Pocono Raceway Advance Notes
Race: Pennsylvania 400 on Sunday, August 5
Track: Pocono Raceway (2.5-mile Tri-oval)
Location: Long Pond, Pa.
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Media Contacts at Pocono Raceway
Jeff Dowling No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Allstate Chevrolet
Shayna Keller No. 42 Target Chevrolet
NOTES
Follow EGR on Twitter: Continue to follow Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (EGR) on their official team Twitter page. Find in-race updates and weekly news on the No. 1 and No. 42 teams throughout the 2012 season by following “@EGRTeams”.
EGR at Pocono: EGR has made 52 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) starts at Pocono. In those starts, EGR drivers boast four top-five and 13 top-10 finishes. EGR has completed 10,366 laps out of a possible 11,008 laps, or 94.2 percent, and has led 244 laps. Casey Mears and Jamie McMurray have earned EGR two poles, Mears in 2004 and McMurray in 2005. In three ARCA starts at Pocono, EGR has won twice with Mears in 2003.
Carrying the Torch: Chevrolet leads all manufacturers in NSCS wins at Pocono, visiting victory lane 25 times. Ford is in second-place, having won 21 races.
Goodyear Gives Back: Goodyear will donate one dollar for every tire sold at participating Goodyear dealers in the U.S. from July 1 until August 31, up to $250,000, to benefit Support Our Troops®. McMurray and Montoya, along with many other NSCS drivers signed a Goodyear tire that will be up for auction to raise funds for Support Our Troops. To bid, donate or learn more about how to support this cause click here.
There’s an App for that: Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) and SapientNitro SM recently re-launched an updated mobile application, which is one of the first for the high-velocity world of racing. The application brings fans updated driver and event information, and exclusive content in one centralized and expansive mobile experience, bringing to life the rich heritage and legendary success of CGRT. The unique mobile application conveys the high-octane rush of the racing experience for a team that competes at the highest levels in three series – NSCS, IZOD IndyCar Series and GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. Click here to visit the iTunes Application store and download the CGRT mobile app.
JAMIE MCMURRAY AND THE NO. 1 BASS PRO SHOPS TEAM
McMurray on Twitter: Catch the latest from the driver of the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Allstate Chevrolet by following McMurray’s personal Twitter account, @JamieMcMurray.
Indianapolis Recap: McMurray reported from the onset that the handling on the car was a hand-full. From the first pit stop the team would make some major adjustments to find the handle on the car, trying different strategies to gain track position. The handling on the car would make major swings from tight to loose, creating a difficult challenge for adjustments. McMurray had the Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet as high as ninth-position during the race, however in the end the team would be credited with a 22nd-place finish.
Previously at Pocono: Earlier this year at Pocono, McMurray qualified his No. 1 Banana Boat Chevrolet 11th and quickly moved up to the front of the field, where he led three times for 14 laps. McMurray would end up finishing 10th, gaining nine positions in the final 15 laps.
McMurray at Pocono: McMurray has made 19 NSCS starts at Pocono, earning four top-10 finishes. He has completed 2,566 laps out of a possible 3,674, or 97.1 percent, and has led 17 laps. McMurray’s average start is 16.9 and his average finish is 21.7. He boasts one pole, coming in 2005.
Sprinting to the Front: McMurray is ranked second in green flag passes for the last 15 NSCS races at Pocono, with 1,307 passes to his credit.
Raise Our Flag: McMurray and EGR will help support the United States Olympic Committee and their “Raise Our Flag” campaign by donating a stitch in America’s flag for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. “Raise Our Flag” is an official United States Olympic fundraising program with donations providing housing, training and equipment for the most elite athletes in America. Find more information here.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA AND THE NO. 42 TARGET TEAM
Montoya will make an announcement in the media center on Friday, Aug. 3 at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Montoya on Twitter: Catch the latest from the driver of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet by following Montoya’s personal Twitter account, @jpmontoya.
Indianapolis Recap: Montoya had his sights set on becoming the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400. The No. 42 started in the 12th position and almost immediately radioed in handling concerns. With limited cautions and long green flag runs, the Target team brought the car down pit road as much as possible for adjustments while staying within their fuel window. The Target team would settle for a 21st-place finish at the end of the day.
