from a Frontstretch interview by Jay W. Pennell with #43-Allmendinger and #47-Ambrose about the Richard Petty Motorpsorts situation:
Jay W. Pennell, Frontstretch.com: I asked you last week about your situation at RPM and you described it by saying, ‘at least theres light at the end of the tunnel. Its not like theres a train coming back at you to hit you.’Â Do you still feel that way now?
Allmendinger: ‘I feel like the train is coming back now.Honestly, Im not exactly sure whats happening. I dont have any hardcore answers about whats going on inside the team. There are certain people that need to answer those questions. For me, all I can do is focus on driving the race car. Cant fix anything else. I feel bad for my guys that work so hard, my guys here at the race track, back at the shop, my guys that get told things like we might not be going to Talladega ‘Â which we are, we got the cars and the motors. Theyre the ones that work really hard and bust their butts. All I can do is take care of it as best I can, just try to keep us focused on coming to the race track. We cant fix whats going on and I dont know the true answers. We still have fast race cars. Were still working hard. The last couple of weeks weve had a couple of setbacks when it comes to engine problems during the race, but weve been running well, so thats all we can focus on.’Â
Pennell: Are you worried about your situation for next season?
Allmendinger: ‘Id be freaking lying to your face if I said, ‘ÂIts all good.’Â
Pennell: What about Talladega or Texas? Are you worried about making it to those races?
Allmendinger: ‘I cant worry about it, honestly. If I let that take away from this weekend, then it doesnt really matter. If I go out there and suck its kind of irrelevant when it comes to anything. Theres definitely question. I think (well be at) Talladega, for sure, and I think were getting our stuff together for Texas and things like that, but theres nothing set in concrete. For me, its working hard at the race track and making sure were running well. To me youve always got to look at the worst case scenario, and if its the worst case scenario and we have to go work on other stuff and make that happen. Thats why I pay Tara Ragan for and my management to work on that so I can worry about the race car.’Â
Marcos Ambrose, moving to RPM in 2011: ‘I believe in the program over there (at RPM). I made the choice to commit to them because I believe it is a great fit for me. I wish them the best of luck to get themselves sorted out and back on the right path. Im not involved in the decision making (at RPM). All I can do is voice my commitment to them. I believe the choices I made were right, I still do. Im looking forward to the opportunity, they have a great program with assistance from Roush and the programs a great place. With Stanley coming on board supporting it, its a great place for me to be. I was joking about it when we ran well in Richmond, but I believe in the program over there and want the chance to drive for Richard Petty Motorsports.’Â(Frontstretch.com)(10-23-2010)
