I think another point is how reliable our package is, thanks to Cosworth and Ford. It's been a great package. We didn't see any blown-up tyres or anything like that, and everybody was really happy with the Bridgestones. I think it definitely was a great race. I didn't really have to use all that just because everything fall into place for us. Once I got behind PT at the restart, and passed him, was a pretty straightforward deal where I had to push as hard as I could and just pull away.
Q:
Talk about the pass for the lead...
SB:
I don't know. I think, as the tyre came so fast, I really had a great run in the hairpin, the traction was perfect. I got the tow from PT very early in the straight. It took me all the way over there to the braking point. He was very fair, and he kept his line, as it's written in the rule book, just gave me a clear shot to try and pass him. He braked really late, but my car was fantastic. The McDonald's crew was pretty surprised that I had that shot on PT. I was, too. I came on the radio and said "How about that?"
PT:
As you can imagine, my reaction was the opposite [
laughter].
Q:
Were you holding back a little in qualifying?
SB:
No, no, no. I was not sandbagging at all. I was just really trying hard - probably trying a bit too hard during qualify. I couldn't put it together when I had to. You know, this racetrack is so sensitive. We were talking after the race together, and at some point they all had good cars, the cars went away and they didn't change anything. We didn't change anything after the warm-up. The team wasn't fast enough. I wasn't upset about the balance, but it wasn't fast enough. At some point, not to save fuel any more, I just went for it and the car responded. It's just that kind of deal where it's so close from one another, that a very small difference will make it happen or just ruin the race.
Q:
Can you talk about why we had more passing here than we have seen in recent years?
PT:
I think the difference now is that the rules are very clear on blocking, which the drivers are acting more fair now. Before you'd see guys weaving and blocking all over the place. Nine times out of ten when the guy would attempt to pass you, you'd crash into the guy. The rule is very clear that if a guy has a run on you, you can't deviate the normal racing line. I think that's why you see, once a guy realises he's being had, there's not much you can really do other than try to out-brake him.