Earlier this Year at Pocono: In the first Pocono race of the 2012 season, Montoya started 17th and brushed the wall when the green flag flew. The 42 would travel down pit road multiple times for repairs and adjustments and, after some clever fuel strategy, would come home 17th.
Montoya at Pocono: In his NSCS career, Montoya has made 11 starts at Pocono. Montoya has one top-five and four top-10 finishes, with his highest finish being second in 2009. He has completed 1,971 laps out of a possible 2,070 laps, or 95.2 percent, and has led 46 laps. Montoya’s average start at Pocono is 15.5, while his average finish is 18.5.
Striking Gold: Nine years ago this weekend (August 3, 2003), Montoya won the Mobil 1 Grand Prix of Germany. Montoya was the class of the field, leading 66 of the 67 laps on his way to victory.
A Visit to Target House: Montoya, along with Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Dario Franchitti, will make a visit to Target house on Tuesday, Aug. 7. They will spend time with children who are undergoing treatment at St. Jude children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Created in 1962, Target House is an innovative approach to long-term housing for families with children who are currently receiving treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This unique facility enhances the quality of life for its residents, who benefit from the privacy of family apartments, as well as common areas that help families interact with one another while at Target House.
Aim for the Bullseye: Be sure to stop by Target for all your race-day supplies. Visit Target at the Pocono Commons in Stroudsburg, Pa on your way to the track this weekend. Call ahead at 570-426-1050 to make sure they have what you need.
CHASSIS INFO
No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Allstate Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1106. Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Allstate team will use Chassis #1106 for Pocono. Chassis #1106 has been raced three times this season: Bristol, finishing seventh, Charlotte for the Sprint Showdown, finishing third, and earlier at Pocono, finishing 10th. This chassis was also raced six times in 2011.
No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1119. Crew Chief Chris “Shine” Heroy and the No. 42 Target team will travel to Pocono with Chassis #1119. This chassis was used in 2011 at Charlotte, finishing 14th, and Texas finishing 18th. Chassis #1119 raced earlier this year at Fontana where it finished 17th, Texas, finishing 16th and Charlotte for the Sprint Showdown, finishing fifth.
2012 STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts
Wins
Poles
Top 5s
Top 10s
Ave Start
Ave Finish
Pts. Pos.
Jamie McMurray
20
0
0
0
3
21.4
18.8
19
Juan Pablo Montoya
20
0
0
0
2
23.8
20.4
21
CAREER STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts
Wins
Poles
Top 5s
Top 10s
Ave Start
Ave Finish
Jamie McMurray
350
6
8
41
99
19.5
19.3
Juan Pablo Montoya
201
2
7
20
51
18.2
19.6
TEAM ROSTERS
Max Jones – Team Manager
John Probst – Technical Director
No. 1 (NSCS)
Hometown
Hometown
Crew Chief: Kevin Manion
Boylston, MA
Rear Tire Changer: Jeremy Fuller
Newnan, GA
Chief Mechanic: Randall Burnett
Fenton, MO
Rear Tire Carrier: Doug Riepe
Danbury , CT
Front Tire Changer: Bryan Jacobsen
Honesdale, PA
Gas Man: Benjy Grubbs
Richmond, VA
Front Tire Carrier: Brett Morrell
Windham, ME
Jack Man: Mitch Lash
Salisbury, NC
No. 42 (NSCS)
Hometown
Hometown
Crew Chief: Chris Heroy
Angola, IN
Rear Tire Changer: Chris McMullen
Canton, MI
Chief Mechanic: David Bryant
Concord, NC
Rear Tire Carrier: Chip Goode
Statesville, NC
Front Tire Changer: Dennis Terry
Mooresboro, NC
Gas Man: Ed Watkins
Richmond, VA
Front Tire Carrier: Jake Brzozowski
N/A
Jack Man: Mark Jacobs
Fort Walton Beach, FL
About Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, Inc.
Chip Ganassi has been a fixture in the auto racing industry for over 25 years and is considered one of the most successful as well as innovative owners the sport has anywhere in the world. Today his teams include four in the IZOD IndyCar Series, two cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and one Daytona Prototype in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. Overall his teams have 14 championships and 148 victories, including four Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400 and four Rolex 24 At Daytonas. Ganassi boasts state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis and Brownsburg, Ind. and Concord, N.C., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh, Penn.
For more information log onto: www.earnhardtganassi.com
