SCOTT DIXON (No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing): "We had a lot of problems in the first session with front grip in the car, and we thought we had an idea how to get that fixed for session number two. The overall balance of the car is still off though, and we're going back to discuss how to get the car where it needs to be. We were better off in the second session, but there is still work that needs to be done."
HELIO CASTRONEVES (No. 3 Team Penske): "I think the track here in Edmonton is great, and it's proven to be very challenging as well. We used the practice sessions to familiarize ourselves with the course and just find the lines out there. Our main goal today was to find out what the Team Penske car can do on this circuit. Now that we know, we'll use tomorrow to see how much we can push that limit. Overall, I think we had a good day, and I'm looking forward to getting back out there. I think it's great to be racing here in Canada; it's only the first day of the weekend and the place was packed. The fans seem to be having a great time, and that is a lot of fun to see."
TONY KANAAN (No. 11 Team 7-Eleven): "It was not a very good day today. We're still trying to improve the balance of the Team 7-Eleven/Frank's Energy Drink car. We were able to find some speed, but we have to improve the balance of the car."
DAN WHELDON (No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing): "The Target car wasn't where we needed it to be from when we unloaded today. I had a lot of trouble getting the front tires to bite, and I think the rear end was soft in some places. That's not a good combination when you are trying to go fast around a place like Edmonton. I think we have more in the car, and we look forward to showing that tomorrow."
The NBA and FedEx Corp. have extended their United States marketing partnership that is centered around a core of international players. San Antonio Spurs guards Tony Parker (France) and Manu Ginobili (Argentina) will be a key part of that effort. Other international players to be involved in the marketing campaign include Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash (Canada), Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng (England/Sudan), and New Orleans Hornets forward Peja Stojakovic (Serbia).
The Spurs' Parker is one of the first international players to win the NBA Finals MVP award. Parker achieved that honor last season, as the Spurs won their fourth NBA championship in the last nine seasons.
Parker scored 15 points in the Spurs win over the Sacramento Kings 96-80 Friday night.
The FedEx deal makes it the official air and ground delivery service of the NBA. FedEx (NYSE: FDX) is a ground and air transportation company based in Memphis, Tennessee.
Joining Tim Duncan on the All Star team as a Western Conference reserve is team mate Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs. Tony was selected by the 30 NBA head coaches, who were asked to vote for seven players in their respective conferences -- two guards, two forwards, one center and two players regardless of position. They were not permitted to vote for players from their own team. The selections of Steve Nash (Canada), Dirk Nowitzki (Germany) and Parker (France) along with voted-starters Tim Duncan (U.S. Virgin Islands) and Yao Ming (China), gives the 2007 NBA All-Star Game five international players.
Phoenix Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni and the Suns’ coaching staff will be on the sidelines for the Western Conference All-Stars, as they previously clinched the best winning percentage through games of Feb. 4 among eligible Western Conference teams for the All-Star coaching honors. The NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 18, will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio beginning at 8 p.m. EST. The game will also be telecast in over 200 countries and broadcast on NBA.com.
This year’s NBA All-Stars will be outfitted for the first time by adidas who have created new uniforms inspired by the city of Las Vegas. The deep blue colors of the East All-Star uniforms and the rich red colors of the West All-Star uniforms speak to the bright colors of its famous Strip. Jerseys have "East" and "West" wordmarks on the front along with individual player name, number, and team logo embroidered on the back.
You can include Tony Parker among those surprised to hear he had been named as one of the Western Conference's seven All-Star reserves Thursday night. Unlike previous years, the NBA didn't notify the reserves of their selection before making its national announcement on TNT. Parker wasn't even watching the TNT announcement show. He was in his hotel room with fiancée Eva Longoria watching Michael Jordan take on the Phoenix Suns in an old NBA Finals game on ESPN Classic and switched channels during commercials. "I came to TNT and I just see the list," Parker said. "I saw my name and I was like, 'I made it?'
"Eva started screaming. I still had a hard time believing. I was like 'Let me make sure.' Nobody's calling me. My agent's not calling me. It was funny."
Thinking the West coaches would select either Denver's Carmelo Anthony or Dallas' Josh Howard ahead of him, Parker had hoped NBA commissioner David Stern would name him as an injury replacement for either Houston's Yao Ming or Utah's Carlos Boozer. Now he doesn't have to wait for Stern's announcement. While Parker's selection came as a surprise given the number of talented forwards in the West, opposing coaches frequently discuss how difficult it is to defend him given his speed. "How can you be more happy," Parker said, "when you know the coaches around the NBA respect your game and reward you?"
This is Parker's second consecutive selection to the All-Star team.
Fans Will Have The Opportunity To Submit Their Vote For MVP
Fans will have the opportunity to submit their vote on NBA.com and their mobile phones and have it count towards selecting the MVP of the 56th NBA All-Star Game, as a part of the site's exclusive 2007 NBA All-Star coverage.
NBA All-Star 2007 is a week-long celebration that enables fans to experience the thrill of the world’s greatest athletes playing the game they love and features a full slate of community-enhancing activities and fan festivals such as NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas.
Following are the complete rosters for the East and West teams for the 2007 NBA All-Star Game at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Eastern Conference F – LeBron James, Cleveland F – Chris Bosh, Toronto C – Shaquille O’Neal, Miami G – Dwyane Wade, Miami G G – Gilbert Arenas, Washington R – Chauncey Billups, Detroit R – Caron Butler, Washington R – Vince Carter, New Jersey R – Richard Hamilton, Detroit R – Dwight Howard, Orlando R – Jason Kidd, New Jersey R – Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Head coach: TBD
Western Conference F – Kevin Garnett, Minnesota F – Tim Duncan, San Antonio C – Yao Ming, Houston G – Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers G – Tracy McGrady, Houston R – Carlos Boozer, Utah R – Allen Iverson, Denver R – Shawn Marion, Phoenix R – Steve Nash, Phoenix R – Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas R – Tony Parker, San Antonio R – Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Head coach: Mike D’Antoni, Phoenix
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