Kleenex Overcomes Cautions for
Top-15 Finish
Phoenix, AZ (April 22, 2005) -
It was a night full of yellow
flags this past weekend at Phoenix
International Raceway, a problem
that all but slowed down the
Kleenex®/Scott® products team.
After a disappointing qualifying
run, the #27 ran loose and scored
a 26th place starting
position. However, a promising
racecar and driver efforts brought
the team back for a 14 place
finish.
Qualifying in the heat of the day,
with a vehicle set up for a night
race, the #27 ran loose, and was
set to start the race in the 26th
position. “Well, we may have to
make some adjustments early on
into the race,” said Green. “But
what I think it comes down to, is
that we just ran a car that’s set
up for a night race in the heat of
the day. Tonight, it should
tighten up a little. We’re
starting further back than I
expected, but the guys have once
again prepared a great racecar,
and we should have no problems
working through the pack.”
Setting the tone for the rest of
the night, two early cautions came
up during the first twenty laps of
the race. Still, despite being
slowed down by yellow flags, the
#27 had gained 5 spots to 21st
on lap 21. Shortly after, Green
mentioned that the car was running
loose on turns 3 and 4, and
adjustments needed to be made.
Lap 25, the caution was out again,
and crew chief Stewart Cooper made
the call to bring in the car and
get the car handling right, and
worry about track position later.
Receiving four fresh tires, fuel,
air adjustments, and a track bar
adjustment, David Green was back
out in 29th place when
the green flag dropped on lap 31.
Now, with better traction on the
race track Green was looking
fast. On lap 43, caution was back
out, and many other cars out in
the field came in for a pit.
Already having had its
adjustments, the #27 stayed out to
gain track position. Now, in 7th
place for the green flag on lap
48, David Green had to fight for
his top 10 position against
fresher tires.
Battling for positions to vehicles
with fresher tires, Green was in
15th on lap 67 during a
brief moment of green flag
action. Giving it everything he
had not to be a part of the next
yellow flag, Green had to drive
cautiously in order to finish this
race. On lap 76, he had lost
several more positions to 26, and
the car was still running loose.
Still, Cooper made the decision
not to pit until absolutely
necessary in order to earn good
track position.
Lap 107, Green was in 22nd
place and once again the yellow
flag waved. While many cars took
the opportunity to pit, the #27
stuck to their strategy and stayed
out. When the green flag fell on
lap 112, the Kleenex®/Scott®
products team was in 5th
place, once more competing against
fresher tires. By lap 127, Green
had fallen to 17th and
he knew it was finally time for
new tires and adjustments. Lap
129, the opportunity arose as
another caution came out. Coming
down on the track bar, and
receiving four fresh tires and
fuel, the #27 was back on the
track in 23rd place on
lap 134. Making the call not to
pit for the rest of the race,
David had the next 66 laps to
salvage a good finish. Quickly
gaining 6 spots by lap 145 to 17th,
David had to take it one lap at a
time, as the caution flag kept
waving. By lap 167, he had
fought his way up to 12th
place and knew that without fresh
tires, it was going to be
difficult earning anymore
positions. Holding his ground,
David only lost two spots over the
next 33 laps. After starting the
race 26th, Green
finished the day at an impressive
14th.
“It was a frustrating race for
us,” said Green. “From the time
we got there till the checkered
flag waved, we just never could
get our car to turn good through
the center on corners. It’s a
common problem to have at
Phoenix. We had some good track
position strategy trying to get
back into the end of the race, but
we could never implement that
because we used each stop to try
major adjustments getting our
turning better.”
Media Contact:
Stephen
Kirby
SMC 500
910-692-4600
skirby@smc500.com
