Mobil 1 Team News and Notes
Sam Hornish Jr., driver of the Penske Racing No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge Charger, has a successful track record at Auto Club Speedway. In a total of five NASCAR Cup Series starts at two-mile D-shaped oval, he has earned one top-15 and two top-20 finishes with a best result of 12th (October, 2009), to go along with two top-10 starts. In addition, Hornish has four IndyCar Series starts at ACS, with two wins (March, 2002; September, 2003) and four top-five finishes, as well as four top-10 starting positions.
Hornish has a total of 30 NASCAR Cup Series starts at speedway track venues measuring at least two miles in distance or longer. In total, he has earned two top-five and three top-10 finishes while leading a total of 50 laps at these types of circuits.
Each week Mobil 1 crew chief Travis Geisler offers fans a glimpse into car setup for each racetrack on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit at washingtonpost.com. Geisler reports that at Auto Club Speedway, the track is so big that fuel mileage becomes a priority as races have few cautions, and no one wants to risk losing a lap by pitting for gas under a green flag. Learn more at http://wapo.st/dr82D5.
On Thursday, October 7, Hornish will participate in the AAA/Stater Bros. Racefest at Auto Club Speedway, where he will sign for fans from 5:45 – 7:30 p.m. PDT. He will also be on hand to answer fan questions trackside at the Auto Club display in the DiscoverIE FanZone from 8:30 – 9 a.m. on Sunday, October 10.
Sam Hornish Jr. Quote
Does the change in weather conditions from the spring to the fall affect how teams run at Auto Club Speedway?
“The one thing about California, we tend to run well there every spring race but we seem to have some problems in the fall race. We’re trying to figure out what the difference has been; I think it has a lot to do with how temperatures affect the track with it being hotter in the fall. Hopefully we’ll get it figured out a little better this year.”
“I think our Penske cars work better when the temperatures are cooler and the tracks have more grip. The front ends generally work a little better. That’s something that we’ve continued to work on – making the front ends turn better. When it’s hotter outside and the tracks are slick, it is harder for us to get our cars tuned in.”
Crew Chief Travis Geisler Quote
What are your thoughts on this weekend’s race at Auto Club Speedway?
“Auto Club Speedway is a tough track because the speeds are very high but the track does not have a lot of banking to help the cars corner. It is very important to have a car that is comfortable getting into the corner and have good rear traction on the exit of the corner. The track has some bumps that make ride quality very important as well. We look forward to the trip out west and we hope to get the Mobil 1 Dodge up front at the end of the 400-mile race.”
