SCOTT DIXON (No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing, first):
“I think we were expecting the race to be a lot more difficult as far as the wind conditions in Turns 3 and 4 and maybe more cautions. Our team was definitely talking about a lot of cautions and making sure we saved fuel. All-in-all for me it was a pretty smooth race. We had a great car. We jumped straight to second then about 10 laps later we got Graham (Rahal) when he slid up the track a bit in Turns 3 and 4. We got out front and started saving fuel. The Target car was really good all day. We had a bit of a fumble in the pits, which dropped us back to third at one point and made it quite difficult to get past (Ryan) Briscoe. I think we were trimmed to win as they say. The car was maybe not as good as it should have been in traffic. Luckily enough, we were saving enough fuel and caught the caution that catapulted us to the front.”
HELIO CASTRONEVES (No. 3 Team Penske, second):
“That was a lot of fun. This wind was a little bit challenging, but it was the same for everyone. Team Penske did a hell of a job. Ryan (Bricoe) and I were working really well together and you can see both Team Penske cars up at the top. It’s good points. Yes, you want to win, but Scott (Dixon) did a hell of a job. Andretti Green also – it’s a good battle. Hopefully this is good preparation for the Indianapolis 500.”
TONY KANAAN (No. 11 Team 7-Eleven, third):
“Consistency is definitely the key. But we need to work a lot harder to get this car to win races. But in the meantime, we keep finishing where we need to be. Obviously, it feels good, but it’s so early in the season. It’s good momentum going to Indy. We added a lot of downforce for the race, and that actually cost me toward the end. I told my engineer that we need to be there at the end, so don’t give me a car that’s going to scare the hell out of me during the whole race. Obviously I regretted it a little in the end, but it was a good result for the team.”
RYAN BRISCOE (No. 6 Team Penske, fourth):
“It’s a solid result, but it’s really disappointing. We had the car to win, and we had the track position until we got caught out with that yellow, so it’s really unfortunate. But I’m happy to be disappointed for that reason, that’s for sure.”
DANICA PATRICK (No. 7 Motorola, fifth):
“We made some adjustments that made the car good for the race. We struggled with a little bit of understeer to start, but my guys were good in the pits, got me some front wing and they were good on the stops at the end, which is what helped me kind of jump forward and pass a couple of cars. It’s tough to pass out there, and when you get behind a couple cars, it’s even more understeer because there’s no wind in front of you. The guys did a great job, and we’re really excited to go to Indy.”
MARCO ANDRETTI (No. 26 Team Venom Energy, sixth):
“I’m happy with my sixth-place finish for the No. 26 car. We struggled a bit, but I can’t complain. We took a non-perfect car and kept it on pace with the leaders. We had a rough morning warm-up, but the Venom Energy boys worked hard all day, so we were able to turn the day around. I feel confident going into the Indy 500.”
GRAHAM RAHAL (No. 02 McDonald’s Racing Team, seventh): “We had a pretty good start. On the first lap, we pulled away. It was just Dixie (Scott Dixon) and I moving our way forward, trying to pull out a gap. I was struggling a bit in Turns 3 and 4, and that’s where I got passed the three times I was passed. Late in the race, I discovered the high line, and that’s how I got around everybody, because my car was pretty good in (Turns) 3 and 4 up top. I need to definitely think about that earlier next time. It’s a lesson learned. Having to do the splash and go there at the end for what was to be our last stop really cost us four spots, so realistically we were looking pretty good. I think the McDonald’s team has the outright speed, but we just need to make sure we have it for the whole race.” (About Dario Franchitti’s accident:) “I didn’t see that. I have no clue what happened. I’ll go talk to him, but all of a sudden I saw out of my right rear mirror the thing just went straight and I was like, ‘Whoa, what happened there?’ I signaled that I was coming into pit lane by putting two wheels over the white line, and I did it right off Turn 2, and then I came back out to the white line and ducked in. I hit the brakes once I ducked, and it was pretty late – later than I have ever hit the brakes going into a pit lane. And all of a sudden I see this flash going by and straight into the fence. With the speed he was carrying, he wasn’t going to make it anyway whether I was there or not.”
HIDEKI MUTOH (No. 27 Formula Dream, eighth):
“It was a really tough race for the Formula Dream car. We started from the 13th position and were able to move through traffic and finish seventh. I’m a little disappointed, because I think we could’ve had a top-five finish since I had a strong car. I can’t wait for the month of May to start.”
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