Drivers past and present comment on NHLR’s 100th win

Mario Andretti, NHR Driver from 1983-1994 (12 seasons, 185 starts)

"My favorite win for Newman/Haas Racing was probably my first win for them. I joined them when they were a start-up team and we had a miserable time with our first car. It was almost hopeless; that car was not supposed to win. And then it did at Elkhart Lake in 1983. The momentum changed immediately for us and we were on a mission forever. It was so much fun.

"I think Newman/Haas Racing has achieved so much success because Carl and Paul have always known the important ingredients of a team. They never spared any expense to arm themselves with the best people they could find to operate the team. That's their secret and it should be an example for anyone to follow."

Michael Andretti, NHR Driver from 1989-1992, 1995-2000 (10 seasons, 173 starts)

"I believe the reason Newman/Haas Racing has been successful over the years is because Carl has a knack for putting the right people in the right positions. My favorite win was at Laguna Seca in 1991 because I not only won the race but also the championship and I shared the podium with my father. My time at Newman/Haas Racing was some of the best years of my career and I can look back and say that Carl and Paul were not just employers, but also friends."

Nigel Mansell, NHR Driver from 1993-1994 (2 seasons, 31 starts)
"What a fantastic achievement and I feel very proud and privileged that I contributed to some race wins. It is a wonderful team with Carl Haas and Paul Newman and I congratulate them wholeheartedly on their 100th win and wish them continued future success. Rosanne, myself and the family send our heartiest best wishes to Paul, Carl, Berni and the team."

Paul Tracy, NHR Driver in 1995 (1 season, 17 starts)

"For me, both of my wins were very special. Winning in Australia, which is very difficult to do, nobody's ever done it twice so to win there is obviously very special. Also to win in Milwaukee was very special to me because that's really a home race for Newman/Haas. All the guys and the crew members and their families were there so it was great. And that has been a really good track for me too so I would say it's kind of a toss up as to which one was my favorite win with Newman/Haas but I would probably say Milwaukee because all the crew's family were there. Their brothers, sisters and mom's were there so that made it a lot of fun.

"I think the team has had so much success because Carl maintains the same people, the same core group of guys, and have continuity and not have what I would call 'burnout syndrome' where guys get tired and don't want to be there and they want to go do something else and then come back. The guys at Newman/Haas are very motivated to win; winning is their key focus and they've been able to do that for a long period of time. I'm still friendly now with everyone that was on the crew and its 12 years down the road. They still have the same core group of guys that were there when I drove and they were a lot of fun to work with."

Christian Fittipaldi, NHR Driver 1996-2002 (7 seasons, 117 starts)

"My favorite win with Newman/Haas was at Road America (1999). It was a perfect weekend – a Hollywood-type weekend. It was our home race, all of our sponsors were there as well as family of the team members and we finished 1-2 with Michael. It couldn't have been better. Everyone was really happy because, with all honesty we had the opportunity to win before but it hadn't happened. It was overdue so it was a big relief and everyone was really happy and celebrating. It was nice to do it with everyone there. One of my best memories was one to two hours after the podium when I was celebrating with Carl and Berni (Bernadette Haas) and the team. Everyone was so happy and partying. My other win was in Fontana and the purse was $1 million but Road America is still my favorite.

"There are a lot of good things about the team but one of the strongest aspects is there are lot of loyal people that work for Carl. He hires very, very good people. Everyone is competent at the shop from the office staff to the race shop — everyone who works for him. I was proud to be part of Newman/Haas Racing, so proud they hired me.

"Obviously there were some heated and stressful times over the years when I drove for the team but my relationship with Carl, Paul, Berni and everyone was as good as it gets. With Carl, our word, going both ways, was more important than a piece of signed paper. Carl was very supportive after my accident in Australia and I will never forget that. We created a good bond. That's why the good people stay there — the loyalty."

Cristiano da Matta, NHR Driver from 2001-2002 (2 seasons, 39 starts)

"My favorite win with Newman/Haas Racing was the one in Miami in 2002 that gave me the Champ Car title that year. It was a very special day for me, something I had in mind since I was so young that I don't even remember how old I was. The race was difficult on the physical side because of the Miami heat and dehydration. It was hard also because it was a small, narrow circuit. But the fun part was that the team proved to me again that they were the top guys. We had an awesome car, pit stops and strategy. We started sixth but with every guy doing his job perfectly soon we were leading the race and we won the race and the championship with three races to go. The party was great because Chevron rented a boat for us and we partied a lot because there was a lot for us to celebrate. After the boat party there was another party in a disco in Miami. Newman/Haas Racing celebrates every time they win a race. The team is all made of real racers and all the guys take it very serious and fun at the same time because everyone is doing what they love. I've learned that I got along so well with the team because in my mind I was at home in Newman/Haas.
"The main reason why I think the team has been so successful over its time is because from letter A to Z the team is made of racers. When you like something so much it means that you do things with more focus and more dedicated and it makes you do things in a better way than what you normally do. The crew, engineers, bosses everyone works with their heart and with a passion for racing and I believe that gives the team something special.

"From my point of view it's even difficult to talk about the Newman/Haas team. Difficult because I am so in love with the team and the time I spent with them that was so good and successful that when I think about it I have only great things to say. And its no joke I really think Newman/Haas Racing is on a different level if compared to the other teams. I know that there are lots of good teams out there but Newman/Haas is on another level. I would like to congratulate everyone at the team for these number of wins and I know that if you guys keep working the same way you always work there are many more to come. Regards to everyone!"

Bruno Junqueira, NHR Driver from 2003-2006 (4 seasons, 48 starts)

"Newman/Haas Racing is the best team I ever drove for. The key to success is having the same people around for a long time. Everybody knows each other and works as a family. Carl and Paul are there for the love of winning races. I am glad that I could give Newman/Haas Racing some good results. My favorite win with Newman/Haas was in Australia in 2004. That is a great race and after being so close to winning it the two previous years, it was nice to do it for myself and the team."

Sebastien Bourdais, NHR Driver from 2003-2006, NHLR from 2007 (5th season)

PRIOR TO THE 100TH WIN:

"There are a whole lot of extremely famous names on the list before me and I'm proud to have contributed my share of wins. Back in 2003 when I arrived I surely did not expect to score so many wins or be so successful at Newman/Haas. It takes a lot of talent and consistency from management and the team to achieve so much. At the beginning I didn't know what to expect but I got much more than a team out of it – I got a second family. It's awesome to share so much on track and off."

Oriol Servia, NHR Driver in 2005 (11 of 13 races for injured Junqueira)

"I must say I believe we are in this business because in one way or another we are all attracted to one thing, winning! As the numbers show, at Newman/Haas they are the masters at it. It is a team that not only wins, but they do it in the classiest way. They beat the competition by looking at them straight in the eye and just proving that day after day they can do a better job than the rest. They have been in this business for a long time and they have learned that to win it takes a lot of things going your way and they make sure they make that happen. They hire the best people, they keep them together, they work harder than anybody and, most importantly, they are able to keep that healthy competitive spirit that no one can buy or artificially create. That is what makes a group of people achieve extraordinary results.

"It makes me proud to say that I have been part of that special group. Winning with them meant a lot to me. Now it means even more when I think I have helped them build up that amazing number of 100 victories. 100 wins is such a major number that in any sport and discipline it imposes huge respect. Whoever is responsible for it should be awarded with an all-time gold star medal in the sport. In this case without a doubt, Carl and Paul are the ones that have inspired and directed the team to be what it is today and keep that magical spirit that Newman/Haas has. No doubt that number will keep growing