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FORD POWER STROKE DIESEL BY INTERNATIONAL POST-RACE REPORT – INDIANAPOLIS
Series: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Date: Friday, August 5, 2005
Event: Power Stroke Diesel 200 presented by Built Ford Tough and International
Track: Indianapolis Raceway Park, Clermont, Ind.
QUALIFYING RESULTS:
1. Dennis Setzer, Chevrolet, First in Owner Points
2. Ted Musgrave, Dodge, Second in Owner Points
3. Bobby Hamilton, Dodge, Third in Owner Points
4. John Andretti, Chevrolet, Fourth in Owner Points
5. Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet, Fifth in Owner Points
9. Terry Cook, Ford, Ninth in Owner Points
RACE RESULTS:
1. Dennis Setzer, Chevrolet
2. Todd Kluever, Ford
3. Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet
4. Matt Crafton, Chevrolet
5. Jimmy Spencer, Dodge
12. Terry Cook, Ford
About the Race . . .
Dennis Setzer showed everyone he had the dominating truck in the Power Stroke Diesel 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP). Setzer led 177 of the 200 laps, keeping all but five other competitors at least one lap down. A long, green-flag run created many headaches for the team as several ran out of fuel heading to pit road for service. Setzer’s fourth win of the season puts him 227 points ahead of Ted Musgrave.
Tracking the Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International race team . . .
The Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International race team wanted to win the pole for the Power Stroke Diesel 200 but when NASCAR canceled qualifying after persistent rain fell over the Indianapolis, Ind. area, they had to settle for a ninth-place starting spot. NASCAR based its qualifying on current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) owner points, therefore, putting driver Terry Cook ninth on the starting grid.
Cook maintained a top-10 position for most of the first 100 laps. After a couple of early caution flags, the race surprisingly went green . . . for a long time. From laps 37 to 170, Cook had to race hard to keep pace with leader, Setzer. Cook stayed on the lead lap and knew it was near his time to pit for tires and fuel.
One by one, drivers pitted under the green, taking on four tires and fuel to get to the checkered flag. Several began to come up short on their fuel strategy as the cycle of pit stops rolled through the race.
On lap 128, Cook called over the radio and said, “I’m out of fuel!” He coasted down pit road and made it to the team’s pit box. Four tires, fuel and air pressure and track bar adjustments were completed but the damage was done. Cook re-entered the race outside the top 20 and seemingly no chance of a top-10 finish.
The Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International race team loomed over their heartbreak but attuned their eyes to the television screen. What they saw were more trucks having the same disaster; they too were running out of fuel.
Cook began to climb back up the standings; twenty-first on lap 130, then 18th 10 laps later. With less than 50 to go, Cook was back in the top 10.
When the final caution flag came on lap 188, Cook came down pit road to the attention of Crew Chief, Rick Gay and the rest of the Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International pit crew. The team had fresh tires and wanted the upper hand on the restart. The pit stop took Cook from 10th to 13th but Cook could only muster a 12th-place finish, two better from last year’s efforts.
“The Ford Power Stroke Diesel by Int'l truck was a little off tonight,” said Cook. “We weren't bad and we ran in the top 10 almost the entire race. We decided to come in there at the end and take on tires and thought we might move up a couple of spots but we were slipping and sliding the last 10 laps even on sticker tires.
“You'll have long green-flag runs here. Any time you go to a race track that has a lot of racing room, if you get into trouble, a lot of guys have a lot more room to recover. IRP is that type of track and that's why you get those long green-flag runs. It's kind of like Kentucky Speedway, where it's extremely wide so if you get into trouble you have room for correction."
Cook and the Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International race team look to correct a 12th-place finish with a win this Saturday at Nashville Superspeedway. The green flag drops at 5:15 p.m. EDT.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Driver Points Standings:
1. Dennis Setzer 2279
2. Ted Musgrave 2052 -227
3. Bobby Hamilton 2050 -229
4. Ron Hornaday Jr. 2006 -273
5. Jimmy Spencer 1974 -305
6. David Reutimann 1929 -350
7. Terry Cook 1905 -374
Next Race:
Event: Toyota Tundra 200
Track: Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.
Date: Saturday, August 13, 2005
Television: SPEED Channel, 5 p.m. EST
Radio: MRN w/ simulcast on XM Satellite Radio, 4:45 p.m. EST
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