Daytona 500 - Chevrolet Media Day Quotes

BORIS SAID, NO. 36 CENTRIX CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO:

(IS TEN RACES ENOUGH TO SHOW YOU ARE A GOOD CUP DRIVER?) "I hope so. It's all I have so I have to make the best of it. I think Centrex will be a full time sponsor in NEXTEL Cup in 2005 because I think it would be a perfect fit for the company. They're given me 10 races to prove I can do it and that's more than I've ever got. It's better than two races. I put more pressure on myself more than any sponsor could, so I'm looking forward to this."

(HOW DOES IT FEEL COMING INTO SPEEDWEEKS THIS YEAR?) "We've worked hard and we've made it. Now the real hard work starts because we're racing against some 42 other animals. I'm excited. I've made it. I've set goals for myself that are realistic and I'm looking forward to it."

(WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE 500?) "My number one goal is to make the race, then to make the checkered flag. And, then, if I can be in the Top 20, it would be like a win for my first one."

(WHEN YOU GOT THROUGH LAST YEAR'S SHOOTOUT, DO YOU THINK IT HELPED YOUR IMAGE AS BEING MORE THAN JUST A ROAD RACER?) "I think doing so well surprised a lot of people. I got more people telling me what a great job I did there than people telling me what a good job I did getting the pole at Sonoma. I was pretty proud of that. My biggest fear going into that race last year was to cause a big wreck and take out a bunch of regulars. I didn't want to that. I wanted to look like I belonged in the draft and gain some respect. The first 20 laps of the race I was scared to death and didn't think I belonged. I thought I was going to wreck. But somehow, in that race, it turned into fun. It's crazy out there. It's like playing chess in a minefield with people shooting at you. It's not a lot of driving but you have to concentrate and there's a lot of chaos going on."

DAVE BLANEY, NO. 07 JACK DANIELS CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO:

(ARE YOU ANXIOUS TO GET GOING THIS YEAR?) "I didn't do a whole lot of racing last year. I ran some dirt races here and there and ran maybe a dozen Cup races. We'll be ready to go. I've been ready to go since December. I wasn't looking forward to the off-season at all."

(WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE ABLE TO RACE IN THE CUP SERIES NOW WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY?) "It means a ton. The teams I drove for were fine but a team like this has a winning reputation that has won races and championships. That's what a driver looks for, whether it is here or in sprint cars or whatever. You look for the best car and best team you can. I would have felt bad if I went through some NASCAR years without this chance. I wouldn't have felt like I had the best shot possible. But now we've got it and we've got to make the most of it."

(HOW WAS TESTING?) "It's going pretty well. Down here (Daytona) it was as expected and it was hard to learn a whole lot. I thought we learned out at the Vegas and California test. I was pretty happy with our car at Vegas; California wasn't so good. Between the three teams we did a lot, so hopefully we can apply that when we get back."

(HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LEARNING FROM YOUR TEAMMATES?) "All I can. It's hard to do unless we're at the race track. You know, there's not much you can learn sitting there in the race shop. It kind of applies at the track, going through situations on the track or mechanically with the cars. The more we race, the more that will help me out."

JASON LEFFLER, NO. 11 FEDEX CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO

(EXPLAIN THE CHANGE IN THE RULES AND HOW THE DIFFERENCE HAS CHANGED THE FEEL OF THE CAR) "I don't think it's that big of a deal. It's a change for everybody. We're a new team and it's a change for everyone on our team. Preseason testing is going very well. Everyone is working really well and between the teammates it's working great. Having Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte around is great for me, especially this time of the season. Having FedEx on board is great because they are so excited about going racing."

(DID THE CAR FEEL LIKE YOU IMAGINED?) "At Vegas and California the tires fall off so quickly, it's almost like being at Darlington or Rockingham. But it's fun to drive that way.

"Your car starts sliding around five laps into a run and you're constantly changing and looking for traction and grip. It's fun to race that way."

(HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE TONY STEWART TO GUIDE YOU?) "It's very important. It's an awesome situation for me. I have two championship-winning drivers as teammates and you can't go to a lot of organizations and say that. I get along with both Bobby and Tony very well. We've got a lot of veterans around the shop at Joe Gibbs Racing. It's really great."

(STEWART MADE A GREAT ADJUSTMENT WHEN HE MOVED OVER TO NASCAR. HAS HE BEEN ABLE TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR ADJUSTMENT?) "One good point is that we have a similar background. Tony and I have been friends for a long time and he's helped my career up to this point. So not only does he know my background, but he knows my driving style and probably some of my weaknesses. So, he helps me with a lot of things. It's a comfortable situation to be in, to know that you have someone like that to go to ask questions."

(DID YOU THINK THAT YOUR CHANCE TO RACE IN THE CUP SERIES WAS OVER?) "Sure. Last year I worried even running as well as we did in the Busch Series. You just never know. You don't want to take anything for granted and you have to be appreciative for the opportunities you get. I realized that when I had to go to the Truck Series and the Busch Series. To come back with Joe Gibbs Racing and FedEx, if you would have asked me that question last year, I probably would have said I don't know. I really would have said, 'not at this level. Not with Joe Gibbs and FedEx." I'm happier than I've been in a long time."

(HOW MUCH CONFIDENCE DO YOU HAVE THIS YEAR?) "I have a lot of confidence. I've been to a few different teams, seeing how they operate. Every team operates differently, obviously. Gibbs is one of the top teams in the sport and the way they treat their people and the organization they have, resources they have and their commitment to winning is second to none. My confidence is up right now. I've got a great crew chief with Dave Rogers. We've got a bunch of veteran guys on our crew. We've got a great sponsor.

"So, there are no negatives to this deal at all. We're ready to get on the track and get rolling. I'm ready to prove to people that I can do this."

