Quotable . . .

What drivers have to say about Saturday’s Brickyard 400, the first NASCAR race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

*

I lived about 15 or 20 miles from here out in Hendricks County. I went to Tri-West High School and graduated from there. To make history here in NASCAR is more than a dream come true. This is one of the greatest things I’ve ever done in my life. To see all these fans when you come driving down that front straightaway is just the greatest thrill ever.

--JEFF GORDON, 1993 NASCAR rookie of the year.

*

We’re not any threat to the Indy 500 at all. We’re going to come and put on our show, and there’s definitely room for us to come and do our deal and for them to do theirs. The Indy 500 will be alive and well forever, I’m sure of that. We’re just going to get a chance to come up and showcase what we do, which is quite a bit different than what they do.

--MARK MARTIN

*

As a matter of fact . . . it’s not even the same track. When you go very slowly and have time to look around, it looks the same, but when you’re out there running, you’re so busy driving and getting into the next corner, it looks very different. The car is so different, you drive it so different, it’s definitely the car that makes you feel that way.

--JOHN ANDRETTI

seven-time Indy 500 veteran now competing in NASCAR

*

When I was a rug rat I used to run around here. I always remember riding around here on a motor scooter and hanging out at the Speedway Motel and throwing baseballs in the parking lot and stuff like that. I really enjoyed coming here. I thought one day I might be able to race here, but I never thought it would be in a stock car.

--P.J. JONES,

son of 1963 Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones

*

Everybody’s going to take their side, whether they like Indy-car racing or stock car racing better. That’s normal. That’s human nature. All I can say is I love to come to the Indy 500 and watch the race. And I love watching the Coke 600. I really like being involved in it more than I do watching it. But I guess I’m a fan of both types of racing. I think it would really be neat if all the fans can get together and say, ‘Boy, this is great that we have two big races instead of one big race.’

--RUSTY WALLACE

*

It’s a pretty neat thing. I don’t know about tradition and whatever. . . . I wouldn’t want to change anything when it comes to the Indianapolis 500 and the month of May, but we can have the month of August and run the Brickyard 400 and have a great time as NASCAR.

--DALE EARNHARDT

*

This is a phenomenal happening. What’s happening here . . . has a huge impact. Not just on NASCAR, not just on Indy, but in the world of motorsports.

--DARRELL WALTRIP