NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 107TH RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500

May 26, 2023

Kyle Clark

Scott Dixon

Heath Kosik

Tyler Rees

Isaac Townsend

Pit Stop Challenge Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Chip Ganassi Racing with their fourth win in the Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge and for Scott Dixon his fourth as a driver. Maybe it's a good omen for Sunday.

SCOTT DIXON: I don't know. I don't know if it's ever converted from that. But no, it's huge for the team. It just shows what everybody does at Chip Ganassi Racing, and it takes a team to win, and I have the best team.

We'll be giving it all Sunday, but obviously all the credit goes to everyone up here today. I just tried not to screw it up. Congrats, boys. That was fantastic.

THE MODERATOR: Tyler, do you want to introduce everybody?

TYLER REES: Yeah, Alphonse, our fielder; Kyle Clark, outside rear; Isaac Townsend, inside front; Heath "Keto" Kosik on the air jack; Jason Beck went back to the garage but he does the inside rear; and Scott Dixon.

THE MODERATOR: Tyler, your thoughts? How excited about this team, the Wolf Pack as you guys have been known over the years getting it done.

TYLER REES: Yeah, it's a super proud moment. We all work hard, and it's a lot of pressure out there. For everybody to get it done and especially going against Penske in the final round, they're the guys to beat.

THE MODERATOR: 18-time champs at this thing. Good omen for Sunday maybe?

TYLER REES: Absolutely, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Last team to sweep was 2009, Helio Castroneves, they won the Pit Stop Challenge, then went to win the Indy 500.

Q. For any of you pit crew members, how important is this competition, and how much pride do you get out of winning it?

ISAAC TOWNSEND: This ring is the coolest thing I own.

Q. So it means a lot?

ISAAC TOWNSEND: Yes, this has been like 10 years in the making for me, so this is a big deal for me.

KYLE CLARK: I think during the race weekend, we're going up against everybody else on pit lane, but you don't know what guys are doing fuel wise, you don't know what they're short filling, what tires they're changing, et cetera. This for us is just a straight heads up us against them, nothing else, so that's what you get jacked up for as a pit crew guy is to be better than everybody.

Q. Scott, Alex won the road course, you guys had great qualifying, you win this. Do you ever feel like things are just lining up for the organization, that it's all coming together at the right time?

SCOTT DIXON: I hope so. That's the goal. I'll be obviously extremely happy if we can pull it off. But also be happy if it's not me, it's one of my teammates. There's a lot of effort that goes into this. Again, it's never one single person. There's so many moving pieces and so many details that it takes to be at the top, and this is one of the big pieces actually that helps me a lot on race day and my team across the board.

There's a lot of effort and a lot of time that goes into these pit stops, so it's really cool to see it pay off, especially like the format we have now.

Q. (No microphone.)

SCOTT DIXON: No, I think there's still a little more to go, right, guys?

Q. Scott, how much of a boost does this give you going into Sunday's race?

SCOTT DIXON: Yeah, lots. I think it's never -- I think the whole team, this will boost the whole team, not just my car. I didn't see the first run with Alex, but I know all the 8, 9, 10 and 11 are very strong. We've seen it in previous races this year and throughout last year, as well. But yeah, this will carry across us all.

Q. Last year you guys came up short in the final against Penske. Sweet revenge in this case?

TYLER REES: Always sweet revenge.

ISAAC TOWNSEND: Super sweet.

Q. In a dream scenario, is that who you wanted to go up against in a final situation like this?

KYLE CLARK: I don't think I cared who it was.

TYLER REES: I don't think it matters who it is. It would have been cool to go against our teammates in the end and see them there with us, but I think the way the bracket was laid out, that wasn't totally possible. But in the end it doesn't matter who it is.

Q. It was a 1 seed versus a 2 seed.

HEATH KOSIK: I think it's cool that we beat Penske because they always say to be the best, you've got to beat the best, and they've been the benchmark for a long time, and today we kicked their ass. It's pretty cool.

Q. Do you feel this changed a little something in the process, the competition, the way you move, the way you align because I see the driver is approaching differently to the marks. What do you feel is different from this pit stop to a race pit stop?

KYLE CLARK: I feel like you're more careful in a regular pit stop during the race. You're not trying to go as fast as you can, absolutely as fast as you can.

TYLER REES: For sure this is all out, all or nothing, get the tire on get done as fast as you can and hope it all goes right and during the race you definitely take a little off and make sure it's right.