NASCAR WCUP: Daytona International Speedway Tesing Notes and Quotes, Johnny Benson
19 January 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
JOHNNY BENSON, DRIVER, NO. 10 TYLER JET MOTORSPORTS PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
...getting started with his new team for 2000:
"I'm really looking forward to it. Last year was a really tough and frustrating year, which makes me look forward to this even more. I'm back in a Pontiac, and the guys at Tyler Jet have been building some great race cars, so I'm ready to go.
"I've never worked with James [Ince] before, but he was part of the Roush deal in the same building up there with Kevin Lepage. So we were close by, and did chat back-and-forth -maybe not as an everyday deal, but I think that was good. Then we've got some other people that were with Bahari when I ran so good, and that part has already clicked off pretty good. Plus, all the other guys are pulling the rope the same direction, and I think that's a big plus."
...what his team can achieve in 2000:
"It's probably too early to know what this team can achieve. The goal is to finish in the top 10 in points. That is the goal, and that's the goal we're going to try to achieve by doing the best we can. But, realistically, you don't know. You don't know until you get going. It's so competitive nowadays that even if you finish 15th, it wasn't like a terrible year. But, it's never good enough. It's just a situation where you need to dig down hard and get the cars the best you can.
"You know, I feel like this is actually one of the years we've been the best prepared. We've got cars ready for the first four races already, so it's actually looking pretty good, as far as the shop goes."
...his impressions of running under the new shock rules:
"This Pontiac Grand Prix drives great with the new rule. You're not sitting on stop blocks and bouncing around. The car is extremely driveable. All-in-all, I'm sure the rule is probably best. Like I said the car is real comfortable and easy to drive."
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