Benson Fastest Pontiac At Daytona

Johnny Benson Drives The Fastest Pontiac In Daytona

#10 Pontiac driver Johnny Benson surprised himself Friday by turning
the ninth quickest lap in practice for Saturday’s single-lap qualifying session
at Daytona International Speedway.

While they remain reluctant to predict even greater success, Benson and his
Crew Chief James Ince expect a top 20 qualifying effort then a strong showing
in the twin 125s on Thursday.

Benson posted the 14th quickest time in the first of the two practice sessions
on Friday. His lap time of 49.234 seconds (182.800 MPH) was .594 seconds behind
Jimmie Johnson. In the second session Benson turned the 9th fastest lap of
49.091 seconds (183.328 MPH) but was still .407 seconds behind Johnson.

Benson’s time was nearly three-tenths of a second quicker than his fastest time
in January testing. He will be the 15th driver to make a qualifying effort on
Saturday.

Benson On Getting More Out Of The Pontiac:

“Tomorrow just depends on what we can get away with going through the
(technical inspection) room. It’s about what they are going to take away and
what they are going to give us. We will just have to see what we have.”

Benson On Qualifying Practice:

“It was good to get back in the seat and get some laps on the speedway and see
if we could match what we did in testing. We knew that we would come back down
here with a different engine and go a little bit faster and that’s what we did.
I don’t think we are as fast as we ended up on the board today. I still think
we will be about 20th but there are so many things that can change that.”

Benson On Getting Through Friday’s Technical Inspection

"We got through pretty good. We were about the 10th car to get a sticker on the
window. What we ran in testing is as good as you can get. We had very few
things changed on the car, so we breezed right through."

Benson On Qualifying Practice:

“This single lap stuff is pretty boring for the drivers. Our fun starts Monday
when we start drafting and then Thursday when we get to race. Our guys have
done a good job with the car this week and my job has been to hold it on the
line and go.”

Will You Be Helped By The Similarities Between This Rule Package And 2000’s
When You Nearly Won?

"We sure hope so, but this is a different car than what I had two years ago,
too. We don't know. We're going to watch the Bud Shootout and see what it's
going to do, as far as the rules go and see what they're going to change or not
change. Then, of course, Thursday is going to be a better indication of what is
going to happen on Sunday. But, I feel good about how the Pontiac is
going to run. We're just going to wait and see what Thursday is going to bring
us, but we feel good about the rules."

Crew Chief James Ince On Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying:

“I don’t know where we will end up. I think we will be fortunate to be in the
top 20 at the end of the day tomorrow. I’m not sure everyone is still showing
everything they got today. Tomorrow is the day that is important. That will
tell you where everyone really is. Our team knew we weren’t going to
sit on the pole down here but we know we are pretty good in race conditions. We
think we can make up a lot of positions in the 125s on Thursday and get a good
starting spot on Sunday.”

NBC will televise Saturday’s qualifying beginning at noon.

Qualifying Order

1	Jeff Green
2	Geoffrey Bodine
3	Jerry Nadeau
4	Jimmie Johnson*
5	Carl Long
6	Rick Mast
7	Hermie Sadler
8	Ken Schrader
9	John Andretti
10	Michael Waltrip
11	Dave Blaney
12	Norm Benning
13	Kurt Busch
14	Stacy Compton
15	Johnny Benson
16	Ryan Newman*
17	Ricky Rudd
18	Mike Wallace
19	Greg Biffle
20	Kyle Petty
21	Buckshot Jones
22	Brett Bodine
23	Kevin Harvick
24	Hut Stricklin
25	Todd Bodine
26	Dale Jarrett
27	Mike Skinner
28	Jeff Gordon
29	Rusty Wallace
30	Dave Marcis
31	Tony Stewart
32	Robert Pressley
33	Jeremy Mayfield
34	Kenny Wallace
35	Bobby Labonte
36	Kirk Shelmerdine
37	Mark Martin
38	Dale Earnhardt Jr.
39	Ricky Craven
40	Shawna Robinson
41	Matt Kenseth
42	Jimmy Spencer
43	Joe Nemechek
44	Bobby Gerhart
45	Casey Atwood
46	Elliott Sadler
47	Robby Gordon
48	Bobby Hamilton
49	Jeff Burton
50	Sterling Marlin
51	Ward Burton
52	Terry Labonte
53	Bill Elliott

How to Make the Field for the Daytona 500

•   NASCAR Winston Cup timed qualifying will be held on February 9. Each team
will run two laps with the best time of the two setting the qualifying time.
The two fastest qualifiers set positions one and two and are the only
guaranteed starters, filling the front row for the Daytona 500.
•   The Gatorade 125 Qualifying races held on February 14, will determine
positions 3 through 30. The drivers who posted the odd-number rankings in the
qualifying rounds will compete in the first race which will set the inside
row for the Daytona 500. The even-number rankings from the timed-qualifying
will compete in the second Gatorade 125 and set the outside row. The highest
finisher of the first Gatorade 125, once the Bud Pole winner is removed from
the equation, will start third in the Daytona 500, the next-highest finisher
will start fifth and so on through 29th position. The highest finisher of the
second Gatorade 125, once the second-place qualifier is removed form the
equation, will start fourth in the Daytona 500, the second-highest finisher
sixth and so on through 30th position. In the event of cancellation, the top
30 positions will be set according to the NASCAR Winston Cup Rule Book.
•   Starting positions 31 through 36 are determined by qualifying speeds set
in one of two rounds of qualifying. The 30 cars in the field will be removed
from the equation with the cars with the fastest official qualifying speeds
filling the remaining six positions.
•   Starting positions 37 through 42: Provisionals assigned starting with the
car owner ranked highest in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup car owner point
standings who did not qualify for positions 1 through 36 and assigned in
descending order until all provisional spots are filled.
•   Starting Position 43: Provisional assigned to any car owner who has the
current or a past NASCAR Winston Cup Champion driver who participated as a
driver in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season, failed to qualify for one of
the first 36 starting positions and did not receive a provisional starting
spot from the above procedures. The most recent past champion driver not
assigned a position will then receive this starting spot. If the 43rd
position remains unused it will be assigned to the next eligible owner.
Note:
•   The Daytona 500 pole position and second-starting position are the only
positions guaranteed in first-round qualifying. These drivers are also
guaranteed pole positions for each of the Gatorade 125 Qualifying races, the
fastest qualifier gaining the pole for the first Gatorade 125 and the second
fastest the pole for the second Gatorade 125.
•   A second round of qualifying is held prior to the start of the Gatorade
125s. Drivers who post faster times in the second round may not gain a better
starting position in the Gatorade 125’s. Drivers who attempt second-round
qualifying may attain a better time of record which may qualify them for the
Daytona 500 in positions 31 through 36 as explained above.