Quotes of the Week
MICHAEL WALTRIP, NASCAR driver and team owner
“I think people who don’t believe Toyotas ought to race in NASCAR are the ones who still don’t understand why the North won that war they had a long time ago" – (on Toyota becoming the first-ever foreign manufacturer to compete full time in the Nextel Cup Series.)
01/28/07
DERRICK WALKER, Champ Car team co-owner, Team Australia
"The negativity expressed prior to this test is well documented by our Monday morning quarterbacks, by wise team members and media. I am sure by now that you both will have received positive reports that things here from the test are overall going well with the new car. Craig [Gore] and I want to add our congratulations to you and Jerry for having the balls to push ahead with the car project, and all our complements to all concerned who had a plan and worked through to get us to this point. Job well done to all at Champ Car, Panoz, Hewland, Cosworth and Pi. Over time this car will confirm that this new generation Champ Car was worth all the effort and commitment it took to make it happen. Cheers and congratulations gentlemen." (Comments sent to Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe regarding the new Panoz DPO1 Champ Car after being tested at Sebring)
TONY STEWART, NASCAR driver, Joe Gibbs Racing
"Oh, what a basket of junk," Stewart said. "It drives like a station wagon, an old station wagon, like an old Oldsmobile station wagon, green with wood panel trim on the sides," he added. "Granted, I know we were on harder tires than what they would run there but, boy, it didn't feel good. You know, it's like anything else, though. I'm sure the more we'll run it, the better we'll get the setups and all that." (Two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart is one of several drivers who have been openly critical of the new Car of Tomorrow Nextel Cup cars)
KEVIN HARVICK, NASCAR driver, Richard Childress Racing
"It's hard when you have what I call a deadbeat owner that doesn't come to the racetrack," Harvick said. "Richard Childress is one of the best owners in the garage. You always see Richard Childress. You always see Chip Ganassi. All these owners, they all come to the racetrack. It's not just a money pit that somebody says, 'Well, I can make money off of Dale Jr. I can make money off of Dale Earnhardt.' " Harvick, who owns a Busch Series team, said race teams can't be run from home. "You have to be at the racetrack and you have to play the politics of the sport and you have to be a part of your team and you have to understand what's going on," he said. "To me, from the outside looking in, it doesn't look like that's happening." (Commenting on Dale Earnhardt Incorporated's owner Teresa Earnhardt)
SCOTT Pruett, Grand-Am driver, TELMEX/Target Chip Ganassi Racing
"We got three cars going for it on the lead lap with a couple of hours to go with very talented drivers putting on a fantastic show," Pruett said. "That's what this is all about. When you get down to the very last stages of the race and be doing that, it says a lot about the series and the teams with the way they prep the cars and race them. This is no small feat getting everything going for this race between the people and the cars and all the preparation. It's just fantastic. I can't say enough for all the participants and everybody that came and saw it." (Commenting in Victory Circle after winning the Rolex 24)