(IS THERE ANYTHING YOU FEEL IS WEAK ON YOUR TEAM OR THAT YOU'D LIKE TO IMPROVE UPON?) "I don't know if there is anything weaker. The fact that we don't have any points and we've got to make the first five races on time is the part that concerns us a team. We've got to pray we don't run into any weather problems. We know we have the speed. But you know, we can't help it if we go to Atlanta and it rains out qualifying. Once we get past the first five races and get locked into that top 35, everyone will feel a lot better."

KYLE BUSCH, NO. 5 KELLOGG'S CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO:

(IS THERE AN ADDED EXTRA PRESSURE ON YOU THIS FIRST SEASON?) "Not really. There's probably a lot I put on myself but I'm looking forward to the results this year."

(HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT FROM YOUR BROTHER?) "I don't know. I'm sure there are ways but I couldn't tell you how different. We're somewhat different and there are a lot of things I've learned from him and I'm sure there are things he's learned from me."

(HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE START OF THS SEASON?) "It's a big deal. We've got the 500 coming up and I look forward to coming out and being up front somewhere. I'm probably going to have to work a lot to get the other guys to work with me in the 150s to get some chemistry."

(HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SIZE OF DAYTONA?) "My mom and I were down here visiting family and my brother was with us and we did the infield tour. This place is amazing, you go to Turn 1 and Turn 2 and look down to the other side and you can hardly see it."

(HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN HERE?) "I was here when I was eight years old, then for my brother's Truck Series race and then his Busch Series race and then last year for my ARCA race."

(DO YOU FEEL ANY PRESSURE BEING A BROTHER OF A CHAMPION?) "I think it's a good thing. Being able to come here and have his help is great. Terry's been there, Jeff has and Jimmie's been there almost twice. I have a lot people who I can learn from."

(WHAT ARE YOU GOALS? "I'm looking forward to getting the chance to win a race, win a pole and run up front. We're just trying to get the chemistry right now within our team."

(WOULD YOU LIKE TO MODEL YOUR SEASON AFTER YOUR BROTHER'S PAST SEASONS?) "I'd love to able to do that. If I could get some top 5 and top 10 finishes I'd be ecstatic. Obviously you're always looking for your first win and we're looking to doing the best we can."

(IS THERE A SENSE OF COMFORT IN COMING INTO HENDRICK AS A ROOKIE?) "There's definitely an easier opportunity for me to have the chance to run up front. Working with those guys is great. Being able to communicate on a regular basis will be important."

(YOU SEEM PRETTY COMFORTABLE HERE) "This is a fun place. Last year we ran the ARCA race here and came out on top. It was fun to do that. Coming in as a young kid, it's a great atmosphere. It's really neat. Working with the guys I work with on the race track is a great experience."

(WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO DO YOUR FIRST DAYTONA 500?) "It's fun. It's such a big deal and come out for your first Daytona 500. Putting yourself out there is one thing and then running up front is another. So you have to work on your drafting and the veterans can help me to do that."

(HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT RACING ON THE TRACK IN PARTICULAR?) "There are pros and cons to it. There are times when you can't avoid things that go on the track. Stuff can happen 10 rows in front of you and you can't slow down or you can be past it and someone can get sideways behind you and hit you in the quarter panel. There are just so many different scenarios out there in racing. If you could predict the future it wouldn't be racing.

(WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON TO DEVELOP A GOOD FIRST SEASON?) "I'm trying to develop a chemistry with my crew chief so we can work on running up front on a consistent basis. We're trying to get Top 5s and Top 10s. If we get the opportunity to get in the top 10 and contend for the chase it would be great. But we're hoping we're in the top 15, top 20."

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO:

(ON THE SUPER BOWL) "I was able to go there and have fun and relax and enjoy the festivities. Its kind of what it's like this week. It's a spectacular week. There is a lot going on. I think there are things we can learn from a Super Bowl weekend like that. They do things bigger than life. It's spectacular. The game is spectacular and the entertainment value is spectacular. I think we want that same thing here at the Daytona 500."

(WOULD AGE 40 BE A BALLPARK NUMBER FOR YOU TO RETIRE?) "I don't think about it unless I get asked the question. When I get asked the question, I wonder what else is out there and what do you want to do when this is all over? I don't necessarily know that I'm going to have the ability to choose. In this sport, and as dangerous as it can be at times, you're not always the one who can make that decision as to when you step away from it. If I got to choose it, it would be so I could go and experience some things. I love to travel. I want to go to Africa and experience a Safari. You've got to have 10 days to do those things. We don't have 10 days. It's things like that and a lot more. Racing has given me the opportunity to do all these things and so I don't want to step away because I love it. I love getting behind the wheel of the car and racing. I might think because of that grind, sometimes, that I might want to step away.

"But if I did, I can guarantee I'd want to get back into it because I'd miss it. So it's a balancing act to keep the excitement in there and also try to experience things when you have the time to balance life out.

"I never dreamed in a million years that driving a race car would open up doors the way that it has for me and allow me to go places that you never thought anybody would know who you are - you name or face or anything. I enjoy it. Not because I have to have my ego stroked, it's just cool to see that the sport has reached a level that the drivers are recognizable beyond our sport. I think that's very cool. Why I like to do things is not just trying to do marketing for my sponsors or for me, but for the sport in general. I think the sport has a lot to offer to those people out there who don't even watch the sport right now."

(ON MEETING OTHER CELEBRITIES) "I've been meeting so many people, I can't even remember who I've met. We had the Black Eyed Peas at the Super Bowl. Paul Walker. I didn't meet Paul McCartney. I would have liked to. That would have been cool."

(HAS HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS REACHED THE LEVEL OF DEI ON RESTRICTOR PLATE RACES?) "That has yet to be determined. I'm not so sure. I felt like we out-handled them and out-raced them here in July last year. I think Jimmie Johnson and I worked very well together to take those one-two spots away from them. But until I get out there in those racing conditions, I don't really know because I feel like at Talladega we lucked into that one. Here, we'll just have to see. Junior had a very fast race car here in July but he wasn't able to hold the throttle down wide-open because his car wasn't handling as good. So I'm not so sure that we've got them beat yet but we've certainly making a dent in it and we're on their radar and we're still capable of winning."

