Race No. 10

Texaco Havoline 200
Elkhart Lake's Road America
Elkhart Lake, WisconsinJuly 9 - 11, 1999

	Forsythe Player's/Indeck Reynard Mercedes
GREG MOORE
This is my best result on this track, so I'm really pleased. Towards the end of the race, we had one of the fastest cars onthe track and we were really coming on strong. I think if there would havebeen a lap left we could have caught Adrian (Fernandez) and maybe gained aposition.

	Kmart/Texaco/Havoline Swift Ford
MICHAEL ANDRETTI
Everything was just really good today. The Ford engine was really greatthis weekend. Just look at the finishing order -- one, two, and three wereall Ford. That says something about the engine. This is a horsepower track.We tried not to take tires on the last stop and we thought it was going towork. But when I came out of the pits (Greg) Moore got between us and Icouldn't get up close to those guys when they were on cold tires. The tireswere still holding up but I knew I didn't have enough for them. TELL USABOUT THE FINAL PIT STOP. YOUR INITIAL PLANS WERE TO GO FOR TIRES AND THENYOU DECIDED NOT TOO. . . We figured that the only way I was going to get byChristian was to try something different. So we thought we would try to gethim when he was on cold tires and I was on warm tires but then as we were coming out of the pits Greg (Moore) got between the two of us andthat basically blew it all. It was a little disappointing. It probablywould have paid off." Christian interjects "We didn't take tires either."Andretti continued "Oh, you didn't tires either? Well then never mind! Ialmost got him on the second stop. I had a little bit of a run on him butit was not enough. It was hard to get by anyone. We were all so even. WHEN JUAN SPUN AND CONTINUED ON IT WAS NOT TOO LONG AFTER THAT HE STARTEDHAVING TROUBLE. WHEN DID YOU THINK HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE AND BEGIN TO REELHIM IN? I didn't know he spun. We were reeling him in and it would havebeen a great race at the end. He probably still had us at the end but wewere not giving up and neither was Christian. When you smell a little bloodyou have to go for it. HOW DID CHRISTIAN GET AROUND YOU? WAS HE RUNNING ADIFFERENT FUEL STRATEGY? Christian decided to lean his car out a littlebit which allowed him to go a extra lap which is basically how he managed topass me. In doing that he was coming out of the pits in front of me becauseI was coming out of the pits later on colder tires he was making up a lot oftime. So they did a better strategy there and that's how they won the race. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON JUAN NOT FINISHING IN THE POINTS? It feels good.You hate to see anyone in that position but after you have been in thatposition a few times you feel like it is just evening the score a littlebit.

	MCI Worldcom Arciero-Wells Reynard Toyota
CRISTIANO DA MATTA
I'm proud of our effort in qualifying for this race, and I'm disappointed that we did not finish. The guys worked really hard to prepare a good car for me this weekend, and they came through for me and even helped me set a record for Toyota. This makes the weekend very special, no matter how we finished. Of course, it's disappointing -- we qualified so well, and we could have had a shot at a great finish. But I don't believe in thinking about what could have happened. I think it's important to focus on Toronto and finishing with some points. [on the first-lap incident:] I'm still not too sure what happened there. I didn't get on the brakes too early or anything, but my tires locked up and I hit a slippery patch and got sideways. I'm lucky there was no damage."

	Pioneer Arciero-Wells Reynard Toyota
SCOTT PRUETT
I'm disappointed. We didn't have much of a chance to do anything today. On the first start, I was brushed on the side by another car and I went off the track. The Pioneer Electronics crew did an awesome job of cleaning up the car and getting me back out for the restart in race-ready condition. It's just a shame our day ended so early, because they guys worked really hard out there.

