Sunday, July 27, 2003
(Brooklyn, MI) Through a grueling 400 miles, Dreyer and Reinbold Racing
just stuck with the plan to drive a clean race, nail solid pit stops,
and make it to the checkered flag, Sarah finished 15th after her clutch
failed late in the race.
“We started out for a great race today, and, with the attrition rate,
expected a decent finish,” said Fisher. “We rode well most of the race,
had some outstanding pit stops, but in the end the clutch bailed on us.
We anticipate, though, great things over the next few weeks, and have
our sights set on that. As well, many thanks to the continued support of
all the fans – it was a great crowd in Michigan this weekend, and that
always feeds positively back into the team performance.”
Sarah had a few words post-race for fellow driver Scott Dixon after a
couple of on track passes. “It was racing,” she said, when asked to
elaborate by ABC after the race in the paddock. We had a conversation
and he knows what I think.”
It was a good week for the new Chevy Indy V8 Gen IV engine, with Chevy
driver Sam Hornish charging for the lead from the beginning and dueling
to the end with eventual winner Alex Barron. A second team will run the
new Chevy’s at St. Louis, while the remainder of the teams will have the
Gen IV”s at Kentucky.
By: Lou Ann Baker |
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Saturday, July 26, 2003
Sarah was the fourth to
attempt to qualify. She qualified with a speed of 214.380 in the
20th position in front of Buddy
Lazier who qualified with a speed of 213.091. Teammate Robbie Buhl
qualified with a speed of 214.438 and currently sits in front of Sarah
in the lineup. Sam Hornish and his new Gen IV Chevy qualified
with a speed of 221.837 in the 4th position.
“We qualified today as best we could, and
we’ll try to use the draft tomorrow to pick up some speed,” said Fisher.
“We’ve got a great, seasoned crew in place to handle what we can
control. We’re encouraged by Gen IV’s performance so far, and we look
forward to our turn in Kentucky.”
Returning to the oval at MIS brings back great memories from last year’s
aggressive run by Fisher, who led the race in an exiting duel with
Filipe Giaffone and Thomas Scheckter 10 laps from the end. Her tires may
have been worse for their wear, but the entire MIS crowd was on its feet
anticipating history to be made.
During morning the morning practice sessions Sarah was running 19th with
a speed of 213.844. |
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Friday, July 25, 2003
Sarah was running in the 21st position during morning practice sessions
with speeds reaching 215.081. Sam Hornish Jr. and his new Chevy
engine (Gen IV) led the field with a speed of 223.618.
During afternoon practice sessions Sarah was running 215.285. |
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Pre-Race Quote
"We had a tough go of it at Nashville last weekend, not only
with areas out of our control, but as well as those that should have
been in our control. We look forward to Michigan though, to have
some variables worked out, and as well to see the new Chevrolet
engine perform under driver Sam Hornish. Still, our second-biggest
race in the schedule at a 2-mile oval track will be a challenge in
light of our history with horsepower, but we'll change gears to
focus on drafting and see where we can go with it. From there, we
have our sights set on our turn with the new engine in an upcoming
race, and we expect great things to happen." |
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Notebook |
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Flashback:
Sarah's seventh-place finish in last year's race is best finish for
a woman in open-wheel competition at MIS; also led four laps in the
event and is the only woman to lead a lap here; Janet Guthrie
finished 13th in 1976 in her only open-wheel start at track and a
third woman to compete here was Lyn St. James, with best finish of
17th in 1995.
Chevy Engine Debut: The Firestone Indy 400 will be the
debut race for the new Gen IV Chevy Indy V-8, which will be used by
Panther Racing and Sam Hornish Jr. Sarah will have her chance at the
new engine on August 17 at the Belterra Casino Indy 300 at Kentucky
Speedway
Testing At Gateway: On July 21 Sarah tested at The
Gateway International Raceway in St. Louis in preparation for the
Emerson Indy 250 on Aug. 10. "This is the first real test I've
had since the Open Test at the start of the season, so it was a real
plus for me," Fisher said. "We worked on a lot of changes to the
car, so much so that it's a totally different package that we had to
get used to a bit. When we do, we'll be more consistent going from
new tires to old, from full tanks to empty. The engine situation is
what it is until we get the new engine later in the year, so you
work on the things you can work on to get better. It was good to get
time on this track because it is so different." Sarah has
competed in two races at Gateway with a best finish of 11th |
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