Ganassi ‘not counting chickens’

There has been only one word to describe Target/Chip Ganassi's two-car team featuring defending CART champion Juan Montoya and 1996 champion Jimmy Vasser - impressive. But team owner Chip Ganassi also realised that Menard had two cars capable to knocking his driver off the pole in Ray and Robby Gordon.

"Team Menard is a stout team," Ganassi said after his two drivers had made their qualification attempts. "We're certainly not counting our chickens yet. We're really blessed to have some great people. Every time they swing the bat, they hit it out of the park.

"In 1993 with Arie Luyendyk, we went out in the morning, and things weren't right. We went back and did a lot of work. We came back out and put it on the pole. Those guys are certainly back there working (Team Menard). They're not playing golf. It isn't four to two against the 76ers."

While Ganassi made reference to the Indiana Pacers basketball team playoff elimination of the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night, this was a whole new game to Montoya, who has yet to meet a race course he didn't excel at. Montoya actually made it look easy, as the newcomer came into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway driving with the IRL equipment and was at the top of the scoring chart until Ray knocked him off later in the day.

"I don't think it's easy, the Target Team is just a good team," Montoya said. "Target and Budweiser gave us the opportunity to do well. We've been working on the cars, and I really like them. I set it up the way I do my Champ car. I like this car. It's a really friendly car.

Montoya was able to put together four consistent laps on his qualification attempt.

"It's pretty interesting getting four laps together, very different," Montoya said. "It was very consistent with all the laps in the 223mph range. We had a bit of an understeer in Turn 1, but the car was good. We've tried a lot of things all week.

"It was something special. When you've watched this race all these years, you come here and see all the people, it's amazing. Every single fan here has been really good, and the drivers and teams also. This is a really friendly area, especially those guys, the Alley Cats."