	Kmart/Texaco Havoline Newman/Haas Racing Swift Ford
CHRISTIAN FITTIPALDI
When westarted the race Juan (Montoya) was running really strong. I was looking athim and thought that it was going to be tough to catch him. I didn't thinkwe could match him unless he had problems. Both Mike and I were running thesame pace. At times I would brake a little late and make a small mistakeand make a little gap and then close back on him. I think all of the carsout there were running very similar. I was a little bit quicker thanMichael on the low-speed stuff and under braking but Michael was quickerthan I was on all of the high-speed stuff. The first time I passed him Ididn't manage to hold him off but the second time I did hold him off andalso managed to open up a little gap. I saw that I was closing the gap tofirst place and then something happened to Juan coming out of turn two. Atthat point I was trying my best and thought I could really close up on him.After he broke I knew all I had to do was bring my toy home and not make anymistakes in the last couple of laps. I knew I just needed to keep runningstrong because Michael just started racing yesterday and he doesn't have alot of experience! I am very happy for the team and all the sponsors thatstayed behind me through two very tough seasons and I am also happy for myparents who have given me great support through all my racing years and forFernando who also helped me a lot. WHAT WERE THE EMOTIONS LIKE AT THE ENDOF THE RACE? I was very, very happy. I have been waiting for this day forquite some time. This is even sweeter because in 1996 I had a nice racehere with Michael before my car stopped four laps from the end. But that'sracing. Sometimes you need a little bit of luck. But the same way Michaelwas a little lucky three years ago I was a little luck here today. So Iguess things turned around a little for me today. THIS YEAR YOU ALSO GOTYOUR FIRST POLE (RIO). WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS SEASON THAT HAS ALLOWED YOU TOHAVE THE SUCCESS YOU ARE HAVING? We have been going very strong allseason. We have lacked a little bit over the last two races but wedefinitely picked it up again for this race. I only made one change to thecar this morning after practice. I was very confident this morning. I toldthe guys that the car feels very good and I only wanted to change one thing.Basically the car was very competitive all week. WHEN JUAN SPUN ANDCONTINUED ON IT WAS NOT TOO LONG AFTER THAT HE STARTED HAVING TROUBLE. WHENDID YOU THINK HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE AND BEGIN TO REEL HIM IN? I saw thatJuan was having a little trouble and that I could catch him a lot underbraking. Like Michael said, when you start smelling that blood you stand onit. You keep trying to catch him and eventually try to pass him. WHAT AREYOUR THOUGHTS ON JUAN NOT FINISHING IN THE POINTS? Unfortunately sometimesit is your day and sometimes it is not. I think it was very good for theseries though. I feel sorry for Juan because I am pretty sure he would havefinished in the top-three. But all three of us who finished on the podiumhave had problems this year and fortunately it happened to him today and wewere able to make very good use of it.

	Herdez Competition Payton/Coyne Lola Ford
MICHEL JOURDAIN
I am very happy because this is my best result of the season and for thefirst time on 1999 we got some points. I hope this is the beginning of aseries of good results. In the turns that car was very good but we wererunning a little too much downforce which made it difficult to overtake. Wewere close to getting the perfect balance.

	Miller Lite Team Rahal Reynard Ford
MAX PAPIS
AFTER THE INCIDENTON THE FIRST START WHEN MEMO GIDLEY'S CAR ENDED UP GOING OVER TOP OF YOU,HOW MUCH OF THAT DID YOU SEE? I NOTICED THAT YOUR HELMET HAD MARKS ON ITAND THAT YOUR STEERING WHEEL WAS BENT. . . I didn't even see it. All Iknew was that I thought my day was over. I didn't think they should havered flagged the race. But when I saw the red flag I ran back to the pits.I have to thank the Miller crew because they did a great job of getting thebackup car ready. HOW GRATIFYING IS IT TO KNOW THAT YOU GOT A SECONDCHANCE AND WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A FIFTH PLACE? It was a goodfeeling. I think that this finish shows that we have the hunger to succeed.I thought I was out and the day was over. The engine was awesome. Ireally have to thank the Ford guys. They gave me an engine that allowed meto overtake three guys right in the beginning. We had a better setup notthan we didn't in qualifying. I think we are now back on track."

	Shell Team Rahal Reynard Ford
BRYAN HERTA
I got apretty good start on both green flags. In fact I think I got three spots onthe first lap. We were running ninth until the electronic went dead. Wefixed that on the second stop but then the suspension and steering got worsetoward the end of the race. The steering wouldn't work right and I thoughtit was best to just park the car. We will look forward to Toronto.

	Team Kool Green Reynard Honda
DARIO FRANCHITTI
The Team KOOL Green car was perfect, the fastest car out there until the mechanical problem. I think it was a turbo problem, we had a couple of misfires three or four laps before I came in. Everyone on Team KOOL Green is working hard and has been doing a super job all season. It's a real shame we're having problems beyond our control. Once our luck changes, we'll start winning races.