(ON THE OLDER DRIVERS RETIRING AND YOUNG DRIVERS COMING IN) "New faces and new fans are good, but I think it's important to have the veterans in the sport too because the help teach the younger guys about the sport and how to handle themselves in certain situations. How these young guys grow in the sport has a lot to do with how the veterans react or treat them."

(DO YOU EXPECT ANYTHING DIFFERENT IN THE SHOOTOUT SATURDAY NIGHT?) "I'll be honest with you. They've changed the Shootout so many times that I don't even have any idea how many laps it is or how many pit stops there are. I don't have a clue and I don't want to know until it's finalized. I know I'm going to draw my starting spot tonight and then we're going to get on the track on Friday. We're going to put the best car out there we can and then I'll talk to the guys on Saturday sometime and we'll figure it all out. But I think it's going to be pretty much business as usual. It's a great event. It's fun and exciting. For those of us who are in it, I think it's a bit of an advantage to get a little bit of extra drafting practice and to get comfortable with what's happening on Thursday."

(WHAT IS THE KEY TO WINNING THE DAYTONA 500?) "Having a fast race car and a solid team and effort all day long (is the key). It's really no different than winning any other race other than the preparation that goes into it because it's a restrictor plate track and the aerodynamics of the car are so much different than anywhere else we go that once you get into the race, it's pretty much the same as what it takes to win any other race. You need a good car and good pit stops and a little luck on your side as well."

(DO YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT?) "It's 500 miles. Any race will favor a driver who has some patience. But you've just go to know when to be patient and when not to be patient."

(IF, AT AGE 40, SOME RECORDS WERE ON THE LINE, WOULD THAT INFLUENCE YOUR DECISION ABOUT WHEN TO RETIRE?) "If it was doable. There are a lot of ifs, ands and buts there. If we had seven championships and things are still going well.....I want to stay in this sport as long as I'm healthy and competitive and I'm enjoying what I'm doing. It has nothing to do with numbers. But if I just came off of winning seven championships, I'd probably want to go try for that eighth one. I'd be crazy not to if I'm still feeling good and things are still going well. I don't go out there and race for statistics and numbers, but I love to look at them when it's all said and done. Now I'm sitting at 69 wins and I would love to get to 70. But if things aren't going well, and I don't think I'm going to have a chance at getting 70, then I'm not going to keep trying just so I can get to that number."

(DO YOU THINK BOTH THE DEI TEAMS ARE AT A DISATVANTAGE COMING INTO THE DAYTONA 500 BECAUSE OF THE CREW CHANGES?) "Well, you know what? It might just be the spark they one of them needs to take his team to another level, or it may be what knocks them down. I don't know. It's hard to say. I try not to pay much attention to what other teams have going on. I feel like our greatest competition is ourselves and not how another team switches things around. I think it's a little bit odd. It caught a lot of people by surprise that they would do something that drastic. Hey they know what's going on over there more than we do."

(ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF BEING THE NEXTEL CHAMPION) "I talked to Kurt Busch a little bit. He asked me questions about it. I just told him to be prepared. The demands are going to be greater. You're going to be tugged in a lot of ways. Do what's in your heart. Do your best. But don't be afraid to say no from time to time because you have to. If you don't, you're going to run yourself ragged and get burned out before the season even starts."

(ON THE POINT SYSTEM) "I still think there is some tweaking that could be done, but I'd like to see another year maybe and see how it all turns out. It's pretty exciting last year. It's hard to see them wanting to make any changes based on the five guys who were going for it at the end of the season. Until we're seeing a guy run away with it, I don't think we're going to see any changes."

(WERE YOU SURPRISED THAT KURT BUSCH SOUGHT YOU OUT?) "I was a little bit surprised, but I've always thought Kurt is a very talented driver and that Roush has a great program. So, I'm not surprised that he became the champion, but that he came to me wasn't expected. I thought it said a lot to me about Kurt because he didn't have to. It shows that he cares about the sport and that he's passionate about it and wants to be a good champion. I think maybe he recognizes that I will give my opinion if asked. If someone wants to know something that they feel I can help them out with, I'm open. I like seeing people coming into the sport that are passionate about it and that want to have fun with it and take it to another level."

(DO YOU THINK DALE JR. IS MORE RELAXED COMING BACK TO THE DAYTONA 500 NOW THAT HE'S WON IT?) "When you get that first race - whether it's the Daytona 500 or any other one - it always relaxes you a little bit more. At the same time, it puts some more pressure on you too because the expectations are for Junior or DEI to come and win another one. The pressure is going to build. But every year it's different. You never know how well your car is going to run and what position you're going to be in. I always just treat it as how the weekend unfolds. I don't really think about what I did the year before."

(ON DOUG DUCHARDT LEAVING GM RACING AND JOINING HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS) "We're very excited about it. I think that's huge for Hendrick Motorsports. It's going to help us to really plan for the future and get to the next level. It's a piece of the puzzle that just continues to elevate our whole organization. I think Doug is the type of guy we like at Hendrick Motorsports. He's a team player. He's sharp. I think we're very fortunate to have him.

"We've got a lot of depth at Hendrick. We've got major people in there who are going to step up and who have stepped up. Right now, I don't feel like we've skipped a beat in a lot of ways. But over time, it probably was going to start to show. I think by having Doug in there is not only going to keep us in the direction we're going, but possibly even take us to another level."

(ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING WITH THE HMS CARS TO HONOR THE PEOPLE THAT WERE LOST IN THE PLANE CRASH?) "We continue to wear the blue wristbands and I don't know what exactly the plans are with the cars. We will never forget what happened and we're going to honor them in all that we do forever. But we have to move on. I'm not sure what the plans are."

