THEY SAID IT ...

Compiled by Ian Tocher
Photos by Ian Tocher
9/9/03

A quick look at driver quotations in NHRA and team press releases tells the story of the 49th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals:

TOP FUEL

"No city in the world is more synonymous with auto racing than Indianapolis. As a driver, so many of my greatest experiences played out here, so there seemed no place better to introduce the book telling my personal story." -- Team owner and former Top Fuel driver Darrell Gwynn on the release of his biography, Darrell Gwynn: At Full Throttle

"I've been drag racing since I was old enough to get behind the wheel and for my entire life I've always know the U.S. Nationals as being the place to win if you're a drag racer. I know younger racers may not know it anymore as such a prestigious event, but for me, if there were ever an event I'd do anything to win, it would be Indianapolis." -- Paul Romine before qualifying expressing the sentiments of most veterans of the sport

"We have a secret weapon this weekend as we unveil not only a new paint theme but also a new chassis. We have ventured into new territory as we have partnered with a new chassis builder with this car. The new car is fresh from Attac Race Cars in Charlotte, MI, and is builder Chuck Lett's first venture into the Top Fuel field." -- Scott Weis on changes to his race team before qualifying started

"It was dark and I just didn't feel totally comfortable." -- Rookie driver Chris Vandergriff on getting loose about half-track and shutting off early in the second round of qualifying, one of his first experiences at night-time nitro racing

"He took a pretty hard hit to the head. The blowover was relatively soft, but the hit to the wall was a hard one. I know he's gonna' be sore tomorrow. The good thing is that he will be okay." -- Licensed Top Fuel driver Bob Vandergriff Jr. on his brother's accident -- the first blowover in U.S. Nationals history -- in the fourth round of qualifying

"It was a disastrous race for us. We have something wrong and we'll have trouble until we find out what it is." -- Doug Herbert after supercharger failures on all five of his qualifying attempts put him on the DNQ list

"It's just unbelievable. I made a driver's error -- a mental mistake -- at the starting line, but the Hunter's Hope angels were right there with me and it didn't cost us. I kind of revved it up and then let it off. Fortunately, I kept my cool. At the light, I hit it and away it went, straight as an arrow. I kicked myself all the way down the track, but a 49 (4.499 seconds) was the saving grace." -- David Baca after qualifying number one with a new E.T. record for Indianapolis Raceway Park

"We've made it down the track every run. I don't think there's another car that has done that. But it's not as quick as I'd like to have it. There's something going on with the car and I can't find it, we've made all sorts of adjustments. The car has made four runs all within two hundreds of a second, two 4.53s, a 4.54, and a 4.547. We've changed everything but the color." -- Crew chief Dick LaHaie after his driver, Larry Dixon, qualified 5th at 4.530 seconds