	Team Kool Green Reynard Honda
PAUL TRACY
I had a real lonely race. We were down on boost after the first stop. I was getting away from the guy behind, but I was unable to stay with the guy in front of me. I was getting through corners well, but not down the straights. That was hurting us, but fourth place was on the table. We were just going to try to bring the car home after the third stop. I happened to look in the mirror on the back straight and the rear wing was folded down. I was going to stay out, but CART called me in when my rear wing broke. It had collapsed. Then we couldn't get the wing off and we went down a lap

	McDonald'sForsythe Championship Racing Team Reynard Honda
TONY KANAAN
I'm happy for the result. I believe we had a car to finish in the topsix and that's what we did. The car was consistent and my guys did agood job in the pits. I didn't pass anybody which upset me a little bit,but I was running by myself and it seemed I was gaining positions everylap. Racing is about finishing and that's what we were able to do. Thisis a good start for the second half of the season.

	Tecate Beer/Quaker State Patrick Racing Reynard Ford
ADRIAN FERNANDEZ
YOU HAD AVERY EVENTFUL DAY TODAY. ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS YOU MADE CONTACT WITHFITTIPALDI AND ANDRETTI. CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH YOUR DAY? From thebeginning it was a very fast paced race. I had my own incident withChristian (Fittipaldi). Apparently coming out of turn two he pushed the pitbutton instead of the pass butting and practically stopped in front of meand I hit him pretty hard. This was before the race started. So thankfullywe changed the wing, it didn't look damaged but we changed it to be safe.From there we managed to maintain fifth place. My car was working reallywell. ON THE INCIDENT WITH ANDRETTI . . . With Michael (Andretti) my carwas working really good up into the corner and had a good run and thought Ihad a good shot at him. But when I went to brake I locked the rear wheelsand got into the back of him. Thankfully we were both able to continue.Then on my next stop I stalled it on the pits. From there I had to comeback and pass Paul (Tracy) and I then made a mistake going into one of thecorners and I locked the tires and Christian took advantage of that andpassed me on the main straight. As Michael said, this is a greataccomplishment for Ford. They have been working very hard on fuel economy,power and the driveability of the engine and they have made big progress inall of those areas. Overall it was a good day for us to come back from allthe problems we had to finish where we didn't. I am very happy to be backon the podium. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON JUAN NOT FINISHING IN THE POINTS? We have had three mechanical problems this year and those raced we couldhave finished in the top-five. Miami for example we could have finishedsecond so it just evens things out a little in the fight for thechampionship. Everyone has their share of bad fortunes.

	Tang Payton/Coyne Reynard Ford
LUIZ GARCIA JR.
Everything was going reallysmooth after he first pit stop. I was just trying to keep a good pace andnot make and mistakes. When I left the pits on the second time I first hada problem with the dash and then the gearbox started jamming. Then goinginto the carousel I couldn't get a gear I was running in neutral. Thengoing into the carousel the engine shut down. I tried to restart it but Icouldn't even get a gear to restart it. I don't know exactly what happenedbecause there are three different problems that are not really related. Itwas a very frustrating day.

	Forsythe Player's/Indeck Reynard Mercedes
PATRICK CARPENTIER
It's disappointing but now we'll focus all our attention on the race nextweek in Toronto," he remarked. "We'll come back strong for our fans and forPlayer's.

	Patrick Racing Visteon Swift Ford
P.J. JONES
The carwas not great but it was not terrible either. I had no real warning thatanything was going wrong with the brakes but when I went to apply them goinginto Canada corner the pedal went down to the bulkhead. I don't know whathappened. I went straight through the gravel trap and into the tires. Itwas not even close. There was nothing I could do. YOU STARTED 21ST ANDCHARGED UP TO TENTH. YOU HAD A SOLD RUN GOING UNTIL THE BRAKE PROBLEM. . . I was not going to win but I think we had a top-ten car. But it didn'twork out that way. I just can't buy a break these days. There is nothing Icould do."

	Team Gordon Swift Toyota
ROBBY GORDON
I had my hands full all day. We trimmed out the carbefore the race to give us more straightaway speed, but it made thecorners an adventure. There were a few close calls, but I had greatspeed on the straights and could out-brake people going in. Ourstrategy called for a smart race, and I'm especially proud of the guys.They screwed together another bulletproof car for me. Say what youwant, but we have a good record for finishing races and they deservesome credit for that. They work really hard. Can't wait for next weekwhen we run the new Toyota motor for the first time. It's a lotlighter and more nimble, from what I understand. So that should help ourcar. Who knows -- if we can keep hanging in the top 10, maybe we canpick up eight more spots on a day like today.