(TO EUROPEAN RACE FANS, YOU ARE THE FACE OF AMERICAN RACING. WHY DID IT TAKE THAT STINT IN THE FORMULA I CAR THAT DID IT?) "I think it's because we go around in circles all the time. We drive cars that aren't anywhere near what a Formula I car is capable of. In a lot of ways, I think a Formula I car is easier to drive than a stock car. It has the downforce you want and the brakes you want. It accelerates. It shifts for you. It does a lot of things that our cars never will do. But the physical demands of those cars are much greater than our cars.

"But I think just getting out there and showing that we can drive any type of race car is the only way to get the attention of anyone outside of the U.S."

(WAS COMING SO CLOSE TO WINNING LAST YEAR MAKE YOU STRONGER THIS YEAR?) "Yeah, definitely. I thought we were knocking on the door to win number five. I feel like we've done well in our off-season and that we have an even better team right now than we did last year. I feel like things have gone well. You know when the chemistry is there and the pieces are put in place. And you know when they're not. Right now, I feel really good about where we are. A lot of it just has to do with how the guys are working together in the shop. You go in there and feel the energy - whether it's positive or negative. I've felt a lot of positive energy over the off-season."

(GUYS LIKE YOU AND EARNHARDT JR. HAVE A LOT OF DEMANDS ON YOUR TIME. HOW DO YOU BALANCE THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES?) "You surround yourself with good people that help you like John Bickford, Jon Edwards, Rick Hendrick, and people who work for me. The demands come to them more so than they come to me. They then try to figure out the best way to handle it. But they know we can't handle everything. Sometimes it's funny how things happen because a sponsor or NASCAR or somebody asks us to do something and we look at how big of an impact it will make and what amount of time it'll take and what's on my schedule and then we figure out if we can do it. And there are other times that we're not being asked to do, but that we want to do. It's like the Regis & Kelly thing. They came to me and said they wanted me to do a show, and I said I wanted to do more than one day. And so if they'd let me do the whole week, I would have done it. So they said they could get me two days. So there are some things that you flex and bend the schedule for and other things that you just can't. I think if I have something to offer to a Jimmie Johnson or a Kurt Busch, it's how to schedule. It's going through it race by race and month by month and knowing all the things that have to be done through the year and where to place them that take the least amount of time in the most efficient way to do it and still accomplish what you want to accomplish - plus, still leave room for other opportunities that come along."

(DO YOU EVER THINK IT'S TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL?) "There are definitely days and weeks where we think we really did a bad job of organizing things. In fact, I say, 'Who in the world said we were going to do this?' And they'll say, 'you did'. So, you make the best of it. There are times when you have all these things scheduled and then something really cool comes up and you know you've got to do it. Maybe it's a once in a lifetime opportunity that only comes along every so often, and so you do it even though you know you're going to be tired or whatever. You still do it."

(IF YOU WEREN'T DRIVING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD INTEREST YOU THE MOST?) "If I were to step away from the sport next year, you wouldn't even see me for a year. I'd be gone. It would be via satellite from some country or something (laughs). My two hot topics I want to do right now are to go on an African Safari - I love nature and I love animals. And I want to go swim with - well, not swim with, but in a cage - with great white sharks. I think I'm going to do it this year. And I wouldn't mind skydiving. But it's too dangerous. The great white shark thing would be cool. But the problem with that is it's a seasonal thing.

"The reason why I don't do the Rolex 24 Hour or do other races like that on off-weekends is because I want to go experience things that are totally opposite of racing and it's just how I balance out a rigorous season. If that's what relaxes a Tony Stewart or a Jimmie Johnson, then that's what works for them. But what works for me is being gone and being totally away from everything.

"But I would want to relax and travel and experience things and not have to do a lot of thinking, let's put it that way. So if I get the opportunity to step away from the sport that there are a lot of cool things I'd like to do. I have some investments in real estate. I love land. I love developing it and seeing it grow. I don't mind being in front of the camera if it's the right opportunity. But I don't want to be an actor. But it might be really cool to be in an animated movie with your voice. It's things like that and the Regis and Kelly thing that are fun and that I feel like I could pull off like Saturday Night Live. But from what I know about making a movie, that's not me.

"I wouldn't want to learn pages of script and then have to get myself into this role that takes me to another place - that's not me. If have no desire to do that. If I could play myself somehow and not have to learn all that stuff, then maybe I'd do it.

(HOW DO YOU GET MOTIVATED AND PREPARED FOR THE SEASON?) "Man, I've been so wide-open I can't say there's been much preparation. I was in Jacksonville for the Super Bowl last week with one of my sponsors, Pepsi, and mixing it up and having fun. Got back to Charlotte and had a root canal yesterday. Everything's good now. I can't say there is real preparation with me other than what the team is doing to prepare. I feel great. I'm really looking forward to it."

(WITH THE CHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DAYTONA MOVED TO THE END OF THE YEAR?) "No. I don't want to see the final race be at a restrictor plate track. I just don't think it makes for the best situation for us in going for a championship. I like that it kicks our season off."

(DO YOU THINK DALE EARNHARDT JR. HAS UNUSUAL PRESSURE ON HIM TO BE A CHAMPION?) "I think Dale Earnhardt Jr. has pressure on him because he's Dale Earnhardt, Jr. he's the most popular thing on the planet Earth."

MARTIN TRUEX JR., NO. 1 BASS PRO SHOPS CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO

(HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE THE DEFENDING CHAMP IN THE BUSCH SERIES?) "It feels different. Last year I came here and expected good things but didn't even know if I'd be here now. Last year was a pretty cool deal. This year is going to be a lot more fun."

(HOW MANY CUP RACES ARE YOU RUNNING THIS YEAR?) "I'm running seven."

(WILL THIS SEASON IN BUSCH BE DIFFERENT?) "We've got a lot of competition in the Busch Series this year. We've got a lot of guys who have come in and run fast. It's going to be tough. They've got good teams. We've got to keep our guard up and win a lot of races this year."

(ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MEXICO?) "Yeah, it's going to be cool. I've never raced outside of the country. There are a lot of things different about it, it being a road course and all."

