Chevy Happy Hour Notes-Las Vegas W.C.

CHEVROLET NOTES AND QUOTES



UAW-DAIMLER CHRYSLER 400

POST HAPPY HOUR PRACTICE:

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE¹S CHEVY MONTE CARLO, was quickest with a speed
of 167.328 mph, 32.272 seconds in final Happy Hour. ON HAPPY HOUR:  "We
tested here, and we felt we were going to be strong.  I was a little
disappointed with qualifying, the way it turned out.  We met our objective
and qualified for another race.  But we knew we were a little better than
that, went home and slept on it and came back with a smile on my face and
here we are on top of the board."  ON HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE FANS IN THE
GARAGE AREA:  "It¹s tough at times, especially when you¹re having a bad day.
There¹s a lot on your mind and there¹s a lot of pressure that¹s on your
shoulders to compete in Winston Cup, with a major sponsor such as Lowe¹s,
like I have, and driving for Hendrick Motorsports.  If something isn¹t just
right, there¹s a lot on your mind and at the same time the fans want a few
minutes, and want to see a smile and get an autograph and the media wants
something as well.  I¹m learning the ropes as I go here, and taking
everything in stride."

DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 8 BUDWEISER CHEVY MONTE CARLO (25th in final happy
hour):  "We were a little better today, but we¹re still a little frustrated.
The car is sliding, but a lot of times it slides all four tires, so we don¹t
know which corner of the car to work on.  We¹re really trying to find a
handle on it to make it turn more consistently."

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT CHEVY MONTE CARLO (27th in final Happy Hour): ON
HAPPY HOUR:  "Happy Hour was good.  Very good.  Looking forward to tomorrow.
Certainly it doesn¹t look like we¹re as strong as some of the Dodges that I
see, but if we do all the right things we will be OK."  ON THE FINAL 10 LAPS
IN ATLANTA LAST YEAR:  "It was a pretty intense race.  There were five cars
and we were all swapping positions.  It was really a lot of fun.  We didn¹t
realize we were doing 200 mph entering the corners, 195 or whatever we were
doing.  It felt like we were cruising down the highway and just swapping
positions.  I didn¹t know where I was going to end up, whether I was going
to be fifth or first or what.  I knew I had a good car, looked like (Kevin)
Harvick made a great move, got down low, made a pass.  It took me another
lap or so to get into second and by that time the white flag came out and I
didn¹t even think I was going to get close to him.  So I was pretty much
planning on second, but I got a run down low coming into three, he went
high, I hugged the white line and got around there just right; missed by
just an inch, I guess."  HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HIM GETTING THE WIN?  "I
think it was exciting.  I am really happy for Richard Childress Racing, for
all that they went through..  It was great for the sport, great for that
team, certainly great for Kevin.  He deserved it, he made great moves,
(he¹s) very talented and he won the race."  IS IT GOOD FOR THE SPORT TO HAVE
ONE DRIVER DOMINATING?:  "You want good close competition, you want great
side by side racing, but it certainly doesn¹t hurt to have somebody who is a
little more dominant maybe than others.  I think everybody likes to see
somebody get on top and be the one to beat and see other guys knock them
off.  I think that¹s what people love to see -- somebody get on top of the
mountain and others come by and make him have to fall down and get back up.
I think right now we¹ve got a lot of parity,. That¹s for sure.  The sport is very competitive, it¹s
tough to win races.  You see a guy win more than three or fours races, then
you¹ve got somebody who¹s really got his act together."

BOBBY HAMILTON, NO. 55 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC CHEVY MONTE CARLO (28th in final
Happy Hour):  "I think we¹re at an aero disadvantage.  I know we¹re at an
aero disadvantage..  We just have to see what Jeff Gordon does.  He usually
blows us out of the water on that stuff.  We just hope he has a good day,
but hope he has a bad day.  It might make a difference.  I don¹t know how to
say that.  Every time we think we got a deficiency he always runs good, so
we have to see how we turn out."  ON HAPPY HOUR:  "The car drives good, it
really does.  We don¹t know where the speed is.  We tried several different
things.  If the track gets slick I think we will be in real good shape, but
it¹s going to be tough.  We haven¹t run good here; it¹s one of my worst race
tracks.  To be honest with you, I hate to say it because of the No Bull
thing, but if I could finish 20th it would be like winning the race.