BUDDY RICE

I'm not promoting myself as the next great American driver, as some people are describing me. If that's what people want to call me, fine. But I've got more important things to focus on.

When the car's going well, I purr like a kitten.

You have to take the hits as they come and you have to take the opportunities.

Things happen for a reason. We'll see where life takes me from here.

No matter if I have a job for one weekend or for the next year, or three years, I'm going to drive the same way. That's the way I am. I'm going to give it everything I have.

In the past, people said I wasn't focused and didn't give it the time. That's a bunch of crap. I'm not doing anything different now than I did before.

You have to take everything as it comes.

There's a ton of talent in this country. Some just need to be given a shot.

It's hard to put into words, shaking hands with the most powerful man in the world.

I've always loved old hot rods. I have four or five of them at home that I work on when I'm not working out.

Mile tracks put more emphasis on the driver. On the longer tracks, you can drive flat out all the way around, so it's more of an engineering exercise. On a mile, you can't run flat out. You're constantly in traffic, there's more driver involvement.

I've always loved old hot rods. I have four or five of them at home that I work on when I'm not working out.

I've always been under the radar.

It's pretty cool to be able to hang out with the President and have the race-winning car on the South Lawn.

Between us and the writers, it was comedy hour the whole time. We could hardly get through it.

When the car's going well, I purr like a kitten.

I don't think you'll understand the true repercussions of what the 500 does for you until years down the road.

It's hard to put into words, shaking hands with the most powerful man in the world.

It's always a little different, racing on your hometown track. It makes it more special.

You have to take the hits as they come and you have to take the opportunities.

You have to take everything as it comes.

No matter if I have a job for one weekend or for the next year, or three years, I'm going to drive the same way. That's the way I am. I'm going to give it everything I have.

There's a ton of talent in this country. Some just need to be given a shot.

Things happen for a reason. We'll see where life takes me from here.

In the past, people said I wasn't focused and didn't give it the time. That's a bunch of crap. I'm not doing anything different now than I did before.

I'm not promoting myself as the next great American driver, as some people are describing me. If that's what people want to call me, fine. But I've got more important things to focus on.