Charlotte II: Sam Hornish Jr. preview

Sam Hornish Jr.:

Charlotte Motor Speedway is a track that really seems to suit you. Why do you enjoy racing there so much?

"Charlotte Motor Speedway has a lot of grip. The track doesn't change much from day to night; it just gets a little tighter. It's a place that suited me from the beginning. The first time I went there I didn't really like it, but now I feel like I know what the car needs and I always look forward to racing there. Charlotte races different than a lot of other places because the track surface is not abrasive and the tires last. The way Charlotte is paved, it handles a lot different than the other 1.5-mile tracks."

Do you feel that tire consistency has helped your performance at Charlotte Motor Speedway?

"Goodyear has been really consistent with the tire they have taken to Charlotte. They haven't had any tire failure issues so they keep bringing the same tire back. It seems like at most tracks, they bring a different tire back for the next race because someone has had problems there. Charlotte has been pretty consistent with the tire and I think that's one of the reasons why we have run the way we have there."

Crew Chief Travis Geisler:

What are your thoughts on this weekend's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway?

"The Mobil 1 Dodge team is excited to get back to Charlotte Motor Speedway and run under the lights in front of the hometown crowd. Charlotte is such a fast track and the cooler temperatures should make for plenty of grip on Saturday night. The tire that Goodyear brings to Charlotte does not lose a lot of grip during each fuel run, so the drivers can push the car pretty hard without paying a penalty at the end of the run."

-source: penske racing