BRIAN VICKERS, NO. 25 GMAC CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO:

(WHAT DID YOU TAKE WITH YOU FROM LAST YEAR?) "We learned a lot last year. It was a good experience for me. It wasn't the year we wanted or anticipated. This year I'm very excited. I've got Lance back now and Lance and I have been able to communicate well since the Busch Series. So, I'm excited. We've made some changes on the team and kept a lot the same. Now we're going to have the #25 and #5 in the same shop in the same way that the #48 and #24 are together."

(HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CHANGES TO DAYTONA?) "This place has changed so much. And it's good. I suppose ISC was waiting for the right time to make all the changes at once and to make it nice and they did that. Daytona was a little overdue for a revamp for the fans and the teams and infield. They did a great job and I haven't even seen all of it. But from what I've seen it's been very nice."

(WHAT ABOUT THE NEW GARAGES WITH FAN WINDOWS?) "You kind of get the feeling you're n the fishbowl. But, we're in an entertainment sport and one thing that has always been said about NASCAR is the access for the fans is great. And that's what it is about. We'll see what happens when it gets going. It seems little bit weird but the fans should know that we're glad they are there and are close. I understand that because I've been a fan. But they also need to know that we are there to practice and to be in the car. As long as they respect that, it will be great. I'm looking forward to it."

(ARE YOU EXCITED FOR YOUR FIRST BUD SHOOTOUT?) "The Bud Shootout is going to be a unique experience. Any race that you can run at this level without points is fun. You can go out there wide open and have fun. It says a lot to be in it period."

"HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE FORMAT?" I have no idea. I just know it's Daytona and it will be wide open.

"DID YOU HAVE A HARD FIRST YEAR?" Last year was a lesson on a lot of levels. The difference between Busch and Cup and different things you have to schedule for, fans, media attention, etc. I learned a lot and I think I can take it into this year.

JOE NEMECHEK, NO. 01 U.S. ARMY CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO:

(TELL US ABOUT THE COSTS OF GOING TO MEXICO FOR A TEAM OWNER) "The cost of going down there is astronomical for the teams. Doing it early in the year is really tough. There are issues but there are issues with everything. Whether or not the Busch Series can withstand it, time will only tell."

(IS IT WORTH THE EXTRA COST?) "You're asking the wrong person."

(DO YOU HAVE SECURITY CONCERNS?) "No. Heck, we're taking the Marines or someone with us so we'll be alright. No, I have no concerns. I feel NASCAR has done their homework on the issue and it will be handled. The only concern for me was that in the Cup Series you only get three off weekends and Mexico is one of them. That's the only downside for me.

KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 29 GM GOODWRENCH CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO

(WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO WIN THE 500 THIS YEAR?) "As close as we've been the last 2.5 years, a win would mean a lot. We put a lot of effort into our restrictor plate programs. We've finished second a lot. One of these times we're going to break down the wall and get the win."

(HOW ARE THE NEW TEAMMATES?) "Everything is going great with the new teammates. Jeff and Dave are great. We sort of went back and forth on our setups from testing and everyone seems to like what each other likes, or at least pieces of it. It makes it easier because if you're struggling you can take a setup from someone else's car. It's great."

(WERE YOU DISAPPOINTED BY LAST SEASON?) "I think we were in good shape last season until we had a few races to go and we blew a few engines and the bottom kind of fell out of it. We did what we had to do all year long to stay in the chase and where we need to be. We obviously want to do better than we did last year. That's what we've prepared ourselves to do. We've dotted the i's and crossed the t's. Hopefully we can get off to a quick start."

(JEFF BURTON SAID RICHARD IS MORE EXCITED THIS YEAR. HOW HAS IT BEEN WITH JEFF IN THE SHOP?) "Jeff's been good for our shop and for everything around it. He's very into the chassis. I went on vacation while they were making sure everything was right. Richard's been working hard to try to get all the engine stuff going in the right direction and if it's not where it needs to be now, it will be when we get down the road. He's had a lot of late nights trying to do the right thing."

(HOW DO YOU LIKE THE NEW GARAGES?) "I'll be honest with you I haven't even been in the garage. We saw the nice new Busch garage during that test. I haven't been in the Cup garage.

(WHY IS THIS RACE SO SPECIAL?) "The history of the Daytona 500 is what makes our sport. Everything that has happened here is the reason everyone wants to win. Knowing that, you work all winter to prepare for the season and nine times out of 10, you prepare most for the 500."

"We took the 1/10th approach this year and we had our super speedway cars painted and in the shop in the middle of December. We didn't bring our cars down to test. We decided to work on our downforce stuff. Nine times out of 10 you put a lot of preparation into this but we took a different approach."

DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 8 BUDWEISER CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO:

(IS THERE ANY PRESSURE LIFTED AFTER WINNING THE 500 LAST YEAR?) "We won the race last year so we could come in here this year and enjoy it. You don't have to really worry about something going wrong. When we came here before, we hadn't won the race and worried about practice and qualifying and not blowing the motor and getting all the way to the end of the race. Now you get to enjoy it."

(WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO WIN THE RACE?) "It takes a fast car that doesn't fall apart. So you don't have to be racing people and getting in wrecks and all that. That's what happened last year and we won the race."

(IS IT A RISK TO CHANGE CREW CHIEFS AFTER A SUCCESSFUL SEASON LAST YEAR?) "I don't think it's a risk. We just had to change. Things change in the world. It doesn't stay the same forever. I don't understand what the big deal is. If it doesn't work, we'll change again. That's what you do, right? Right now it's going great. I enjoy Pete's demeanor and he seems to have a lot of respect for me. Everything is working really well. We tested and California and Vegas. I'm not too worried about it. I enjoy the change. It's a breath of fresh air with me. Tony, Jr. and everyone is enjoying the challenges that they've been presented with now."

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CHANGES TO THE SHOOTOUT FORMAT? "What did they do to change it? Did they add laps or something? Aww, man."

