Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Indianapolis
(Sept. 5-7)
EVENT HOME
Tickets
Event schedule
Results
Star Tracks
Audio Broadcast
Photo Galleries
Video highlights
Entry List
Preview
Budweiser Shootout
at Indianapolis
Event sponsor
49th annual |
| Saturday |
|
Fuel, Funny Car fields in history |
Qualifying for the 49th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals roared to a close with an action-packed fifth and final round Saturday. In the end, the two quickest classes in all of motorsports had successfully set the two quickest fields of all-time.
From Top Fuel leader David Baca's 4.499 to anchor Mitch King's 4.683 and Funny Car chart-topper John Force's 4.759 against final qualifier Del Worsham's 4.873, Indianapolis Raceway Park has proven to be exceptionally fast and consistent.
The movement in Pro Stock Bike was equally compelling Saturday with Angelle Savoie gamely answering an earlier challenge by new archrival Andrew Hines to retake the No. 1 spot with an improved 7.154 at 186.61 mph.
The Pro Stockers couldn't match their lone night session from Friday so Kurt Johnson's track-record 6.778 at 203 mph kept him in control.
Baca's 4.499 at 324.51 mph from Friday evening held for his first career low qualifier award, earning him $4,000 from Budweiser. The Northern California-based driver continues to run a special-edition Hunter's Hope Foundation dragster, which promotes the charity NFL great Jim Kelly created for his son.
 David Baca
|
"To get my first No. 1 qualifier at the biggest race of the year in what turns out to be the quickest field ever, all during my rookie year, not many people can say that I bet," Baca said. "I called Jim, he's at his nephew's football game, and I told him we went quicker than when he was here and that we were No. 1 still and he was fully stoked.
"I was wondering if it was going to hold. Johnny [West, crew chief] did a little experimenting today to find the limits of this racetrack. We were on a good run in the last round but were just a little too aggressive mid-track. Our numbers up until then were even better than when we ran the 4.49.
"We're pretty optimistic about tomorrow. We'll need to be on our game, but all in all, no matter what happens, it's been so great to get all this attention for Hunter's Hope."
Scott Kalitta actually improved to a 4.502 at 326.56 mph in the final round despite the fact his car's engine pushed out a head gasket around 1,000 feet. The Jesse James-sponsored pro has been extremely consistent all weekend in his first race back after a three-year layoff. By chance, Kalitta will receive a free pass into the quarterfinals due to the fact that first-round foe Clay Millican failed to return to this event after last weekend's rainout.
The other Kalitta, Mac Tools racer Doug Kalitta, finished third with a 4.511 at 317.94 mph. Budweiser pilot Kenny Bernstein streaked up to fourth with a 4.518 at 325.45 mph. Points leader Larry Dixon of Team Miller Lite was next with a 4.530 at 326 mph.
Part-timer Mitch King, who flies the colors of his family's La Kings confectionery business, needed every bit of his career-best pass of 4.683 at 312.64 mph to be a part of the quickest 16 cars ever assembled. He'll begin his quest for Indy glory against top qualifier David Baca.
Chris Vandergriff emerged unscathed from a dramatic blowover in the fourth session of Top Fuel qualifying. It was the first such accident in U.S. Nationals history. Top Fuel results
Force didn't win the 22nd annual $100,000 Budweiser Shootout, taking runner-up honors to teammate Tony Pedregon instead, but he can say his Castrol GTX High-Mileage Ford Mustang led the quickest Funny Car field of all time. Force's 4.759 at 307.72 mph spanned to Del Worsham's 4.873 at 305.91 mph to set the field.
 John Force
|
This was the fourth time this year Force has collected the $4,000 bonus check Anheuser-Busch awards to each event's low qualifier. This also marks the 116th time overall that Force will start race day as the man to beat, a total that is second only to Pro Stock legend Warren Johnson's 130 lifetime low qualifier awards.
"It's been a good weekend so far," said Force, who didn't realize he led the quickest field ever until he arrived in the pressroom. "I guess that's not too much of a surprise because the conditions were there. There are a lot of good cars in this class now and they can all run.
"Tony beat me for the Budweiser Shootout but it was just great for me to get to the finals. After that red-light in Brainerd and then sitting around for so long it was nice to go rounds. We all share the money so everyone is happy. Someone told me that our team recently went over the $1 million mark in money we've won from Budweiser. We can't thank them enough for that. It's bought my guys houses and allowed them to start families. It's a big deal for us."
