Indy Pro Series: Chicagoland 100

Topics:  Chicagoland 100

Logan Gomez
September 9, 2007

JOLIET, ILLINOIS

MODERATOR: Thank you, Alex.
We're now joined by race winner Logan Gomez. His first career Indy Pro Series win. His previous best finish was at Nashville earlier this year. For Sam Schmidt Motorsports, it's their 22nd win in the Indy Pro Series.
Logan, give us a little run through of your run out there, today.
LOGAN GOMEZ: Well, we started fourth. And qualifying rounds went really well. We went out first in qualifying, when the track was a little, still a little hot from the sun. We went well. Qualified fourth, and started the race. We stayed out there pretty good. Moved up to second pretty early in the race and sort of stayed there behind Alex, just trying to pull away, pull a gap. And there were a few accidents. A lot of yellow flags, and as Alex and I were being caught by I believe Wade and Travis Gregg, tried going around the outside of them and then the wreck happened when I was outside of them.
I was ahead of them by probably a few feet. And for the next restart, started in the first position, and held it. And the last lap was probably the closest I've ever been to another car in an Indy car.
So it was a good race. And my teammate, Alex Lloyd, did a great job. Couldn't have asked for a better teammate or cleaner racing out there.
MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How close was that? Did you know you won? Can you try to put it in words, how close 0.0005 of a second is?
LOGAN GOMEZ: No, no, I don't even think I could describe how quick that is. Going so fast out there. Everything seemed like it was in slow motion from corner 4 on to the start/finish line. It was a matter who could straighten the wheel the quickest and who got the better run. Alex definitely gave it all he could. And I couldn't have asked more from the team just giving me a great car and it stuck on the bottom, didn't have to lift or anything.
And everybody this weekend did a great job. And for the last few races, we've really improved our game quite a bit. And it's nice to go out with a finish, on the podium in first place.

Q Did you know you won?
LOGAN GOMEZ: I was watching his left right and my right front and seeing if they lined up. As I went across the start/finish I looked ahead to make sure I didn't go below the apron. No, I didn't know.
My spotter, Davy Hamilton, who really helped me out during the race, did a great job. I guess he had the perfect view and he saw we were ahead by just a few inches, if that, and I was very pleased to hear that.

Q. Logan, before the race I stopped by and said safe race. You said "I'll see you afterwards." Did you have a premonition this is where you would be?
LOGAN GOMEZ: I've been watching how the team's been progressing and my driving. And I'm really confident on ovals now. Ovals were new to me at the beginning of this year. And we've been quick on them, thanks to Sam and his team.
But as far as racetrack and things like that, I've really been struggling. Now I feel that I'm obviously comfortable and running close. And before the race, we'd been fast all weekend. Qualifying fourth was a pretty good effort. It's the best we've qualified. From there it's down to the driver and I was pretty confident.

Q. What exactly did Davy say when he told you you won?
LOGAN GOMEZ: He said, "You got it." From corner 4 to the start/finish line he was on the radio saying, "Go, go, go!"
From that point, the mic was keyed up and you could hear everything he was saying. I could tell before he even said that I won by his emotions. I gotta thank the team because they've been really, really supportive even off the racetrack and away from the racetrack. They're more of a family to me than just a race team. It's not just a business. They really care and couldn't ask for much more.

Q. This is your first year in the Indy Pro Series, and you're so young. What have you learned? What are you taking away from this rookie year?
LOGAN GOMEZ: Definitely being young is -- you know, taking away from this rookie year, definitely a win really helps for next year and confidence going into the off season. You could get really a lot of momentum built over testing and things like that. You can go to Homestead with a full head of steam and really do well.
I feel we've been improving. I started out as a rookie, and I feel that I'm up to par with the rest of the drivers in the series. And to beat somebody with as much experience like Alex is really the notch in my belt, to say that. And he ran me clean. He's been a great teammate. If anybody has helped me, it's been Alex throughout the year, just really teaching me, and not verbally telling each other do this, do that, but just more being there and being fast everywhere.
And I've been able to sort of learn and follow him and adapt to his driving style and things like that.

Q. Does this mean any more as close as you are to home because you are so close, and have you seen your friends and family yet and what did they say?
LOGAN GOMEZ: Actually, I haven't seen my family yet. I saw the sponsors. They were excited. Like any sponsor, it's great. And being close to home it's nice. Indy and this are my two favorite races. And now this has to be my favorite. But we'll see how Indy goes next year.
Being close to home, you've got some family here and friends that I didn't even know were here are going to show up later. And it means a lot. And not having to drive home too far means a lot, too. So it should be an interesting night tonight.
MODERATOR: Congratulations, Logan.