WOULD YOU RATHER IT BE SHORTER? "Yeah, that's why they call it a Shootout! It's fun though. You're drafting down in each straightaway. You can't help but laugh at some of the stuff going on."

(WHAT ABOUT THE NEW 150s FORMAT?) "I kind of liked it the way it was. They wanted us to pit. What's the big deal?"

(DOES THE SHOOTOUT GIVE YOU A GOOD IDEA FOR HOW THE RACE WILL GO IN THE 500?) "No, in the big race, you're running fifth and you're cool. But in the Shootout, you have to be in the lead the whole time. Everyone wants to be in the front."

(HOW WAS THE SHOOTOUT FOR YOU LAST YEAR?) "Last year I had a pretty good car but you got to keep shuffling around to be where you need to be on the last lap. Last year we were shuffling around and I go the bad end of the stick and ended up being in the position to push somebody else to win, but didn't get the chance for me to win. So, I said, here are the options I've got 'push this guy in front of me'. So, I pushed Dale Jarrett to the lead and he won the race. If we had more laps I might have made a run to win or pass him."

(IS THERE PRESSURE TO WIN THE 500 AGAIN?) "I don't know. I just go out there and do the best I can. It would be awesome to win again. But like I said, when I won the 500, the first feeling I got was relief. It wasn't jubilation, screaming or excitement. It was relief. It was like escaping something. Like being let out of prison after 13 years or something. Maybe it's because we get so much attention. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to win, but everyone always says, 'I picked you to win it." So, when I won it, it was relief. And I watched my Dad run it and lose it a lot and finally win it. So I didn't want to be one of the guys who are retired and hadn't won that race."

(PRESSURE TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIP?) "I still think I've not quite peaked as far as talent goes. I'm not yet in my prime. I feel like I'm not to the point where I need to get too worried about it."

(DO YOU LIKE THE POINTS SYSTEM) "I like the points system and wouldn't change anything except that I'd give the guy who wins the pole some points. How we do differently in qualifying should be reflected in the point system. Even if it's just one point, it should be more to it that just where you start.

"There's a lot to it. It's a hairy lap and in some places it's a pretty scary run and when you get the pole you should be deserving of something more than just a plaque."

(ON THE RETIREMENT OF OLDER DRIVERS) "I'm old school. Some guys come in the sport and are a little more polished and will probably opt out sooner. That's their deal, you know. I bet there are guys this year who will retire that haven't told us they are retiring."

(JEFF GORDON SAID HE HAS THE AGE OF 40 IN MIND FOR RETIRING. DO YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY?) "I do that too but it's different every day. One day you wake up and say, '40, that's it.' Then you wake up and think, 'I'll go to 50.' Then you think, 'Naw, I think 45.' It changes every day. If a guy doesn't have a good income, he's going to have to race. But I think (Gordon) is in a situation where he can opt out if he's got his money well. Some people put themselves in a position where they don't have a choice."

(HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE 40 WEEK GRIND OF NASCAR?) "The first year in the Cup Series was tough. With seven to go I wanted it to be over with. I just dreaded going to the race track. This is what I like to do and what I enjoy doing, but that doesn't mean it's roses every day. The Shootout adds a little more excitement. I don't take everything so seriously, so maybe that makes it easier to cope with the stress and the pressure. You have to brainwash yourself into accepting that it's what's involved. Eventually you get used to it, or you don't."

(HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT NOT HAVING THE FAMILY CONNECTION WITH YOUR CREW CHIEF THIS YEAR?) "I think it's good. Its unchartered territory for me. I'm working with someone that I can't walk up to and holler at and walk away without a worry. I like it, though. That's what I want. I want a situation like everyone else has. Family deals are tough."

TONY STEWART, NO. 20 HOME DEPOT CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO:

(HOW DO YOU FEEL GOING INTO THIS YEAR? "I feel like I do every year. It's a wait and see attitude. We don't really know what we've got. We need to run races and see what our strengths and weaknesses are."

HOW WAS YOUR OFF SEASON AND DID SKIPPING DAYTONA TESTING ALLOW YOU TO HAVE MORE OF AN OFF SEASON?) "We're finding places to break the season up more. Right there gave me another week off. Finding little things like that help you extend your off season to help you come back. All we do at Daytona test for drivers is worry about not missing one of three shifts. That's the hardest thing we do at Daytona testing."

(WHAT ABOUT FEEDBACK FROM THE DRIVERS?) "What feedback? You hold it wide open and you're in the same line every time. It's exactly as simple as I'm making it sound. Literally. You run the same line every time. The guys that are running these cars know how to drive the same line."

(IS PLATE RACING BORING TO YOU?) "No, but it's a different challenge. This is not a race where you can go out and win it by yourself. You have to think about guys around you. You've got to be confident about the people you're around. If you pull out to make a move you've got to be confident that the guys behind you are going to move with you. It's not a race that can be won by itself. You need help from people to get where you need to go."

(HOW HAVE THE NEW RULES CHANGED HOW RACING WILL BE THIS YEAR?) "No clue. As far as testing has gone, it really hasn't changed what we do. When it gets warmer, the downforce is going to be more critical when the track gets hotter and loses grip."

(DO YOU THINK YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO RUN SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE NEW RULES PACKAGE?) "It is what it is when we get out there. None of us know until we're running in the pack. We can speculate but none of us know. It's wait and see."

(DO YOU FEEL THE NEW POINT SYSTEM WAS FAIR?) "I guess. It is what it is. It's what we've got so why worry? It's the same for everybody. If it's the same for everybody, it's fair for everybody."

(WHEN YOU FOUND OUT THAT GREG ZIPPADELLI WOULD BE YOUR CREW CHIEF, DID YOU KNOW HIM AND WHAT DID YOU THINK?) "No, I didn't know him. He knew me but I would have tripped over him if I saw him. But honestly it's one of the best things in my career to have Greg as a crew chief. We're like brothers, basically. The funny thing is that we'll be out and people will ask us if we're brothers. I don't know if my milkman was Italian or my mailman was Italian but I know my father wasn't Italian. It's fun to watch people around us thinking we're related to each other. We have the same passions. If we didn't know that we weren't related, we would assume we were."

