Watkins Glen: Raybestos Rookie qualifying notes

Ryan Newman in the no.12 Alltel Ford was the highest qualifying Raybeestos® Rookie.

YOU PICKED UP QUITE A BIT FROM PRACTICE. WHERE DID THE SPEED COME FROM?

"A little more confidence and a little more tape on the grill. This is the first time I've ever got to tape it up and see what all it had. It was a good run, good effort for the guys who came up here and tested with the Alltel car. We're happy to have a good qualifying run. That's important for me as a rookie to get a good starting position."

AS A RAYBESTOS ROOKIE, WHAT IS THE TOUGHEST PART OF THIS TRACK?

"Having more than four corners, I guess (laughs)."

You run one lap the tires get about the same. Today is a pretty hot day and you can feel the tires fall off as you go. It's something that you have to be really sensitive of."

YOU ARE QUALIFYING NEAR THE FRONT EVERY WEEK."

"I've got a team that does a good job and that's what it's all about. My educations sure helps a little bit, but it's those guys who put the car together at the shop and do a great job with the engines and everything else to be able to have a great run."

HOW SURPRISED WERE YOU BY THE LAP?

"I think I had a pretty good lap going there until turn 11. I got a little loose coming off but to be, hopefully, in the top-five by the end of the day would be good for us."

MATT BORLAND, CREW CHIEF, NO. 12 ALLTEL FORD:

YOU PICKED UP NEARLY A HALF-SECOND FROM PRACTICE. ARE YOU SURPRISED?

"We're pretty happy we ran that quickly. We know Ryan could do it and he was pretty happy with the car and it was just a matter of putting a lap together. He went out and got it done so we're pretty happy."

WHEN YOU CAME HERE TO TEST, DID YOU FOCUS ON QUALIFYING RUNS OR RACE RUNS?

"Primarily race stuff. Late in the afternoon on the second day we did a couple of qualifying runs but nothing too extensive."

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE'S CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 12TH .

"I was loose on entry into the esses. I started swapping ends and almost didn't make it out of the top so I know I left a lot of time on the table there. We've had to overcome a lot today with this Lowe's Monte Carlo. The second lap on the track we blew an engine, a part failure, something we never expected with the kind of engine program we have here at Hendrick Motorsports. The way the rules are shaped it really hurts us. Regardless of where we qualify we are going to have to start dead last and come up through there. Sterling (Marlin) had a little bit of trouble and he's going to start back there with us regardless of where he qualifies. I think we have a really good race car and we're going to be in really good shape on Sunday afternoon."

TALK ABOUT YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD WATKINS GLEN.

"It's a place that I love for a lot of reasons. I've run well here a lot and I think everyone knows you can go off turn one at 150 miles per hour and hit the wall and you're going to be okay. I feel safe and feel like charging hard. This is a great race track for me because I've been here in a Busch car two times, tested two years, so I've got some experience here. When I went to Sears Point I was just shooting blind. We had an okay day going.

We were going to finish in the top-10 but busted the rear gear. I think we're going to be real good if we can have a couple track position issues work our way Sunday afternoon. We should be good with the Lowe's Monte Carlo."

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