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Thursday, 11 August, 2005 0:13 AM
Exclusive
Interview with Paul Tracy at MIS
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com
Paul
Tracy is being interviewed by the media at MIS.
Paul Tracy has been driving
Indy Cars with 15 years of experience. This August, at MIS in the
GFS Marketplace 400 he will become a rookie to the NASCAR circuit.
He's never driven a stock car before.
He will be driving car
#33 which is Kevin Harvick's. It's truly going to be a learning
experience for the 2003 Champ Car World Series Champion. He's raced
at MIS before in the Harrah's 500 in July 2001.
Paul Tracy said, "I'm
36 now. The window of opportunity is so small. (You have to) try
something different to keep your motivation high."
How is it going to compare
to Indy Cars? Tracy answers, "It's a decision that
you have to make. It's going to be a little different. I'm just
here to learn and have a good race."
When asked do you watch
NASCAR races on TV, he responds: "I watch all the races.
Now I realize how sensitive (NASCAR stock cars) they are."
What's the biggest difference
between Stock Cars and a Champ Car? "It’s really
a lack of tires and lack of down force that you have. A Champ Car
here is stuck to the ground and you have to under wing and double
the amount of tire. In these cars you feel like you are on top of
the track sliding a lot. The huge difference is the size of the
tire is that much smaller."
What's the biggest thing
you've learned from Kevin Harvick? Tracy reports, "He’s
got so much experience with the car that he can get in it and go
fast. He kind of set a baseline for me and we are there now. It’s
all about feeling the limit of the tire. It’s about keeping
the tire just below the limit of the tire so you don’t overcook
it out there. "
Paul Tracy's first race
at MIS was back in 1991. What does he remember about it? "I
ended with a broken leg and a scar on my knee in my first race here
at Michigan . Hopefully my first race in a Cup car will go a little
bit better than that. I’ve had a good run here. I’ve
done well here and finished second a few times. I also still hold
the qualifying record here. Hopefully things will go well. "
What would be a good
weekend for you here? Tracy answers, "Qualifying and
finishing in the top-20 and on the lead lap would be like winning
the race. I have no experience yet with anybody else that is going
to be out on the track. That’s going to be a whole different
deal as well. I haven’t even run around anyone here yet. There
are 43 other cars out there, so it will be very different."
This will be Tracy's
first time in a NASCAR race. Who will make the decision to continue
in this series or go back to the Champ car series? "I
guess you have to ask Dylan, who’s the team manager. It’s
really up to Richard and I guess he’s talked to him today
already. I’ll be ready to go next week, if he (RC) wants to
go we’ll go. "
Tracy adds, "If
we do come back here, I'll know what it's like. I've done well here."
Paul Tracy will race
in the August 21st GFS Marketplace 400 NASCAR Nextel Cup series
race at MIS. Some seats are still available. To order, go to www.mispeedway.com
or call 1-800-354-1010.
A whole weekend of racing
is planned. It all begins on Thursday with ARCA qualifying, the
ARCA 200 race on Friday, The NASCAR Busch Series Domino's Pizza
250 race which includes a concert by Sugarland and Josh Turner and
concludes with the GFS Marketplace 400 race on Sunday.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com
Paul
Tracy, a veteran Indy driver, will make his first start in the NASCAR
circuit at MIS in the GFS Marketplace 400.
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