Las Vegas II: Tony Pedregon preview

* With only two races left to complete the 2005NHRA Drag Racing Series season, Q Racing Nitro Funny Car driver Tony Pedregon heads to Las Vegas to compete in the fifth annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals. The 2003 Funny Car champion is focused and ready for the second race of the year at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"It is important for Q Racing to finish the season strong," said Pedregon. "We'd like to stay the course we're on since winning in Reading, (Pa.), and bring another victory to Q before the year is over. 'The Strip' is a high horsepower track and it's a facility with a lot of personal history.

"Also, at this time of the year, the climatic conditions seem to cooperate and cars perform better. I believe we have all the necessary factors to be successful this weekend."

* Tan solo quedan dos carreras para completar la temporada de la NHRA Drag Racing Series del 2005 y Tony Pedregon, el piloto de Q Racing, se dirige a Las Vegas para competir en el quinto campeonato anual de los ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals. El campeon de Funny Car del 2003 esta listo y concentrado en la segunda carrera del año en The Strip At Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"Es importante para Q Racing que terminemos la temporada con fuerza", dijo Pedregon. "Nos gustaria mantener el rumbo que llevamos desde que ganamos en Reading, Pa., y conseguir otra victoria para Q antes de que termine el año. 'The Strip' es un circuito de alto calibre con mucha personal.

"Tambien, en esta epoca del año, las condiciones climaticas son buenas y los autos corren bien cuando el tiempo refresca. Pienso que tenemos todos los factores necesarios para salir victoriosos este fin de semana".

* In 2003, Tony Pedregon sealed his 2003 Funny Car championship during the fall race at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. During that race, Pedregon qualified No.1 and claimed the track elapsed time record at 4.753 seconds. Pedregon was also the runner up in 2002 and took the No.1 qualifier in 2004.

Pedregon talked about what was going through his mind during the 2003 race in Las Vegas that wrapped up that year's championship on his favor.

"In this sport, experience is extremely valuable. In 2002, I had got very close (to winning the championship), and now I wanted to do everything better. The way I approached the race was not to get caught up in the magnitude of the event --which is a natural response under those circumstances- and just do my best as a driver, stay focused and be a professional. At the end of the day, I was going home with the trophy. I believe that mental attitude helped me prevail.

"I haven't changed, I'm only more experienced and I feel I haven't even reached my prime yet."

* En el 2003, Tony Pedregon sello su campeonato de Funny Car durante la carrera otoñal en The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Durante esa carrera, Pedregon tambien se califico en el primer lugar y consiguio batir el record del circuito con un pase de 4.753 segundos. Pedregon tambien ha sido el semifinalista en el 2002 y se califico el primero en el 2004.

Pedregon nos habla sobre lo que se le pasaba por la cabeza durante la carrera que sello el campeonato del 2003 en su favor en Las Vegas.

"En este deporte, la experiencia es invaluable. En el 2002, estuve muy cerca (de ganar el campeonato), y ahora lo queria hacer todo todavia major. La forma en que me enfrente a la carrera fue no dejarme enredar en la magnitud del evento --lo cual es una respuesta natural bajo esas circunstancias- y simplemente ser el mejor piloto possible, estar concentrado y ser un profesional. Al terminar el dia, me lleve el trofeo a casa y fue esa actitud mental la que me ayudo a prevalecer.

* Besides the victory in Reading, Pa., and setting a second best elapsed time in the Funny Car category (4.680 seconds) in Joliet, Ill., Pedregon has qualified in the number one position in Pomona, Calif. and Chandler, Ariz. He also broke the elapsed time record at Pomona Raceway with a 4.681-second pass at 323.35 mph. In Chandler, Ariz., Pedregon broke Firebird International Raceway's elapsed time record at 4.703 seconds.

At Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., Pedregon wrapped up a third No. 1 qualifier, and set a new elapsed-time track record with 4.759 seconds. Pedregon heads to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway 9th in POWERade Funny Car points with 1089.

* Ademas de la victoria en Reading, Pa., y conseguir el segundo mejor tiempo en la categoria de Funny Car (4.680 segundos) en Joliet, Ill., Pedregon se ha clasificado en la posicion numero uno en Pomona 1, Calif. y Chandler, Ariz. Tambien ha batido el record de tiempo en el Pomona Raceway con 4.681 segundos a 323.35 mph. Y el del Firebird International Raceway en Chandler, Ariz. con un tiempo de 4.703 segundos.

En el Infineon Raceway en Sonoma, Calif., Pedregon consiguio su tercera clasificatoria del año en primer lugar y batio el record del circuito con 4.759 segundos. Pedregon se dirige al The Strip At Las Vegas Motor Speedway en la posicion novena del POWERade Funny Car con 1089 puntos.

-PedregonRacing.com-