NHRA POWERade Teleconference Moments

Tony Pedregon, Quaker State Chevy Monte Carlo

"When the Christmas Tree goes down, it is 50-percent car and 50-percent driver"

Photo and questions by Dwight Drum
Web Work by Gary Larsen

Webmaster Gary Larsen steps away from his keyboard and up to a phone to ask Gary Scelzi a Zoomster question. Listen in.

"In some ways. To tell you the truth I have a comfort zone with John. Eight years is a long time to have a relationship. It also has a reverse affect. I know John so well that he is at his best when he feels like his back is against the wall. That's what makes him so good. Any time that John feels threatened from another team, that's when he is at his best. Especially now when he is getting competition from Schumacher and from some other teams. We are a new team but we have had some performance. If you want to make cracks at John's age, you will just make him mad. When the Christmas Tree goes down, it is 50-percent car and 50-percent driver. I have a tendency to get caught up in it a little bit but that is because I know you have to go through John to get to the top. That may be one of the things we might be presented with at this next race. The fans love it and it keeps them on their toes. "