Harvick OnLine: Behind-The-Hauler Chat

Behind-The-Hauler Chat With Kevin Harvick

Allstate 400 at the Brickyard,
Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Reese's Racing Monte Carlo SS, met with media to discuss winning the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard for the second time; limited practice, qualifying and starting position for Sunday's race; status of possible fourth team at Richard Childress Racing and Ron Hornaday winning at O'Reilly Raceway Park for KHI in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

WITH THE SCHEDULE CHANGES DUE TO THE RAIN, WHAT'S THE TRACK LIKE NOW THAT YOU HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO PUT SOME RUBBER DOWN ON IT?
"The track has changed a little bit from the first time we went out. But we put several laps down and I feel like our car is pretty good in race trim. We hadn't really run a whole lot in qualifying trim. We got a good draw for today. We thought it was terrible, but in the end it's going to work out okay for us."

WOULD A WIN HERE PROPEL YOU MUCH IN THE SAME WAY IT DID FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON LAST YEAR?
"We just need to be consistent. We need to get our package where it needs to be and where we want it for the Chase. If we're in contention for the win, that's all you can ask for and go from there. Anytime you win, no matter where it is, it definitely gives you momentum."

HAVING WON THE DAYTONA 500 AND THE ALL-STAR RACE THE WAY JIMMIE JOHNSON DID, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE FOLLOWING THAT SAME PATH:
"Hopefully the results turn out the same (laughs) and we can have the same ending. That would be nice but you don't just turn the page and have it all work out."

HOW WAS PRACTICE?
"We concentrated on race trim. We spent about two hours on our race trim set-up and spent the last half-hour or so in qualifying trim. We spent the majority of time in race trim."

WHAT COULD A FOURTH TEAM DO FOR YOU AND FOR RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING?
"I really don't know. I just pay a lot of attention to my team. That would be a good question for Richard. I hadn't really got into the middle of it a whole lot. (Jeff) Burton is probably a little bit more into it than I am. I don't really know where they are with a fourth team."

HAVING WON THE DAYTONA 500 AND BRICKYARD 400, CAN YOU COMPARE THE TWO?
"Winning the Daytona 500 is a big as it gets in our sport. I used to say this thing is pretty close, but there is not a whole lot that compares to winning the Daytona 500. This is obviously a big race and this is a very historic race track and everybody puts a lot of effort into running good here. But winning at Daytona is something you just can't compare to."

ARE YOU FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT YOU'LL MAKE THE CHASE?
"I don't think you can ever be really comfortable. You've got to go out and keep doing the things that you know how to do and race hard. Anything can happen. You can lose points a lot easier than you can gain them. So, until it's over, it's not over."

GIVING HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO PASS HERE, IS QUALIFYING MORE IMPORTANT AT INDY?
"Yeah, it's hard to pass here. Obviously track position is very important. You can get boxed up in traffic fairly easy and it takes some time to work your way by somebody. So it's something that you definitely want to qualify as good as you can."

DID YOU STAY UP LATE LAST NIGHT TO WATCH HORNADAY WIN THE TRUCK RACE?
"Yeah, I stayed up. That's probably why I'm so cranky today (laughs). It's fun to watch him race the thing. He won the thing on heart and that's how he races."

Click Here To Hear To Audio File Of Kevin's Behind-The-Hauler Chat