Team 48 Bud Shootout Preview

Lowe’s Monte Carlo driver Jimmie Johnson and Team 48 will kick off their 2006 Nextel Cup season by competing in the Budweiser Shootout this Saturday, Feb. 11, at Daytona International Speedway. Johnson is the defending race winner. On the final pit stop of the 2005 Shootout, Johnson’s pit crew gave him four new tires, while several other competitors only took on two. Johnson led the final 16 laps of the event.

DRIVER JIMMIE JOHNSON QUOTES:

IMPORTANCE OF THE SHOOTOUT:
“This is our version of ‘Opening Day.’ The last time we raced was in Homestead and that seems like a long time ago. To get out there and start racing again in something as wild and fun as the Shootout is really cool. It’s one of the races everyone anticipates. Winning last year was a great start for us. It’s the equivalent of hitting a homerun in your first at bat or throwing for a touchdown with your first pass. This race can instantly build momentum for your team.”

ON THE TEAM’S ATTITUDE HEADING INTO 2006:
“I think we’re a stronger team, more mature. We’ve had some changes at Hendrick Motorsports with Steve LeTarte stepping up. We’ve got a lot of new blood and new energy in the shop. I was telling Rick (Hendrick) the other day, I see a different environment in the shop. We’ve got a bunch of new hungry guys in the 24/48 shop that aren’t necessarily accustomed to winning and being a part of all those championships. The excitement and the eagerness to get started at the shop is like nothing I’ve seen before.”

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TEAMMATES:
“The importance of communicating with your teammates and sharing information is growing every year. With the rule changes that take place and the restrictions on testing, it just makes you work with your teammates that much harder. It reinforces that you need four or five cars to have an advantage in our sport. It’s driving that. Between the limits put on testing and how much it costs to try and find any advantage, I think everything’s just leading to more and more communication.”

CREW CHIEF CHAD KNAUS QUOTES:

ON HOW TEAM 48 KEEPS THE INTENSITY YEAR AFTER YEAR:
“The way we’re able to keep it at that level is that we keep it at that level. There’s no options, that’s what we have to do. That’s what Rick’s (Hendrick) got us here for, and that’s what we expect out of our team. That’s what Jimmie expects of me, and that’s what I expect of him. When a new team member becomes a part of the (No.) 48 team, he knows what’s expected. You expect to win races and contend for championships. Fortunately, we’ve never had a slump, and I hope it never comes.”

ON WHETHER IT WOULD BE A BIGGER STORY TO THE MEDIA FOR THE NO. 48 TEAM TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP THAN ANOTHER TEAM:
“I hope (it will be bigger). I think we’ve pretty much established ourselves, the (No.) 48 team as a whole, as being a weekly competitor in this series. You know, I feel like we’re very good competitors and kind of a staple in terms of being competitive. I think whenever a team like that is able to go out there and win the championship, I think it’s big for the sport side of things, and the marketing side of things. You know, Lowe’s uses Jimmie and I a lot in their marketing, and they use both of us in promotional stuff.

“I’m really looking forward to (winning the championship one day). I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. I think Jimmie will make a great champion and be a great ambassador to the sport, and I think our team represents NASCAR very well.”

RACE NOTES

Chassis