SOLID RUN FOR SORENSON GETS STUCK IN GEAR AT LAS VEGAS
After starting seventh, Reed Sorenson and the Target team ran solidly in the top 15 for the first 82 laps of the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 (267 laps). During a round of routine, green flag pit stops, however, the Target Dodge got stuck in third gear entering pit road. The team was forced to extend their pit stop in order to repair the transmission and to add salt to the wound, Sorenson was dinged with a pit road speeding penalty that required him to make another trip down pit road. After the unfortunate turn of events the team cycled out in 36th place, two laps down. Sorenson and crew stayed focused on gaining as many positions before the conclusion of the event, moving up to 31st before taking the checkered flag.
Had the No. 41Target team not suffered the transmission problems, it is highly possible it could’ve finished inside of the top 10, if not better. Sorenson was one of the fastest cars on the track for a majority of the race and at times he was as fast as or faster than the leader. Throughout the event Sorenson lacked overall grip, which was something most teams experienced because of the new track surface and hard tire compound. The Target team overcame a loose condition entering the corners but developed a tight condition (push) after a few air pressure adjustments. After zeroing in on the handling, crew chief Jimmy Elledge and the entire crew got Sorenson dialed in for the final laps of the event. No one will ever know where the team may have finished with a little better luck on their side, but they left Las Vegas knowing they had a contending race car.
Sorenson’s CGRFS teammates David Stremme and Juan
Pablo Montoya finished 20th and 22nd respectively. The No. 41 driver and team now stand 31st in the NEXTEL Cup driver and owner point standings.
Sorenson and the No. 41 Target team head to Atlanta Motor Speedway next for the Kobalt Tools 500. The race will be broadcast Sunday, March 18, on FOX and PRN radio (LIVE, 1:30 pm ET).
CGRFS Driver Quoteboard
REED SORENSON: “We got caught with the car in third gear on a green flag stop. The guys went under the car and popped it out. Then we got a speeding penalty. I didn’t have a gear coming to pit road so I didn’t know how fast I was going. We had a pretty decent car today. The first hundred laps we ran in the top 15 most of the time. We were OK and definitely had a top 10 race car. We were running decent lap times the entire race. The track was pretty hard to get a handle on today, but we’re not running this tire at Atlanta, so we’ll be back to a normal mile and a half track. And, I’m looking forward to racing in front of the hometown crowd next week.”
