NASCAR WCUP: Johnny Benson 'playing catch up' after practice at Chicagoland

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

July 13, 2001

JOHNNY BENSON, NO. 10 VALVOLINE PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:

(HOW DID YOUR FIRST PRACTICE GO?) "We're a little bit behind right now, so we're glad we had it. We're not as good as want to be, but we feel like we're going to be OK by the time it counts. We're trying a lot of different things and just trying to get better. Like always, we're just working hard. Now we just have to go out there and get a little faster."

(WHAT THINGS ARE YOU CHASING?) "With it being a new track, I thought we'd be in pretty good shape. But it's a little bit different than I thought. The car is a little 'iffy' getting in [the corner' right now. But it's not that bad. James [Ince] always makes great calls as far as adjustments that need to be made on the car and we'll get that fixed. We've actually got a lot of it taken care already. Now we just need to go look for a little speed."

(WHAT DO YOU EXPECT SUNDAY?) "It's going to be interesting. I think any time you come to a new facility it is apt to be a one-groove racetrack. And I think that will be the case getting into the corner and maybe in the center, but it looks like it may open up as far as grooves coming up off the corner. That's important to us. But time is going to tell.

"We're obviously going to have a Busch race before and we're going to watch that very close and see what happens. In any case, we should have a better idea by Sunday."

Text provided by Al Larsen

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot photos and racing art, please visit The Racing Image Galleries and The Visions of Speed Art Gallery

.