NASCAR WCUP: Johnny Benson suffers problems with 'experimental' engine part
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
July 16, 2001JOHNNY BENSON, NO. 10 VALVOLINE PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:
(WHAT HAPPENED TO END YOUR BID FOR A GOOD FINISH?) "I think we just broke a valve or a valve spring or something. It was kind of an experimental piece. We told them (engine supplier Hendrick Motorsports) that we try it. It ran good, but we just came up a little short."
(HOW GOOD WAS YOUR CAR EARLY ON WHEN YOU WERE UP FRONT) "We were pretty good. I don't know if we were as good as a couple of the guys out there, but we were still pretty decent.
"Overall, we're real happy. The Valvoline Pontiac ran good. The guys did a tremendous job. Like I said, we just had a little valve spring or valve problem or something like that. But, it didn't look like we were the only ones, though.
"We had a piece in there that was - not really a test piece, but one that nobody had run in a race, yet. We said, 'We'll try it. We're all for it.' I'd rather be leading and break than to just be riding around in the back. Hendrick Motorsports has done a great job. We just fell a little short today."
Text provided by Al Larsen
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