TODD GORDON, crew chief, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Fusion – TELL US ABOUT THE FINAL LAPS. “I would say we were probably the lowest stressed group coming into today. The final laps there we had a good car. I felt like we could contend and execution in the pits got us to the point where we got off pit road that last fuel only stop first and we were watching it go and seeing what was happening with the 16. He was trying to make it on fuel and we weren’t sure where that was going to go but then a caution comes out and bunches everyone out and it put us in a position where we knew it was going to be restarts. With the one restart rule, we got through it with a caution coming out pretty quickly there. We survived. Just phenomenally proud of this whole Shell Pennzoil team and what they did.”
ROGER PENSKE, owner, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Fusion – THE 22 TEAM HAS SWEPT THE ROUND. TALK ABOUT THE MOMENTUM WITH THAT TEAM RIGHT NOW. “I think if we sat down prior to this round and said someone would win all three they would have said you were crazy. The execution of Todd and Joey is at the top of their game. Today, when you look at that last pit stop, it made the difference for both the 2 and 22 getting out and getting into the lead which was key. To me it is moving on to the next round. It will be tough in the next three races and our goal is to get to Homestead with both the 2 and 22. Great job and part of this is not just with who is here at the race track but the people who support us back at the shop. There are 350 people there working every day and we don’t see those folks. Our sponsors, Shell Pennzoil and no question the motor was strong today with Roush Yates and Miller Lite. We had our best game on for the last three races and we have proved it with the success we’ve had. We have been in this position before and we know how tough it is to stay on top.”
TODD GORDON CONTINUED – WHAT WAS THE PROCESS OF DECIDING ON THAT LAST RESTART TO SWITCH THE POSITIONS OF THE CARS? “Well, Joey and I talk a little about it and I let him make most of those decisions. Maybe that is a better question later. I felt like the 24 has been strong and they qualified on the pole by two-tenths so you know the 24 is really strong and didn’t really want to stack the 24 and 88 together in one lane. We knew Brad was in really good position as far as making it to the next round and we felt that splitting the Hendrick cars and ourselves up we could get a better run being the leader you get to set the restart and we took the opportunity to split those guys up.”
WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE ON THE FIRST RESTART WHEN IT WAS DECIDED IT REALLY WASN’T AN ATTEMPT? “I think you need to ask somebody in race control how that is defined. I thought it was over at that point but obviously I didn’t quite understand it as well as they do. Fortunately we got a second opportunity and did the same thing.”
ROGER PENSKE CONTINUED – ROUSH USED TO BE THE PREMIER FORD TEAM, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE RISE OF THE PENSKE ORGANIZATION AND HOW YOU HAVE BEEN PERFORMING? “I don’t know if it has been a rise or not. It is a team that has come together when Brad came on board. We found some success in 2012 and having Joey be available to come on the team and these guys have worked together. I have said it before, with Paul Wolfe and Todd both coming up through the XFINITY Series gave them confidence and also built that nucleus of people around the team. I think Roush Yates has stepped up and we thank them for that. I think our aero guys and all the people back at the shop has made a difference. Roush is a great organization and they are showing some speed now and I think when we get to the different rule package they will be right back there.”
TODD GORDON CONTINUED – THE 4 CAR KNEW IT HAD A PROBLEM AND KNEW IT COULDN’T GO ON THE RESTART. WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING FOR A GUY TO DO IN THAT SITUATION? “I don’t know what was going on there with him to be honest.”
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT YOUR DRIVER TO DO? “You have to try to maximize your opportunity to make it, right? I think if the car is still running and still capable of going you try to get everything you can out of it.”
