Scott McLaughlin in the No.3 DEX Imaging Team Penske Chevrolet says that he did a big lap in Q1 and that really set the team up for the NTT P! Award at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on the streets of Nashville. McLaughlin set a fastest lap time of 01:14.6099s and speaking following the action he commented saying:
“We did a big lap in Q1 that really set us up. “Every time we’re in this printer wagon, this DEX Imaging Chevy, she’s a ripper. Really proud of that one.”
“Who knows at this place? “It’s scary how yellows can happen out of the blue, and strategy can be thrown everywhere. But we start in the No. 1 spot, and that’s the main thing. To put in pole two years in a row is unreal.”
The New Zealander went on to say:
“We did a big lap for Q1 that really set us up. This DEX Imaging printer wagon, man, every time we’re in this printer wagon DEX Imaging Chevy, she’s a ripper. I’m really proud of that one. We set it up in Q1 and had a really good run. Saved one lap, and go do the big laps when you need to do them, and I did that twice in that session I’m really proud of.”
Will Power in the No.12 Verizon 5G starts the race from seventh place and speaking following the action he commented saying:
I made a mistake in (turn) nine. We were definitely on a lap. Until nine, it was good enough to get through. Locked the front and then went all the way out to the wall down the first. Yeah, that kind of ruined it for us. You’ve got to get it on that first lap when the tires are good. That’s your only chance. We were there, made a little mistake, can’t do that.”
Is this one of those tracks where you want to start up front considering the history of this race?
“Yeah. You would expect so, but you don’t know. It could be like Toronto and go mostly green. Toronto used to be like this race. Easy to make mistakes. It doesn’t, as you’ve seen this year, sometimes it doesn’t matter where you qualify. For us on the road and street course races, we need to be in the top-six if you want to win the race. Further than that, top-four, otherwise we’re just not going to have a chance.”
Josef Newgarden in the No.2 PPG Chevrolet starts the race from 9th place. Speaking following the action, the Tennessee native commented saying:
“It’s just been okay. You know, not great. Obviously not a great session for us. So, We’ll work from the top-10 there and try to make some magic in the race. I think it’s the best thing we can do. We’ve got a great team. You never know what can happen. It’s tough to say. I think you could have a nightmare day and still win this race. That’s pretty much what’s happened the last two years. I think as soon as you predict that, it typically doesn’t go that way, but you just never know. You have to go in (to the race) with a good attitude. I think we’ve got the team to do it every time so let’s see what happens.”