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| Jon_Fogarty |
May 16, 2007 7:48:02 PM |
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Jon is now here and he will begin answering your questions. Thank you for staying online |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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I think I prefer starting the race. There is a lot of butterflies involved with going into Turn 1. I just want to get it over with and get the show started. I like to get going. |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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2250 is the standard weight and we're between 500 and 550 HP. There is a good amount of downforce but not a lot of stickiness on the tires. It is a great formula for tight racing. |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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Thanks! Always enjoy coming to The Glen. It is a track we are going to visit twice. We've always been quick and can't wait to be there. It's a cool circiut and really one of my favorite tracks. |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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It will be me. It's probably going to be our program for our sprint races. I will qualify and Alex will be hitting cleanup |
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SwimRacer |
May 16, 2007 7:52:20 PM |
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What is your favorite thing about The Glen? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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I think its because it's fast. The average speed is high and the caurosel is a great corner. It's picturesque and really everything you want in a road course. |
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FastDude |
May 16, 2007 7:53:35 PM |
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Nice job at VIR. What is the major difference between ALMS and Grand-Am? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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The major difference is the parity between the cars. Grand-Am's structure for their rules help keep the cars close. They are periodically checking aspects of the cars to keep them pretty even. One is more focused on competition and the other is more focused on technology. |
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kenfbell |
May 16, 2007 7:54:52 PM |
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Over the past year, the GAINSCO 99 team has consistently run up front. What do you think are the differences that make you guys succeed where other teams with great crews and better funding have not? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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That's a tough question. If it was obvious then everyone would run up front.
Personnel is a huge part and Bob Stallings did a great job with his engineer. We're pretty
consistent so we're comfortable to push hard. It's easy for us to be confident. |
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dsapoff |
May 16, 2007 7:55:50 PM |
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Being 6th in the points and 37 points out of 1st, how hard is it to catch Max and Jan. |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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It's going to be tough because I expect those guys to always run well. I'm going to have to count on them to have bad luck. It is possible and the point spread isn't too big but we're going to need to excel each week. It's going to be difficult but we're up to the challenge. |
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aradracing02 |
May 16, 2007 7:56:47 PM |
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Jon, if you weren't a road course driver , what would you be, rally driver, biker or drifter?? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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Rally actually. That was my first effort to get into racing on 4 wheels. I started on
dirt bikes when I was young in junior high. I got as far as buying a rally car for SCCA but never got past testing on back roads. My brother helped direct me to road racing. |
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tdpunkyb |
May 16, 2007 7:57:23 PM |
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What if anything do you differently to prepare to drive at the glen then other tracks? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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Nothing really specific to The Glen. There could be pretty big weather changes so the team needs to be ready for those. That's about it really. |
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Jarvis |
May 16, 2007 7:58:07 PM |
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Who'd win in a game of HORSE? You or your teammate? How about rock paper scissors? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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Alex would win HORSE because I'm horrible. I have a strategy in rock paper scissors that I feel pretty good about so I will say myself. |
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kenfbell |
May 16, 2007 7:59:36 PM |
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You guys finished 2nd at LS last year and seem confident about the track -- but as you point out there are many competitive teams. What other teams worry you most for this particular race? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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I'm thinking the Brumos Team with their shedding of 30 lbs on their car. The usual suspects, the 01, 10 and 58 cars. We really need to worry about the people in the points race especially those in front of us. |
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SportsCarStud |
May 16, 2007 8:00:41 PM |
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Hey Jon, you ran really well at The Glen last year. You feel more comfortable this time around? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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I do. That was early in my time with GAINSCO Insurance team. We are coming together as a team and I now have stuff to fall back on from last year. The track really suits my style. |
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LeadFoot26 |
May 16, 2007 8:01:50 PM |
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You had a great few years in the Atlantic Series. Think we'll ever see you in open-wheel like IndyCar or Champ Car? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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I wouldn't rule anything out. I enjoyed by time in the open-wheel and did it for a reason. But my current situation is exactly what I want. A committed owner, quick team mate and a great crew. The ability to race against the top drivers in the country is really great. I'm not looking to move anytime soon. |
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SwimRacer |
May 16, 2007 8:02:40 PM |
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Do you have any rituals or superstitions? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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I did when I raced open-wheel cars. You had an option on which side you got into. You don't have the option now since you have to get in the driver side. I usually play hackysack to keep my mind off of things before I get into the car. |
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kenfbell |
May 16, 2007 8:03:57 PM |
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What additional pressure, if any, does the new 45-minute pit rule put on you as a starting driver? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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It really doesn't add any pressure to me particularly. However it puts a lot of pressure on our engineers that are calling the plan for the race. It's the lead car's call to come in during one of the early yellows and that decision can determine how the race will unfold. Making the decision about whether or not to pit can be very difficult. |
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aradracing02 |
May 16, 2007 8:05:34 PM |
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What would you say is the hardest part of a race??? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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It's Turn 1 I guess. It's not necessarily difficult but it weighs on your mind because a lot of things can go wrong. You have to hope no one does anything dumb. You do what you can to deal with it but other than you're pretty focused. Alex might have a tougher job because he really has to work hard with worn tires and different fuel levels. |
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dsapoff |
