With Fernandez scheduled to be in Long Beach on Saturday, the #5 team has called on old friend - and former Busch Series champion - David Green to drive in the NWS qualifying session. Green has a long association with the team, as he was asked to fill the seat left vacant when Ricky Hendrick elected to end his driving career late in 2002, and now serves as the team's R&D driver.
[I'm not worried about coming from the back], because I have done it before," Fernandez admitted, "I did it the first year I was racing in Mexico and we almost won the race. I don't have problem. The race is plenty long enough. The main thing is to have patience and to be there at the end with no damage to your car. At the end, the strongest guys will always be at the front.
Jourdain Jr, meanwhile, will campaign Braun Racing's #32 Toyota Camry, carrying sponsorship from Visit Mexico on his return to the series. The Corona Mexico 200 will mark his first race for Braun, but Jourdain has competed in all three previous Busch Series races at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, and team owner Todd Braun is looking forward to having the Mexican's extensive experience behind the wheel.
Michel has raced at the road course in Mexico City many times and knows it well, Braun noted, "You just can't beat that type of experience. He will be able to work with [team-mate] Jason [Leffler] and help the teams to get both of our cars where they need to be for the race. We feel like we can contend for a win this year and we have the experience and the desire to accomplish that goal like never before.
