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Jeff Arend was unable to complete a lap under power on Sunday, but his 4.754 from Friday night was in no danger, as the sun continually cooked the racing surface and kept the best E.T.s in the mid-4.80s. For the first time in his career, Arend will enter a race from the No. 1 spot.
The accomplishment also marked the first time the Checker, Schuck's, Kragen blue car has ever qualified at the top of the field. Worsham Racing expanded to two cars in 2000, and the blue CSK Chevy has been driven by Frank Pedregon, Johnny Gray, Phil Burkart, and Arend.
"We had some issues with dropped cylinders in the heat today, but we're still pumped up about being number one," Arend said. "Back on Friday night, when I got to go meet the media after the session, I was joking around and saying I'd like to come back all weekend, and so far I've been up there three times, as the number one guy after all three days of qualifying. When the number held after last night's session, we all pretty much knew it was untouchable in the heat today, but you never allow yourself to look ahead or take anything for granted out here.
"Once we made the last run, dropped cylinder and all, I knew this one dream had really come true, and that I was actually the number one qualifier for the first time. The fact it happened at Indy, at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, just takes it to another level and makes it even cooler for all of us. Without a doubt, the big dream includes four round wins on Monday, but we'll take that one step at a time, just like we did during qualifying. It's supposed to be the hottest day of the event, so we'll have to fix this problem with the dropped cylinders, but we also feel very confident we can get the car from A to B without smoking the tires, and that will be the key tomorrow."
Arend will face Jon Capps in round one.
AREND STAYS ATOP THE FIELD IN SUN-DRENCHED INDY
Jeff Arend was unable to complete a lap under power on Sunday, but his 4.754 from Friday night was in no danger, as the sun continually cooked the racing surface and kept the best E.T.s in the mid-4.80s. For the first time in his career, Arend will enter a race from the No. 1 spot.
The accomplishment also marked the first time the Checker, Schuck's, Kragen blue car has ever qualified at the top of the field. Worsham Racing expanded to two cars in 2000, and the blue CSK Chevy has been driven by Frank Pedregon, Johnny Gray, Phil Burkart, and Arend.
"We had some issues with dropped cylinders in the heat today, but we're still pumped up about being number one," Arend said. "Back on Friday night, when I got to go meet the media after the session, I was joking around and saying I'd like to come back all weekend, and so far I've been up there three times, as the number one guy after all three days of qualifying. When the number held after last night's session, we all pretty much knew it was untouchable in the heat today, but you never allow yourself to look ahead or take anything for granted out here.
"Once we made the last run, dropped cylinder and all, I knew this one dream had really come true, and that I was actually the number one qualifier for the first time. The fact it happened at Indy, at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, just takes it to another level and makes it even cooler for all of us. Without a doubt, the big dream includes four round wins on Monday, but we'll take that one step at a time, just like we did during qualifying. It's supposed to be the hottest day of the event, so we'll have to fix this problem with the dropped cylinders, but we also feel very confident we can get the car from A to B without smoking the tires, and that will be the key tomorrow."
Arend will face Jon Capps in round one.