May 16, 2007 8:06:35 PM |
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Other than The Glen, what is your favorite race track? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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I really like VIR. First time there last year and I haven't had the results and usually I have to run well to like somewhere but I really love that place. |
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Jarvis |
May 16, 2007 8:07:19 PM |
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Speaking of suits.. those are some nice Puma racing suits... |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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Yeah! Puma is a great sponsor of our team and Alex was responsible for hooking us up with them. I really like their product. |
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tdpunkyb |
May 16, 2007 8:09:13 PM |
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when did you realize that you wanted to be a racecar driver? Is there anyone that you consider your idol in racing? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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I realized I wanted to make a career in racing when I was 18. I was in college and had some other opportunities in the area I was studying but when I realized I had the talent to make racing my career I decided that was pretty cool. I really looked up to Scott Pruett and a lot of the guys that raced open-wheel. It was really patriotic to watch the Americans duke it out with the foreign drivers in open-wheel. |
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kenfbell |
May 16, 2007 8:10:36 PM |
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Grand-Am seems to be doing a lot of things right in terms of keeping the races competitive and exciting, and building a fan base. What's your prediction of where the series will be in 5 years? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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Big things in 5 years I feel. They have the right idea. The series have been around for a little while but I think the speed of growth really
surprised them. They need to keep the entertainment level where it is and keep fans interested. Take entertainment and combine it with the purer forms of sports car racing and I think you have a great thing. |
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dsapoff |
May 16, 2007 8:10:55 PM |
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Was a pleasure chatting with you and hope to see you at the autograph session or in the paddock. |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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For sure. We will always be at the autograph session. |
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FastDude |
May 16, 2007 8:12:11 PM |
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What's your favorite part of The Glen? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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On the short course, I like the whole section from the Bus Stop entering the Carousel. On the long course, the toe of the boot probably. |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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Are there anymore questions? I can stay a bit longer since I was late. |
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kenfbell |
May 16, 2007 8:14:11 PM |
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For this season, which course presents the biggest challenge? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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I think the new circuit out in Iowa is going to be a huge challenge. It's well put together but it's tiny, 41 or 42 second laps, with a lot of cars so not a lot of real estate. It's going to be tough to keep you nose clean. A pit stop at the wrong time could put you 2 laps down but doing it during a yellow could lead you to the win. Plus it will be very difficult to overtake anyone. |
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aradracing02 |
May 16, 2007 8:16:39 PM |
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well my little sister have make me a little funny question , and it that what would you do if
you're driving and suddenly you want to scratch your nose?? jaja |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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That happens and you basically have to jam your hand under you helmet and scratch it. A lot of dirt and junk gets blown around in the cars so it gets in your nose and eyes. So you just wait for a straightaway and get your hand in there. |
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SwimRacer |
May 16, 2007 8:18:09 PM |
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Did anything make you nervous when you came to The Glen last year? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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It's fast and not a lot of runoff but you get used to that pretty quickly. Running in the rain was pretty hairy coming up through the Esses. Running there in the rain was very nerve racking. We had to make up some time so I was definitely pushing hard. |
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kenfbell |
May 16, 2007 8:19:57 PM |
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You're obviously one of the best rain drivers in the series... where did you learn that skill? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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I honestly, I grew up driving on gravel and dirt. Once I had the opportunity to run in the rain in a race car I ran well so I expected to always do well. I have a background of driving sliding cars around. |
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tdpunkyb |
May 16, 2007 8:22:15 PM |
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what do you do during off season? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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The Grand-Am schedule doesn't really allow for one because Daytona is so early. I like to hunt and fish. It is nice that we have a good part of the fall. I also work to keep up with my fitness and of course all of the off season testing that we can handle. |
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dsapoff |
May 16, 2007 8:23:00 PM |
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During the off season, what do you do to pass time? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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I like not to travel. I really enjoy spending time with my family at home. |
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Jon_Fogarty |
May 16, 2007 8:24:40 PM |
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First year of racing Formula V's in the SCCA. I had a big off on Turn 1 at Thunder Hill in CA. I landed sideways and my tires dug into pretty solf earth so I ended up in a serious of cartwheels. Ended up with a concussion but luckily no broken bones. Sore back as well. |
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LeadFoot26 |
May 16, 2007 8:27:16 PM |
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What's the hardest part of driving on the Grand-Am Series? |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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The heat inside the cars is pretty brutal. The hardest part is the level of competition. There are a lot of great drivers and the cars are pretty equal. |
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dsapoff |
May 16, 2007 8:27:31 PM |
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Thanks for taking time to chat with us, and I will see you at The Glen. |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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We'll see you there. Thanks! |
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kenfbell |
May 16, 2007 8:28:32 PM |
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Good luck in qualifying and we hope to see you on the front row again... thanks for taking some time to hang out with fans. |
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Jon_Fogarty |
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Anytime. I was glad I could do it. |
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Jon_Fogarty |
May 16, 2007 8:30:54 PM |
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Thanks for the questions. Say "Hi" during the autograph session when you come to The Glen. I appreciate the questions and thanks for taking the time to learn what we do. Root for the #99
GAINSCO Insurance Racing Team. Sorry for being late so thanks for hanging around. I really appreciate everyone sticking in there. See you in June! Rain or shine we will be fast. Thanks again! |
