Dale Jarrett is preparing to make his 19th start in the Daytona 500 this Sunday. Jarrett is a three-time winner of the "Great American Race," but the 2007 edition of the event is decidedly different - the likes of which Jarrett has ever confronted. He is competing with a new organization in Michael Waltrip Racing, with a new team in the #44 UPS Toyota Team, as well as a new manufacturer. Although Jarrett is guaranteed a starting spot in the Daytona 500 through the past champion's provisional, he would prefer to race his way into the event during the Gatorade Duels.
"That's obviously a nice thing to have (past champion's provisional) but that doesn't mean we are resting on our laurels, planning to start 43rd in the Daytona 500," Jarrett said. "Even though our qualifying time doesn't reflect it we believe we have what will be a very good handling race car and one that should allow me to do the things to get in position for a good finish if not a win on Thursday and Sunday. Obviously it's asking a lot for a Toyota team to go out and win the very first race of the season, but that's why we're here and I have said several times that I want to be the first driver to deliver that win to Toyota."
Jarrett Discusses the Daytona 500
With the Shootout not going exactly as planned, does that make you more nervous for the Duels and 500?
"Well, we obviously have a starting spot for the 500 but we're not nervous. The Shootout didn't go as well as we would have liked, in regards to handling, but that backed up what we thought would happen because that car is light on downforce and light in the front in particular. So that car did exactly what the wind tunnel told us it would probably do. Obviously, if we could have built another car we would have, but while we can buy a lot of parts and pieces we can't buy time. That car was one of the first race cars we built and each one of our three teams has a car like it but we have to save our good car for the big race and we are feeling pretty good about where we are and we know we will be good in the race."
But you believe that the team learned something from the Shootout that will help in the Duels and 500?
"We felt that we learned a lot. The 500 car is quite a bit different as far as the body goes from our Shootout car. The wind tunnel shows that it's not going to run very fast by itself and that's what we saw in qualifying. But, during race conditions, it will perform pretty well. We feel like the 500 car should handle a lot better but the drafting practice on Wednesday and races on Thursday will give us a pretty good idea of what we have to work with. It should show us that the car has downforce and should get us a fuel window."
UPS Racing Team Notes of Interest:
- This Sunday's event at Daytona International Speedway is Jarrett's 19th Daytona 500.
- Jarrett is one of two drivers to have won the Daytona 500 three times. Jarrett won the Daytona 500 in 1993, 1996 and 2000.
- Jarrett is the last driver to have won the Daytona 500 and the Bud Pole for the Daytona 500 in the same year (2000).
- If Jarrett wins Sunday's event, he will be part of an exclusive four-time winner club that only contains Richard Petty, who has seven Daytona 500 wins, and Cale Yarborough, who has four 500 wins.
