GAUGHAN REPORTS IN FROM MOTEGI - DAY 1

Source: Brendan Gaughan
Date: 11/19/1999

Day 1:
Pacific Time: 12:10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 18
Japan Time: 4:10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18
"We were the fifth-fastest in practice today, and we never tried a qualifying setup. All of the other guys put stickers on and made a qualifying run. We were just trying to get fast for the race. We ran a 36.486-second lap or 152.836 mph. I think we a shot at the pole.

"Mike Wallace was the fastest with a 35.869-second lap. Then it was Austin Cameron, Eric Norris and Scott Gaylord. Sean Woodside was 21st with a 37.452-second lap. (Woodside is the current points leader)

"Two cars hit the wall today. Kevin Richards, who won Vegas (the Gold Coast 150 in September at LVMS), and Billy Turner. Kevin hit the wall on his third lap in turn three and four. It is a really tough turn. I hit the wall there last year. Billy Turner also hit there. Eric Norris and Mike Chase both came and asked me about the turn. I guess right now I feel like I have a mental edge because I raced here last year. I think the practice times show that people who raced here last year have an edge. Austin (Cameron), Scott (Gaylord) and I all raced here last year, and we are in the top five.

"Everybody is really polite. It is really the same as last year. The fans have been coming by and asking for autographs.

"We got in at 10 p.m. last night. I woke up at 6 a.m. this morning and I feel like I am adapted to the time change. I am sure it has an affect on the guys that don’t travel so much. I guess I am use to the time change because it is not affecting me at all.

"Our hotel is pretty cool. We are staying right here at the track. It is a very neat hotel. It has great air conditioning, and the toilets are kind of neat. The beds are comfortable. Last night was the best night’s sleep I have had in a long time.

"It is a little cool right now. It is not as cold as it was last year. I think it was around 35 degrees last year. The high today was 55 degrees. It is nice and sunny.

"When we got here, I was really impressed with the way the crew packed. Everything was really neat in the container. The guys packed awesome. Everything was on wheels, and we have a spare for everything. We have spare clips, doors, fenders, transmissions, engines, complete wheel assemblies and everything else. It was all nice and neat. We were the first team to unpack everything."

For full Reports on Brendan Gaughan visit the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

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