Early leader Gary Scelzi of Team Oakley knew he couldn't catch Force in Saturday's heat so he worked on a raceday tune-up instead, content to stay second in the field with a 4.764 at 325 mph. His Schumacher Racing stablemate, Whit Bazemore, followed in the Matco Tools Dodge Stratus R/T with a 4.767 at 323 mph. Gary Densham (4.786) and Tommy Johnson Jr. (4.788) of nearby Avon, Ind., also had 4.7-second runs.
Advance Auto Parts Pro Cruz Pedregon was the only driver to make the field in the final day. He posted a 4.859 at 317.82 mph to move up to 14th place. Funny Car results
Nothing changed at the top of Pro Stock with Kurt Johnson securing his second successive No. 1 starting slot. The ACDelco Chevrolet Cavalier relied on his track-record 6.778 at 203.77 mph from Friday night to get the job done.
 Kurt Johnson
|
"Just being in the show at this event is a big deal," Johnson said. "There are so many good cars that slipped and didn't make it. We just took advantage of the opportunities because there are 16 cars here that could've been on the pole with a perfect run. We've been doing our homework so it feels pretty good to be on top.
"We have to make clean runs to win this thing and with a little luck we might be able to get the job done. We are continuing to learn a lot with every run and things are going in the right direction."
Reigning series and event champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. locked up the second position on the elimination ladder with a 6.785 at 204.63 mph in his Jeg's Mail Order Chevrolet Cavalier.
For the first time in 12 races, POWERade points leader Greg Anderson will start race day outside of the top two positions. The Vegas General Construction-sponsored pro is third with a 6.786 at 205.01 mph. His top speed set an IRP record, marking the 15th time this year he's reset a track mark.
Troy Coughlin didn't get any quicker Saturday and his 6.833 at 201.79 mph from Round 3 barely kept him in the field in the 16th and final position. He draws Kurt Johnson in Sunday's opening round.
The biggest movers of the day were Mopar drivers Gene Wilson and Allen Johnson, who came from out of the field to earn spots on the ladder. Wilson, the sport's 2002 Rookie of the Year, improved to eighth place with a 6.816, while Johnson scooted up to the 15th slot with a 6.832-second pass. Pro Stock results
Savoie actually lost low qualifier honors in the morning session when Andrew Hines powered his Harley-Davidson V-Rod past her Suzuki with a 7.162 at 190.65 mph, but her U.S. Army team rose to the challenge and helped her improve to a 7.154 at 186.61 mph in the final round to retake the top spot.
 Angelle Savoie
|
This is the second time Savoie has earned the No. 1 designation this year and the 33rd time in her career she's accomplished the feat. She'll receive a $1,000 bonus from K&N Filters for her efforts. Hines will settle for the second spot and the fact he has the fastest bike on the property.
"It was so important to get that No. 1 back for so many reasons," said Savoie, who has earned four straight low qualifier awards at this race. "My performance of late hasn't been anything to be proud of. The new sponsorship with the U.S. Army had me wishing I could show them they made the right choice in backing us. Until this race I haven't felt like I've done my part. We haven't won this race by any means but this is a nice step in the right direction.
"I got upset with [Hines' team] after the earlier round. They had every right to be happy but I thought their celebrating went a bit too far. It was a slap in the face. I was down there ready to pat them on the back but instead they threw it in my face. So that was another real personal reason why I wanted to get the No. 1 spot back.
"I learned a long time ago that if you want to have friends at the racetrack you need to bring them with you, but you still want to get the same respect from people that you give to them."
Atop his Mac Tools Suzuki, Shawn Gann pleased this race's title sponsor with a third-best 7.173 at 184.67 mph, which he posted in the final session. He was followed on the ladder by Star Racing's Fred Collis, who posted a 7.179 at 183.74 mph in Round 4.
POWERade points leader Geno Scali of Team Trim-Tex, who had a 7.188, and Hines' Vance & Hines Harley teammate, GT Tonglet, who had a 7.190, were the only other riders in the 7.1-second range.
Brain Schultz anchored the field with a 7.263 at 187.39 mph. He'll open Sunday's eliminations against Savoie. Pro Stock Bike results
Friday's home page
Saturday's home page (Aug. 30)
Preview