Vickers and GMAC Racing Like Vegas Odds

LAS VEGAS (Feb. 28, 2003) – On the heels of their first top-10 finish of the NASCAR Busch Series season, the GMAC Racing team heads to Las Vegas this weekend optimistic about a repeat performance of Monday’s eighth-place finish at North Carolina Speedway. For Brian Vickers, this week’s race will be just another opportunity for he and his GMAC Racing crew members to work together and continue developing their lines of communication. While happy with the team’s performance at the Rockingham, N.C., race track last week, Vickers knows it takes time for everything to begin clicking with a new team. “I’m happy with the way we finished at Rockingham despite our limited track time,” Vickers said. “The guys did a great job preparing the car and we were awesome in the pits during the race. Everything went our way. “Even though Rockingham was only our second race working together, I have to admit the lines of communication between myself and the team are further along than I thought they might be at this point and that’s really encouraging.” Along with another chance to work together, Saturday’s Sam’s Town 300 will also serve as the best opportunity the GMAC Racing team has had so far this season to assess the redesigned Monte Carlo. Teams were allowed to run the 2003 Chevrolet last week, but crew chief Lance McGrew believes Las Vegas will serve as a much better testing ground for the new body because aerodynamics are a greater factor at Las Vegas. “In the past, Chevrolets were known to get tight on the flat tracks like Las Vegas and Homestead, but the 2003 Monte Carlo has more front downforce, which should help,” he said. “Success or improvement is not going to happen overnight just because we’re running the new body style. It’s going to take a few races before we feel comfortable with the new body because we need to figure out the tendencies of the car.” Live coverage of Saturday’s Busch Series event from Las Vegas Motor Speedway can be seen live beginning at 3:30 p.m. EST on the FX television network and can be heard on PRN Radio affiliates.