGTP Manufacturer's Championships. We appreciate his loyaltyand persistence over the last four years; he has played a vital rolein the development of the Toyota engine. He will be sincerelymissed by all of us, while at the same time, we are happy that heis going to a front running team which only underlines what wehave known for a long time, namely that he is one terrific driver.He still holds the all-time lap record at the Daytona road circuit1where he and his AAR teammates won the 24-hour race. All of uswish him the very best.