Firestone Indy Lights: Mid-Ohio 100

Topics:  Mid-Ohio 100

Martin Plowman
August 8, 2010

LEXINGTON, OHIO

THE MODERATOR: Thank you very much.
We're now joined by our race winner, Martin Plowman. How does it feel to get your first win?
MARTIN PLOWMAN: It's just been a perfect weekend from start to finish. Every time I come to this track, I have a good feeling. I got my best result here last year, even met my girlfriend here last year, too. So there's a lot of good things about this place.
In practice we rolled off the truck and we just purely focused on qualifying and getting me up to speed on lap two and lap three. That's been one of my weaknesses this year. Michael Andretti, all credit to him, he's been working hard with me to go out and feel comfortable on the out lap and get up to speed and get the car to work.
It proved. In qualifying, the out lap was solid. Lap two, three, four went higher. I was just able to move today. That's what I've been lacking all year.
To finally get that pole was a huge breakthrough. Last night was a lot of fun, a lot of partying going on. But I was in bed by 9:00, you know. Early to rise this morning, purely focusing on today. I knew I had two or three really strong guys behind me. The only way I was going to win today was to do 40 perfect laps because Hinch, you know, he's no slouch. He knows his way around here. He's in a very strong car, too.
I was pushing crazy like all the time. I nearly came stuck on lap two. Went wide going into turn four on the back straight. Just locked up my wheels, felt the car heading for the gravel trap. I was thinking, You idiot. I nearly threw it away. After that I settled down and got into a rhythm and I kept a constant pressure on all race.
I saw Hinch in my mirrors, but I just couldn't get rid of him. When he eventually spun off with five laps to go, that was huge. I could just take it easy.
Actually the pressure was probably more on those last five laps because it was too easy to win the race and I could have thrown it away. I was probably losing focus. I just wanted to see the checkered flag and bring it home.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You're second in the points. How does that feel now?
MARTIN PLOWMAN: I mean, it's huge. Four races to go. This championship is far from over. There's still 200 points left to gain. I'm not going to give up until it's mathematically impossible.
If there's one thing I wanted to do before the end of the season was to win a race. So I've checked that. Now I want to go out and win as many as I can, enjoy it. If that brings me a championship, then so be it.
But I just can't think about points; I've just got to go out there and race for the win every time.

Q. (Question regarding Michael Andretti and the team.)
MARTIN PLOWMAN: Yeah, I mean, the whole operation is very transparent. If I have a problem, I can go to Michael, I can go to any of the teams. I ask permission, of course. I go into any one of the trailers, whether it's Ryan, Danica, anybody. I can sit in the corner of their office, listen into what they're doing.
Overall, the biggest factor is having Michael's ear. He'll come over and give his advice. The guy has won 60 odd races or however many he's won. He knows what he's doing.
THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on today's win.
MARTIN PLOWMAN: Thank you.