IRL: Galles/Unser season stats

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2000 Indy Racing Northern Light Post Season Re-cap

October 30, 2000

Driver: Al Unser Jr.

Car: Galles ECR Racing Tickets.com Starz Encore Superpak

Engine Manufacturer: Oldsmobile Tire Manufacturer: Firestone

Chassis Manufacturer: G-Force Engine Builder: VDS - Franz Weiss

2000 Galles ECR Racing Statistics

Laps Led 220

Laps Completed 1331

Races 8

Wins 1

Top 3 Finishes 3

Top 10 Finishes 5

Points Earned 188

Earnings $730,000

2000 Galles Racing Designated Awards

Two Time Winner - Coors Light Pit Performance Award

Two Time Winner - Firestone 1st at 100 Award

Two Time Winner - MBNA Long Distance Award

Two Time Winner - Net Race Live Lap Leader Award </pre> Rick Galles Post Season Owner Quotes

"2000 was a good year for us, but it was also a learning year. Between 1981 and 2000, Al (Unser Jr.) and I have raced together for a total of 11 years, yet we still had a learning curve to get over between Al and the team. We have been through that learning curve now.

"I really enjoyed working with Al again. He has had a very positive impact on the team. The most rewarding part of the season was that we were competitive in every race. The one area that we lacked in was finishing races. We had our share of bad luck, but I really believe you make your own luck, so we are really going to work hard on that end of it for 2001.

"The Indy Racing Northern Light Series teams have improved tremendously over the past few seasons. I think there are as many as fifteen drivers in this series that can win any race. That is a compliment to Tony George and his concept. I would also like to thank Brian Barnhart and all of the IRL officials who have worked so hard to make this series successful. Of all of the series that I have competed in, I believe our officials are the best. My hats off to them."

Al Unser Jr. Post Season Driver Quotes

(On Being Back With Galles)

"A lot has happened to both myself and the Galles team since the mid-nineties when we last raced together, and I think we all brought our experiences to the table this year. As a whole I am pleased with our season.

"We won a race in Las Vegas which was fantastic for everyone. We had accidents at both Pikes Peak and Kentucky that where out of our control and took us out of the race and the championship. That is always hard for a team to deal with, but we took it in stride and moved on.

"My team gave me an excellent car on race day at the last event at Texas that put us in a position to win the race. We led 99 laps, and it was awesome racing out there. Alan Mertens, my engineer, gave me the car I needed to race hard and lead the pack. We went out of the race on lap 155 with a broken clutch, and that was definitely heart breaking, but we know that we are in a position next year to go out and try to win every time.

"We have the right package and the right people, and that is a good feeling to have both at the end of this season and at the beginning of the 2001 season."

(On Competing in the Indy Racing Northern Light Series)

"I am truly happy to be a part of the premier oval series in America. The Indy Racing Northern Light Series is a strong series, and I just see it getting stronger. The television package next year and the tighter schedule means that more people are going to see us on television more often, and that is fantastic for our series. The racing is exciting, which makes for a great show on t.v. and in the stands. We led the most laps at Texas, but with the equipment as even as it is, the racing was still wheel to wheel. We had to fight to stay in 1st place, and my mirrors were full of Scott Goodyear, Eddie Cheever, Robbie Buhl and Buddy Lazier. It was exciting for me, and it was exciting for the fans. I am already looking forward to racing next season."