Buddy Rice Last Quotations

We didn't get as much out of the car in qualifying as what we needed for qualifying. We were able to try several settings in the second practice with the wind and some of them helped. We want to be prepared for any kind of conditions in the race. Last year, we had some trouble early, but that was a freak deal. This year is a whole another year. Now we'll be ready for the race. We were able to run some race setup in practice with full tanks. I was pleased with the car in that configuration. We just couldn't get the speed for qualifying. Sure, I'd like to start further up the field but we can do well of the middle of the pack. The race is much different than qualifying.

Nobody in the paddock was happier to see last season end than I. I worked hard this off season and I am really looking forward to 2006. I am optimistic that this is going to be a big year for us. There is a lot of similarity between this year and 2004 in that a lot of people are overlooking us heading into the season. I think we will surprise a few of the so called experts.

The track was really slick and dirty this morning. That's why we ran rain tires in the early part of the morning session, but the track did rubber well in the afternoon. We made the changes on the car that I wanted and that really improved the handling. The track is a little bumpy than last year, but we can deal with that. I'm a little upset because what always happens on the a street course happened on the last lap. I felt I was on a 63 flat (seconds) lap and the yellow came out and we didn't the lap in. That seems to happen a lot on the street course. Right when you have everything together for a flying lap, boom, the yellow comes out. It is frustrating. But we'll be better on Saturday.

I was never happier to see a season end than I was last year. I was really frustrated by the tough run of luck we had last season, but a few months away from the daily grind, and I am ready to go. I feel like we can return to the form that made us a championship contender in 2004.

The car was flat out all the way around, and that is all it had. It definitely helps that we tested here last week and the team was able to pick up some additional information. I think we have a good racecar, too. This is a trick track, and the race is always crowded and busy throughout the 200 laps. We haven't had the best luck this year, but the Sonoma race was a confidence builder for the No. 15 Argent Mortgage/Pioneer team.