Benson Pre-Daytona Testing Quotes

#10 Valvoline Pontiac driver Johnny Benson and his teammates begin Winter
Testing at Daytona on Tuesday as part of a three-day Nascar test in preparation
for the Feb. 16 Daytona 500.

Benson will drive the new 2003 Grand Prix in testing on the 2.5-mile
superspeedway. Teams are allowed to use computer telemetry during testing. The
telemetry is outlawed for normal Winston race weekends.

The last time Benson sat behind the wheel of a race car was Nov. 19 as part of
a two-day test immediately after the season-ending race in Homestead, Fla.

Benson On Testing:

"I'm kind of excited to get back in a race car. The break was relaxing and the
holidays are always fun but this is about the time you start thinking about
racing. Daytona is always such an exciting race and there's a ton of things to
get prepared for and it all begins, for the driver at least,  next week.  I
think testing for any of our races is important, but with some of the rule
changes for 2003 and us having a new Pontiac it's going to be even more
important."

Benson on Valvoline Team's Testing Plan:

"We will go through our list of probably 50 things we want to try on the car
and we will pick out what works and what doesn't work. I guess the bottom line
will be speed. With the fuel cell rule and the new car we will have a lot to
work through. The superspeedways are always hit or miss. You are either going
to be really good or really bad.  If it goes good you have to see if you can
make it through tech. It seems at Daytona we always have a surprise rule when
you get down there. If the January test goes bad then the crew chief has his
work cut out for him in the next few weeks trying to find the speed. He may cut
up the car and try something else by the time we go back to Daytona for the
race. Next week could mean the beginning of a lot of work for a lot of teams."

Benson On Testing For The Driver:

"You really don't get rusty in the off season. Superspeedway testing isn't a
lot of fun for the driver. At that type of track it's all about the computers.
You kind of hang on and drive the car around and when you pull back in the
garage you can tell them what happened, but they are going to look at the
computer to see what is going on."

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