(WHY HAS IT WORKED SO WELL BETWEEN YOU AND GREG?) "It's chemistry. We have the same passion and desire to win. He understands me and I understand him. In all reality, I've never been married but I feel that with some of my buddies it's almost like we are married. When I'm having a bad day he has ways to pick me up and when he's having a bad day I have ways to pick him up. That's the kind of thing."

(WHO IS THE DRIVER WHO YOU'D BORROW MONEY FROM IN THE GARAGE AREA?) "Casey Mears! He was the highlight of the tournament. He was so much fun to be around. He's a great guy. But I can teach him some things on poker. He's the guy you want to play every day of your life because you can beat him."

(WILL HAVING JOE GIBBS BACK IN THE RACING SHOP HAVE AN EFFECT?) "I don't know. He hasn't been working on the cars these past seven years so I don't think it's going to be that different."

(HOW DO YOU RANK THE DAYTONA 500?) "I don't know. It's one of 36. It's obviously an important race and probably the biggest race of the year. But at the same time it's at the beginning of the season and not one that you can put all your emotions into."

(HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE RETIREMENT OF RUSTY WALLACE AND MARK MARTIN?) "I used to think I was a race car driver, now I have to be a columnist. They came along in an era that wasn't exactly the Pearson era, but they were kind of the first young development that came along. They were two guys that came from somewhere other than the south. One came from Wisconsin and the other came from St. Louis. They have fresh ideas and young ideas and they both played important roles in our sport. Rusty's been a great leader and so has Mark. I think they are two guys that have helped the competition side of the sport."

(ARE YOU A VIDEO GAME PLAYER?) "Oh yeah. I've always been a video game guy. But I'm more of a video poker guy now. I never play NASCAR games on video games, because that's what I do three days a week. That would be like a reporter writing columns all week and then going to play a video game about writing columns."

(DO YOU WISH THEY BROUGHT POKER TABLES TO THE RACE TRACK?) "I wish! I feel like my poker game is really good right now. Instead of it being a poker tournament on the race track, it's more of a chess match."

(YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF CHARITY WORK, DO YOU FEEL THAT PART OF YOUR LIFE IS AS IMPORTANT AS RACING ITSELF?) "It really is. I didn't grow up in a rich family that helped buy my rides to get me where I'm at today. I had a lot of help from a lot of people. It's nice to finally be in a position where you can help other people. Whether it is young guys like Kasey Kahne, helping him with Ray Evernham, or doing charity events. The race fans and racing community do a lot for us so it's nice to be able to turn it around. Whether you won or lost it overshadows what you did that weekend."

(HOW DIFFICULT WOULD IT BE TO HAVE A CREW CHIEF CHANGE LIKE DALE JR. HAS GOING INTO 2005?) "I don't know, I haven't done it yet. It's a matter of chemistry. You guys are smart enough to know how to speculate about it. I don't speculate about anything anymore. I'm concerned with the black and white."

(WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TRACK NOW AND THE NEXT DAYTONA RACE THIS SUMMER?) "In February it's a lot cooler because of the winter season, obviously. And in July it's a lot hotter and it's a lot harder to get the car driving good. But it doesn't matter too much to me because, you know, it's the same for everyone. It's a matter of figuring out what your car needs to do."

(PLEASE COMMENT AGAIN ON THE DIFFICULTY OF MAKING A CREW CHIEF CHANGE) "It'd be very difficult. This is my 26th year in racing and I can count the amount of guys on one hand I've had the relationship with in racing like I've had with Zippy. If we were separated it would probably be the biggest change in my racing career."

(HOW IMPORTANT IS CHEMISTRY IN WINNING?) "Absolutely it's important. That's what makes champions in all reality. You can have the best driver on the race track and the best driver but you need the best crew chief, etc. You need to match them."

(HOW IMPORTANT WAS THAT CHEMISTRY TO WINNING YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP?) "It's extremely important. Like I said, he's there to pick me up and I'm there to pick him up. We've done that for six years and we can do that for another 26 years."

(HOW MANY WINS DO YOU WANT TO HAVE THIS YEAR?) "Every year is a different year. Our goals have always been to win every race. When we get to the end of the year we'll evaluate that."

(WITH THE RETIREMENT OF OLDER DRIVERS DO YOU FEEL THE SPORT IS CHANGING?) "It's a sad time for the fans. It's evolution but you know, there will be a time when I go away and Jeff Gordon and Dale Jr. go away. It's just part of the sport. It's odd because it comes in waves. You hate to lose three great drivers this year. That's going to be a pretty big change for this sport."

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE'S CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO

(DID YOU THINK YOU WERE GOING TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP LAST YEAR?) "I really felt like things were going our away. With the winding down of the season, the races we were winning, closing up the points gap like we did, I really thought it was our year. Even Sunday morning at Homestead going through different parts of the race, watching the 97 have some problems, I really felt like it was our year and our championship. With about 50 (laps) to go I looked in the mirror and saw 97 there. Then all those feelings started to change and we had a race on our hands. I know for a fact it was the hardest racing I've ever done. A lot of it was side-by-side with Jeff (Gordon) and also with Kurt (Bush). I think as a fan you saw some of the best racing throughout the end of last season. We did all we could. There wasn't anything left on the table."

(DID YOU HUNGER FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP INCREASE DURING THE OFF-SEASON?) "They say before you win one you have to lose one. I hope last year was that case for us. We put up a great effort."

(WERE YOU SYMPATHETIC TO THE DRIVERS THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE TOP TEN FROM A SPONSORSHIP STANDPOINT?) "Not really. The truth of it is if you were 11th, you weren't going to win the championship. If you look at the numbers throughout the season, as you drew closer to the cut-off and when the Chase started, you had 10th through 15th getting a lot more exposure than they would normally had. If you look at the numbers and the end of the year, I think as a whole all the drivers, sponsors and team owners had more exposure than they did in the year previously. You just kind of feel left out that you're not in that final ten. I think that is going to make this year more intense when we get to Richmond and the races leading up to that."

