NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
PARTY IN THE POCONOS 400
POCONO RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
JUNE 8, 2013
TONY STEWART, NO. 14 MOBIL 1/BASS PRO SHOPS CHEVROLET SS met with media and discussed practice at Pocono, the track, team morale, and more. FULL TRANSCRIPT:
HOW WAS THE FIRST PRACTICE?
“If we could just get the weepers out of there, we would be just fine. You hit them and it’s worse than I remember them being as far as how it makes the car jump around. I about lost the car twice running through water today.”
HOW IS THE CAR OVERALL?
“It feels good. We’re still tuning on it, but it’s got a good start so far.”
ARE THE WEEPERS JUST IN TURN 3?
“Somebody said they were in (Turn) 2. I didn’t have any problems in (Turn) 2, but I felt it in (Turn) 3 for sure.”
WHAT DO THE WEEPERS FEEL LIKE?
“It’s like ice. It jumps the car around. You don’t see it. The hard part is you hit it and it makes the car jump out from underneath you. So, it’s a pretty hairy moment.”
ASIDE FROM THE WEEPERS, HOW IS THE TRACK NOW? HAS IT AGED?
“It’s getting better. The good this is that it’s lost just enough grip to where it’s making it easier to lay rubber in the race track now and a lot easier to see it. The track is in good shape. You always fight water pumping-up through the track here, so other than that it’s perfect.”
YOU HAVE BEEN FAST A JUST ABOUT EVERY TRACK WE’VE GONE TO WITH THE NEW CAR THIS YEAR. HOW IS THE SHIFTING HERE WITH THE NEW CAR?
“It hasn’t seemed to be a drama. It doesn’t upset the car to do it. So, not any dramas there.”
FOLLOWING LAST WEEK’S WIN, HOW GOOD WAS THE MOOD IN THE SHOP THIS WEEK?
“It was great. We’ve had two positive weeks in a row between the 600 and last week; and definitely momentum that we need right now. It’s hopefully quieted some of the rumors that were a big drama at the shop for us. So, getting that calmed down was as much of the problem as anything.”
WE TALKED TO (CREW CHIEF) STEVE ADDINGTON YESTERDAY. HE SAID HE WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT YOU SAID IN THE MEDIA CENTER AT DOVER. DID YOU SENSE THAT YOU HAD TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS OUT THERE IN THE MEDIA?
“Yeah, because there were media members that had started rumors that weren’t true and that were affecting; we could tell it was affecting people at the shop. So yeah, we had to do that. The bad part is we shouldn’t have to go to that stage. I mean the people that had started the rumors never came to us and said, ‘Hey, we’re hearing this. Is this a possibility or is this anywhere on the radar?’ Nobody ever came to us and asked us. So, it was pretty disappointing to have to go put somebody else’s fire out.”
STEVE ADDINGTON REALLY FELT GOOD ABOUT YOUR SUPPORT. IT MEANT A LOT TO THE ENTIRE TEAM THAT THE BOSS STOOD-UP FOR THEM.
“I’m just running out of time here, guys. We’ve got 30 minutes and I’m trying to get everything done that you guys want me to get done. But yeah, it’s good to get that hopefully behind us and now we can get back to work again and worry about stuff that we should be worrying about.”
WHAT’S CHANGED ABOUT YOUR HENDRICK RELATIONSHIP?
“Nothing. We’ve just been working hard together like we always have. That relationship hasn’t changed.”
IS THE COMMUNICATION BETTER?
“Yeah.”
Connect with Team Chevy on social media. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TeamChevy, follow us on Twitter @TeamChevy, and add +TeamChevy into your Google+ circles.
Team Chevy racing photos are available at:
About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
