1on1: A.J. Allmendinger

[admin]

A.J. Allmendinger came to NASCAR with an impressive resume: Barber Dodge Pro Series champion in 2002, Toyota Atlantic champion in 2003, Champ Car rookie of the year in 2004. The California native has been a winner everywhere he's raced, which is why Red Bull Racing tabbed him to drive one of their Toyotas last season.

The transition from the lighter rear-engine, open-wheel cars to the heavier front-engine stock cars has proven to be a bigger challenge than Allmendinger might have expected. And complicating matters by not having the luxury of a guaranteed starting spot every week has added enormous pressure on the shoulders of the 26-year-old.

Having to qualify on time every week, Allmendinger still made 17 of 36 races last season, with a best finish of 15th at Lowe's Motor Speedway in October. However, he failed to make the starting field for any of the first three races in 2008, prompting Red Bull Racing general manager Jay Frye to put veteran Mike Skinner in the car, beginning at Atlanta.

Allmendinger spoke candidly about his current status -- and his racing future -- during an interview session with reporters Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Q: What prompted Red Bull Racing to take you out of the car temporarily and replace you with Mike Skinner?

Allmendinger: It has been a hard situation since last year. When we started -- the 84 team -- we've been kind of put under the gun and we've had to fight through a lot. This year just hasn't happened the way we expected. Testing went well. I've been comfortable in the car. One lap could have made all of the difference in the world. One more lap at the Duels in Daytona and we probably would have been in the race. Then it rains at Fontana and who knows what is going to happen in Vegas.

It is what it is. It didn't happen and I think it comes down to ... the team just needs a little bit of change and something good to happen for them. Mike obviously has the experience level to kind of jump in and see where exactly the car is at. To see what we need to work on and for me as a driver I can follow Mike around and just learn everything I can, which is what I'm going to do. As you said, I don't like not being in the racecar but it is just a short change because Mike is just going to run how many ever races to find out what is wrong, and hopefully more than anything to get the car close to the top 35 and if not in because as a team we've been doing this for so long.

Every Friday we've shown up hating life and praying that you get the car in the race and it's hard. Fortunately, I know that if we are in the top 35 we are never going to fall out of it because I'm going to race a lot better than I qualify. We just keep missing a little bit on qualifying and it's so close when you do that. You don't get in the show and everything kind of spirals down. It is a change for right now to get out there and see where it is at. Mike can obviously qualify the heck out of the car. He is going to do a good job and just kind of see where we are at, at that point.

Q: With the reunification of open-wheel, what are the chances that you would leave NASCAR to return to that form of racing?

Allmendinger: I know I have the ability and the confidence that I can do this. In Phoenix we were one of the fastest cars. We know in this sport that it comes down to equipment. I really feel like the team and I gel really great together. I love my guys. Ricky Viers is the crew chief. I think it might be different.

I was sitting here at first going 'I don't know if I can do this,' but I've shown in good equipment that I can run up front so there is no reason to want to leave. We just have to get the ship turned right. Mike is going to help us do that. Like I said, I have the confidence that I can drive anything and I know I can. If we can get this thing right we can go and win races and be up front. There is no reason to leave.

Q: You said it just hasn't worked yet. What is the biggest problem that you have had?

Allmendinger: I think the biggest thing is the Friday pressure. You go through it for a year -- and then this year for whatever reason I was really confident after testing. It is racing. One has been rained out and in Vegas we just completely missed it all day. That was tough after the way we tested there.

I think the Friday pressure is tough for all of us. I think hopefully the biggest thing Mike can help us with is to figure out what we need on that one lap qualifying and just getting the car better. He is one of the best at it. I think if we can just get out of the mode of the Friday pressure and just work on that, Sunday would be easy. I could run top-20, top-10.
Brian [Vickers] has obviously done a good job on the other side of that. There is no reason to think that I wouldn't do the same job as he is doing. We just have to get out of that funk.

Q: Do you feel like you were pushed or maybe you pushed yourself too fast to move ahead too quickly in NASCAR?

Allmendinger: It wasn't something where I think I pushed myself too fast, but yeah, it is the situation. I would have loved to run all the Truck races that were at the same places as the Cup races last year and all of the Busch races -- Nationwide now this year -- to develop. You look at guys like Juan [Montoya] and guys like Dario [Franchitti]. They have ran so many laps in different types of NASCAR vehicles just to get acquainted with it and I haven't gotten that chance, but it is the situation you are put in. It was difficult and it has been rough, but you can't look back and change anything. You just have to move ahead and that is something that we are doing right now. For me I just have to keep the confidence in myself that I can do this. I know I can do this.

