Infiniti Pro Series: Homestead-Miami 100 |
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Topics: Homestead-Miami 100
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Mishael Abbott
Jaime Camara
Travis Gregg
Jon Herb
March 6, 2005
HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA
THE MODERATOR: We've been joined today by our second, third place drivers and also Mishael Abbott, our local driver. Joining us today is Jaime Camara, who finished second in the event today. Also Jon Herb, who finished third, and Mishael Abbott, who is from Coral Springs here in Florida right up the road. She finished eighth today. Jaime, take us through those last three laps where you and Travis were battling for the lead.
JAIME CAMARA: Travis was very fast from the beginning till the end of the race. I was trying to work on a best line to make a move on him on the last three laps. His car was good on all the lines, you know, and our cars are pretty much the same. I tried to force him down and maybe the low line was not good for him, but it was good for him. He was fast. I couldn't make the move. I tried, but I couldn't.
THE MODERATOR: Jon, this is a great start. A third-place finish for your team this year. What are your expectations for the rest of the season?
JON HERB: I think this is about what we expected, at least out here. I mean, obviously the Schmidt team has been strong, has a history of winning races and championships. That's the team to beat out here. Finishing behind them is a good start. But, you know, we're not I think going to sit and be happy with that. It's time to move on and try and work on the next one. A good start for us. Obviously, we didn't have the speed those guys had. We're going to have to go back and work on it so we can come back and deserve it next time we get back up there.
THE MODERATOR: Mishael Abbott is from Coral Springs, eighth place finish today which is great. You're making history today by being the first female to participate in the Menards Infiniti Pro Series. Talk about your first race.
MISHAEL ABBOTT: My first race was extremely exciting. Going into turn one, being up front with all the cars out there. The team was great. We've got a little bit of work to do running in some traffic. Being close to home is great. We accomplished our goal, which was to finish all the laps out there. So we're really happy.
THE MODERATOR: Congratulations and thanks for coming in. We'll go ahead and get started with our winner, Travis Gregg. Travis is the winner of today's Miami 100. Travis, your fourth start and your first win, I think the seventh win overall for Sam Schmidt Motorsports. Obviously, battling with your teammate there at the end, just take us through those last three laps.
TRAVIS GREGG: I was trying to protect, you know, the bottom line. Jaime was quicker on top, I'd let him go around. We worked together the whole race to develop a slight lead, you know, try to break ourselves away from the pack, and it worked. The last three laps, that's best man for himself.
THE MODERATOR: Let's go ahead and get some questions.
Q. Last year you had kind of a similar start at Kentucky, started up front, and you just didn't take the win. Did any of that enter your mind today?
TRAVIS GREGG: Well, that was my first race also, and I had a little bit more experience with me today on the track. I think that's what, you know, helped me out today. So I was just focused on what I was doing to get the job done.
Q. This is obviously a great start for the season, especially with you and your teammate running so strong and dominant the whole day. What can we expect from Sam Schmidt Motorsports this year?
TRAVIS GREGG: You'll expect to see us up front, I'm sure of that. You know, we have a great team. It's exciting with Lucas Oil joining on board, to have them a part of it. I'm real excited.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you for coming in. Congratulations.
TRAVIS GREGG: Thank you.