(WAS MR. FRANCE SMART OR LUCKY WITH THE SUCCESS OF THE CHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP?) "I think he was smart. In order to take the biggest sport in United States and make such a change with it knowing how many people's lives it can affect. I really feel that he made an educated and calculated decision. He did a great job.

"I don't think that NASCAR as a whole would take a chance if there was a chance of it going belly up or hurting our sport. It was a very calculated move and it turned out how they expected."

(HOW DRAINED WERE YOU AT THE END OF LAST SEASON?) "I was beat. I didn't realize it until my honeymoon. I went from the end of the season to New York for banquet to Paris for the race overseas then wedding. On the honeymoon that's when I finally had a chance to sleep. With the way season was going, I was run down. So was the team and everybody. Driving race cars is what I love to do. There's nothing like it and like racing these guys. I could do that everybody. The rest of it is work. It's a tough schedule with the travel and the responsibilities you have as a driver. Those things really wear on you but climbing in a race car - I'll do that any chance I can get."

(WILL YOU APPROACH THE RACES LEADING UP TO THE FINAL TEN AS YOU DID LAST YEAR?) "I know it looked from the outside like we were trying to do some off the wall stuff since we had the points lead. We were experimenting but we really felt like we what we were trying was going to work. Knowing that and if we are in that situation again, I think you have to try to find an advantage for the final ten. I feel like we would take some chances again. If you can find an advantage with something the other guys aren't using for the final ten, you'll be golden."

(ON DRIVING A SPORTS CAR VS. A CUP CAR) "It's a totally different vehicle. They're at least half the weight. On top of that, the strong points of the prototype drivers are opposite of a Cup car. The Cup car has a lot of mechanical grip. We don't have a lot of downforce so you can roll through the turn and use the gas and carry a lot of corner speed. With the prototype you have zero mechanical grip and all downforce and is very light so can brake like you wouldn't believe and accelerate pretty strongly as well."

(ON THEIR ENGINE PROGRAM THIS YEAR) "It's fantastic on a lot of levels. Randy (Dorton) did so many things for our organization. Not only did he run the engine department, he was an important part of developing new products and new things for Hendrick Motorsports and involved with the driver development. He really eye for the future of Hendrick Motorsports.

"We have hired Doug Duchardt this week. I think Doug has the same mindset and was a really good friend Randy's and understood where Randy was going with things. I think that is going to strong asset to Hendrick Motorsports to carry that vision on that Randy had. There's no doubt that there's a huge void there and I'm not sure we'll ever be able to fill it. Randy believed in his guys in the engine department. They had a lot of free reign to experiment and try things and develop our engine program. Jim Wall and Jeff Andrews and all those guys know what to do. I don't feel we will enter the season with a soft engine program or have the excuse that we can't win a championship this year because of it. That doesn't exist. Even if there was something that was affecting us, we wouldn't admit it because we want to carry on Randy's name and everybody that was involved. We won't sleep. We'll work harder than we ever have to make up the difference out of pride and to keep Hendrick where it needs to be."

(DID THE 24 HOURS AT DAYTONA GET YOU READY FOR THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT?) "The 24 Hours is just a fun thing. You get to spend time in a cool race car different than what we normally drive. You do get the racing juices flowing in your mind. The cars are so different we can't apply it."

(ON PARTICIPATING IN THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT) "The Bud Shootout really won't cross over but it gets you ready for the duels and the 500. I think there is a small advantage to being in the Shootout if you go out and work on your set-up a little bit. You also have a chance to get on the track. It never fails you that half way into the 500 something comes to you that you forgot about but wanted to remember. So you get a head start."

(DO YOU THINK YOU AND JEFF GORDON HAVE CLOSED HERE ON THE DEI DRIVERS?) "I think last year showed that. Jeff (Gordon) won two and Junior won two. I don't think there's a gap anymore."

BOBBY LABONTE, NO. 18 INTERSTATE BATTERIES CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO:

(DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE IS A VOID AFTER NOT HAVING A RECENT CHAMPIONSHIP?) "There's nothing like winning. As much as it demands your time, if you're winning, there's a lot more demands on your time. You don't want to be not doing it. If you want to be juiced about it, you want to be winning races and championships."

(ON WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED SINCE WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP) "I think a lot of it happened just in life. As you get older you learn more. The biggest thing is you want to be first every year. If you're not, it's more humbling. You say there's next year and if you don't (win) next year, you get real mad. Once you taste that victory and Champaign in New York, you want to do it more and more. It's your ultimate goal. When you don't do it, it's frustrating and humbling."

(ON THE 24 HOURS OF DAYTONA) "It was good. It's a hard race. We take it for granted those guys that race and win those races and compete all the time. A long race like that is different from the shorter races they run. We had a good time and learned a lot. The guys that race that series take it seriously. It became a very competitive and challenging race. We look forward to hopefully doing it again."

BOBBY HAMILTON JR., NO. 32 TIDE CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO:

(ON HOW HE FEELS GOING INTO THE DAYTONA 500) "We've just been testing so much. It's drug out so much leading into the 500 that by the time it comes, you're excited and ready to go. With it being the first 500 you look forward to it. It's something to add to your career. Through the winter we tested so you're mentally prepared before the season starts."

(ON HIS TEAM THIS YEAR) "We have all new people and all new race cars. RCR is providing the motors. I don't think it's going to be a 13-win year. It's going to be something to get the 32 car turned around. I think it will be a top 15, top 20 car on a bad day hopefully. We need to do that and get the foundation in place and have the team be consistent every week and no problems with the seat or the car malfunctioning. That's how you start putting yourself in the position to win. You do that, then you start getting closer to those wins."