Fisher, Rice Qualify for their final race of the 2007 Season
Qualifying for the final race of the season, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing drivers, Sarah Fisher and Buddy Rice, both made their fifth qualifying attempt at ChicagoLand Speedway. Fisher will lead the duo from the 17th position while teammate Rice, will start 19th.
“We really thought we would have done better during qualifications, ” said team co-owner, Dennis Reinbold, whose team has a best start of fourth with now team co-owner, Robbie Buhl from 2001. “We have a lot of momentum from Detroit last weekend; ;and both of our drivers are happy with their cars. We’ll be ready though. ”
Both DRR drivers, along with the rest of the field, slowed during qualifications after both turned laps quicker during morning practice sessions. Rice driving the No. 15 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas was 12th quick during practice turning 126 laps with a best speed of 214.719 miles per hour. Teammate, Fisher, piloting the No. 5 AAMCO Transmissions Honda powered Dallara turned just 110 laps with a fast time of 212.953 mph. Rice stated that his car was lazy during practice—the car not dropping rev’s like it use to. His car had a bit of a push as well. Fisher, on the other hand, liked her car for most of the practice stating it was “comfortable” with freeier than normal. Scott Dixon topped the speed charts during practice with a speed of 217.380 mph and later turned a 214.217 mph lap during qualifications.
Fisher, who will marry her Crew Chief, Andy O’Gara, one week from today, was eighth out to qualify after her crew members scrambled to make a front suspension change minutes before qualifications began. She qualified with a speed of 211.116 mph giving her a Row 9 start alongside A. J. Foyt IV.
“Our qualifying run wasn’t bad, ” said Fisher, whose best start at ChicagoLand Speedway was in 2002 with a 12th place qualifying effort. “It really just helps having an amazing group of mechanics. They really busted it to get a suspension change done to go and do that time. So, I’m really thankful that they are all behind me. ”
The 2004 Indianapolis 500 champion, Rice, snagged a front row start twice in his four previous starts at ChicagoLand Speedway. For tomorrow, he’ll start in Row 10 alongside newcomer, P.J. Chesson. He went a considerable amount slower during qualifications delivering a speed of just 210.798 mph.
“Im not sure, ” said Rice, who has started on the front row twice in his four previous starts at ChicagoLand Speedway.
Obviously we were expecting a lot more than that. We’re not going as fast as the front guys, but we definitely were not expecting to slow up like that. I’ve been in the Top-10 all day, and I’ve been pretty happy with that. I know we’ve got a good race car, which is something that we haven’t had on our mile and a half and up package. We’re just not very good in qualifying right now, so we’ll see if we can sort that out. “
Dario Franchitti grabbed the AAMCO Transmissions pole award. Franchitti leads the IndyCar Series points standings by three points over Dixon.
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