Q: How difficult was adjusting to this particular car full time and what kind of factor was that?

Allmendinger: I actually feel more comfortable in this car than I did in the standard car. It is just that this sport is so tough. One little thing like not having one extra lap at the Duel starts a downhill spiral. In Fontana it rained and in Vegas we just missed it. I feel comfortable in the car. As I said, in the testing at Phoenix the cars were good right away the entire test. I just feel good in the car. We just need to get things right as a team.

Q: Mike said he is going to work on getting it where you don't come in feeling the pressure and under the gun, but the veterans who try to qualify their way in feel pressure and under the gun. How are you not going to feel pressure coming in to make it or not make it into a race?

Allmendinger: You are always going to have that pressure, but I think what you need to do most is get the car so you have the confidence that you are in the show every weekend and it feels exactly like whatever racetrack you are at whether you are at Phoenix or Texas.

Q: Do you feel like you have been trying to overcompensate and take over for everyone else on the team?

Allmendinger: I think it comes down to what we are going to find out. I can tell you that I put more pressure on myself than anybody will ever put on themselves. That is something that I think when things are right that is one of my biggest assets. When things are wrong it is probably one of the things that hurts me the most. In Vegas for instance last week, did I think we had a good car? No, I think we just missed it. But at that same point, I still put all of that on my back -- that somehow I still should have got in the show.

As Mike said, you can't do that. Maybe in a different race car that I used to drive you could kind of strap that onto your back and hang on and get more out of it, but we know that here when it's not right you can't do that. I'm still trying to learn that. There are times when I put that into my head and say 'OK, maybe it was the car and I can't do anything about it,' but I always want to do everything that I can. Those guys on the [No.] 84 team are the hardest working guys that I've ever seen and because of that I put more pressure on myself to get the car in the show and run well just for them. As Mike said, that is something that I need to learn. The longer I do this probably the more I will learn that. At the same point I still want to do everything I can to get the car into the show and work hard for it.

Q: Did you kick the toolbox at first when you found out about the change?

Allmendinger: No, because we were at Phoenix and the team would have still been mad if I kicked their toolbox. I couldn't do that. It is just one of those things where it never helps the ego when someone says you are going to get replaced, but at the same point I understand the reasons why Jay is doing it. I respect those reasons and I know in the long run it is only to help me and I'm OK with that.

Yeah, I know Mike is going to get in this racecar and he's going to make all of them and he's going to run well. Why shouldn't he? He is Mike Skinner. That's who he is. On that fact, he may even make the equipment look better than it is because that is how good he is. At the same point, in the long run this is to make the equipment the best it can be and to help me. I'm just going to do everything that I can to be a better racecar driver in and out of the racecar. When we get back in it, I know I will be better than ever.

Q: Is there anything you wish you could have done different as far as learning and adapting to these cars?

Allmendinger: There is nothing to me that I would have done any different personally, but oh yeah I would have loved to have been in the racecar more and more whether it is the [new car] or a Nationwide car or a truck. That is something that I wish I could have been in. I remember talking to Juan after like the first four weeks last year and I'm said 'hey, how are you doing?' And he said 'Man, I'm tired. I've been in a racecar everyday of my life.' I'm like 'Cool, I've been sitting at home.' We didn't do a lot of testing. I didn't run any of those races really except for a few Truck races. Then the Nationwide races I ran at the end of the year, which obviously helped me a ton. It is what happens. Situations and deals fall through and it's nobody's fault. If I could do it all over again I'd be in a racecar every day of my life. It is what it is and this is where we are now.

Q: You are a tough guy. How hard has this been emotionally?

Allmendinger: It doesn't help the ego to get taken out of your racecar. Let's get it straight. I'm not sitting here with a smile on my face saying 'All right, the 84 car is going to go on the racetrack without me.' At the same point, I understand the reasons. Jay is doing everything he can. He has told me that he believes in my ability just like I do so we are just doing this for the right reasons. I'm going to be there as much as I can and just improve myself. And more importantly show to my guys that I'm not backing out of this. I'm not riding into the sunset. I'm going to be here stronger than ever. I'm going to be here for them because they are working hard and they are my guys still. It is not like we are leaving here. After four races we will be back in it and ready to go.

NASCAR.COM - 1on1: A.J. Allmendinger - Mar 11, 2008

[revvinjim]

Red Bull has always stuck by their drivers, no matter what series they are in. They may have felt the need to replace Scott Speed in F1, but they have done everything they can to keep him on their payroll.
Same goes with Allmendinger, they have made it clear they will stand by him. And it is good to see that he is no quitter. It would be easy for him to get a ride in open wheel, but he wants to stay in NASCAR.
I for one, would like to see him do well.