Ford Racing NSCS Notes & Quotes:
Quicken Loans 400 (Michigan International Speedway)
NSCS Qualifying (June 16, 2012)
CASEY MEARS, No. 13 GEICO Ford Fusion
“It was pretty bad really. We were really tight. I don’t think that is going to be very good. We were out of the throttle a lot.”
HOW ABOUT THE TIRE SITUATION? “Well, we didn’t do long enough runs because we were battling the handling on our car. We were doing short runs trying to make it better. A lot of guys were getting blisters and when you have a situation like that you have to do something and that is what they did. I think that is the right decision based on the information they were getting. It will be interesting to see how practice goes tonight.”
MARCOS AMBROSE, No. 9 Stanley Ford Fusion
“I left a little bit out there. I got greedy into turn three. The Stanley team at Richard Petty Motorsports did an outstanding job for us. This is a really great hot rod and I am proud to represent them. We get to start in the front and that is all you can ask for. We are going to try the tire change tonight and see how our car adapts to that.”
DID THE CLOUD HELP YOU? “I hope it goes away pretty soon for everyone else. This track is so fast, it is just reactions out there and my car was good. I have to be thankful for the lap I put down.”
ARIC ALMIROLA, No. 43 Medallion Ford Fusion
“We were too loose right there. We made a lot of changes between practice and qualifying and that was a lot better. The car had a lot more front turn and did a lot of things better. We just didn’t adjust quite right for how much better the car turned. We were a little loose right there but I am proud of Mike Ford and all the guys on this Medallion Financial Ford. We made big improvements there with that run.” TOMORROW IS A BIG UNKNOWN ISN’T IT? “Yeah, it is. We are going to get an hour and fifteen minutes to try to figure out all that we can figure out.”
CARL EDWARDS, No. 99 Fastenal Ford
WHAT DID YOU FEEL FROM THE COCKPIT? “First, a disclaimer about this whole thing. This has nothing to do with last season. It has nothing to do with finishing second in points. Man, this is frustrating. I think it is a fuel issue. It almost feels like there is an air leak or something in the pickup for the fuel. It is running but it acts like it is running out of fuel. I wanted to run this lap so badly. Our Fastenal Ford is really good. I told my wife before that I was going to get this pole and I wanted to be the fastest guy in NASCAR for the last 25 years. That would be very special. I am very frustrated we didn’t get to run it, but it is better now than in the race. We know this car can compete for the win and now we just have to make sure – the people asked if we can pass on this track or not but I feel like we are going to be able to pass and it is going to be good and we will have to make it happen.”
GREG BIFFLE, No. 16 3M/Salute Ford Fusion
“I think the car drove really good but I tell off of four down the front that this wind now that seems to be coming up, I didn’t feel that when I walked out tot pit road. It felt like three-quarters of the way the car was good and then lost a lot of speed. It didn’t feel like it accelerated from turn four to the start finish, like something was wrong with the motor. I got out of the car and feel this strong wind and that could have had a little to do with the lap time. I got about all I could get I think out of the car. I thought there would be more grip in one and two so I backed it down a little bit in three and four and it might have cost me.”
MATT KENSETH, No. 17 Ford EcoBoost Ford Fusion
“We just missed the balance. We were tight in our mock run yesterday and tried to make it better but we are still really tight. I am really impressed with the speed for how much I had to get out of the gas and how tight it was to still run that lap time is pretty encouraging. I was honestly going for it hoping to run for the pole today and didn’t have enough grip to do it.”
TREVOR BAYNE, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion
“It wasn’t bad. I am still shaking man that is fast out there. I wish I could have got a little more out of it but I just didn’t trust it on entry. It got a little loose on me and was more free than yesterday. Not sure if that is the track or the heat. I wish I could have drove in a little deeper. I think I could have got another tenth or so. It isn’t a bad starting spot though. We will take a top-10 here. We haven’t been at the track in a little bit so these guys are doing a great job keeping up with these full time people. It is just a good opportunity for Ford and for me to be out here on this race track. It is a cool place.”
