Gordon, Loomis Brickyard 400 test quotes

JEFF GORDON/ROBBIE LOOMIS QUOTES
April 27, 2005 -- NASCAR/Goodyear Tire Test, Indianapolis Motor Speedway

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, April 28, 2005 -- Four-time Brickyard 400 winner Jeff Gordon joined fellow NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman for private Goodyear tire testing April 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in preparation for the 12th Brickyard 400 on Aug. 7. Comments from Gordon and his crew chief, Robbie Loomis, about the testing and the Brickyard 400:

JEFF GORDON (About test): "It (track) had a lot of grip, probably expected that with the new pavement. It was a Goodyear tire test, so you're kind of limited to what you can learn. A lot of it is about just trying to get Goodyear comfortable with a tire. I'm glad we got to make some laps. It was really cool, and we know it will be a lot hotter when we come back in August."

JEFF GORDON (On the Brickyard 400): "I think it's huge. One of NASCAR's biggest growth spurts was when we came here for the inaugural (race) in 1994. Ever since then, just coming back here, it's a huge for NASCAR, an incredible event that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway decided to run more than just the Indy 500 and to bring NASCAR here. The fans have supported it so much in this area and around the country. I know for me and my team this is one of the races we look forward to the most all year long." (You have a chance to get five wins this year; what do you think about that?): "I didn't think we could ever accomplish four, so anything's possible from here on out. It's a great feeling just to come here and feel the support, and have the cars we've had and the teams that we've had to be able to compete here at the level we have. Last year was probably one of the most exciting victories I've ever had; overwhelming, really, so to have four -- I don't really compare it to what Rick Mears and A.J. Foyt and those guys have done, but it's still quite an accomplishment, and we're excited that we've got years ahead to get number five." (Any sense that you'll have bragging rights if you do get five?): "We have bragging rights right now with four, as far as the NASCAR guys are concerned. But, you have a long history of the Indianapolis 500 and a fairly short history of the Brickyard and, to know we have four in that short period of time is pretty amazing, and to ever say we've had five -- and no one has ever won five races at this speedway -- would be overwhelming."

ROBBIE LOOMIS (About test): "I was a great head start for us. With the track being repaved, coming here with Goodyear, we get to work alongside them. Trying to select a tire for the race is really going to be an advantage for us, I hope, as we work for a fifth (Brickyard 400 win) for Jeff. The track has a lot of grip, as we expected. No real surprises, but I think the track will provide some really great racing, and I'm excited about that." (It's a new track, and you're coming back for a fifth win for Jeff. Any pressure in that? How will you approach it?): "Not really, we go in every week to put everything out there we can effort-wise, so when we do that, we let the results fall where they may."

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Brickyard tickets: To purchase tickets, camping or parking for the 12th Brickyard 400, contact the IMS ticket office at (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, (317) 492-6700 locally or log on to www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.

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