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JJ/Harvick Discuss Daytona Incident
OH Yeah...
Johnson, Harvick meet to discuss Duel accident
Wallace, Nemechek prepare their backups for Daytona 500
By Marty Smith, NASCAR.COM
February 18, 2005
05:39 PM EST (22:39 GMT)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick met privately Thursday night in Johnson's motor home to hash out their differences, and both drivers consider the issue resolved.
"It's a blank sheet of paper," Johnson said Friday following Nextel Cup Series practice. "Kevin and I got together and talked it all out. It's time to move forward and forget about it."
Johnson said the meeting was frank, but that neither driver cast blame.
"It wasn't pleasurable, but it was needed," Johnson said.
Harvick felt that whatever issue he and Johnson had was blown out of proportion.
"Whether there was a rivalry, paybacks, whatever you want to call it -- I mean, this is not the place you do those kind of things," Harvick said. "We both just want to win.
"After we all watched the tapes and really realized that it was a racing incident, you all come to an understanding and they kind of just left it up to us. (It was) nothing, nothing really major. We all sat down and that was it."
The accident forced Harvick, Joe Nemechek and Rusty Wallace into backup cars. But fortunately for Johnson, his crew was able to fix the No. 48 Chevrolet.
"I don't think Thursday's deal will affect us at all - definitely not compared to other people," Johnson said.
Harvick didn't get on the track Friday during practice. Nor did Mark Martin, as his crew worked feverishly to repair the his Ford.
Despite being relegated to backup cars, Nemechek and Wallace both feel comfortable they'll be competitive Sunday.
"My car is good, much better than it was in the Bud Shootout," Nemechek said. "I had a car that could win (the 500), and I still think I can win it."
"The car is good. I'm pretty impressed," Wallace said. "We're taking it one step at a time. I stopped practice a little early. We'll run the session tomorrow and it'll give us time to sit down and think about the changes we want to make between now and then.
"We've got a left-front fender rub. We've got to reshape the left front fender, put a windshield in it and things like that. I feel good about Sunday. I really think we're going to have a great day.
"This Charger doesn't have as much straightaway speed as the one we wrecked yesterday, but it runs better through the corners. It's going to be all about handling.
"I don't think the fastest car is going to win. It's going to be the best handling car."
Dale Earnhardt Jr. paced the session while drafting with Scott Wimmer and Martin Truex Jr.
"We've had a better car every day," Junior said. "We did get a lot of stuff from the motor department such as intakes and that. For tomorrow, we're going to try to get that new motor worked in, make sure we're happy with it and get going for Sunday."
Hendrick Motorsports teammates Brian Vickers and Kyle Busch were fourth and fifth, respectively, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart.
Michael Waltrip and Jeff Gordon - two drivers many in the garage have tabbed as Daytona 500 favorites - ranked 38th and 39th in Friday's practice. Pole-sitter Dale Jarrett was 34th and Johnson 31st.
Find this article at:
http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/head...ick/index.html
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Bear in mind this dicussion took place with their Helments off .... it's a L O N G session ....OH Yeah....Yeah !!
Johnson, Harvick meet to discuss Duel accident
Wallace, Nemechek prepare their backups for Daytona 500
By Marty Smith, NASCAR.COM
February 18, 2005
05:39 PM EST (22:39 GMT)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick met privately Thursday night in Johnson's motor home to hash out their differences, and both drivers consider the issue resolved.
"It's a blank sheet of paper," Johnson said Friday following Nextel Cup Series practice. "Kevin and I got together and talked it all out. It's time to move forward and forget about it."
Johnson said the meeting was frank, but that neither driver cast blame.
"It wasn't pleasurable, but it was needed," Johnson said.
Harvick felt that whatever issue he and Johnson had was blown out of proportion.
"Whether there was a rivalry, paybacks, whatever you want to call it -- I mean, this is not the place you do those kind of things," Harvick said. "We both just want to win.
"After we all watched the tapes and really realized that it was a racing incident, you all come to an understanding and they kind of just left it up to us. (It was) nothing, nothing really major. We all sat down and that was it."
The accident forced Harvick, Joe Nemechek and Rusty Wallace into backup cars. But fortunately for Johnson, his crew was able to fix the No. 48 Chevrolet.
"I don't think Thursday's deal will affect us at all - definitely not compared to other people," Johnson said.
Harvick didn't get on the track Friday during practice. Nor did Mark Martin, as his crew worked feverishly to repair the his Ford.
Despite being relegated to backup cars, Nemechek and Wallace both feel comfortable they'll be competitive Sunday.
"My car is good, much better than it was in the Bud Shootout," Nemechek said. "I had a car that could win (the 500), and I still think I can win it."
"The car is good. I'm pretty impressed," Wallace said. "We're taking it one step at a time. I stopped practice a little early. We'll run the session tomorrow and it'll give us time to sit down and think about the changes we want to make between now and then.
"We've got a left-front fender rub. We've got to reshape the left front fender, put a windshield in it and things like that. I feel good about Sunday. I really think we're going to have a great day.
"This Charger doesn't have as much straightaway speed as the one we wrecked yesterday, but it runs better through the corners. It's going to be all about handling.
"I don't think the fastest car is going to win. It's going to be the best handling car."
Dale Earnhardt Jr. paced the session while drafting with Scott Wimmer and Martin Truex Jr.
"We've had a better car every day," Junior said. "We did get a lot of stuff from the motor department such as intakes and that. For tomorrow, we're going to try to get that new motor worked in, make sure we're happy with it and get going for Sunday."
Hendrick Motorsports teammates Brian Vickers and Kyle Busch were fourth and fifth, respectively, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart.
Michael Waltrip and Jeff Gordon - two drivers many in the garage have tabbed as Daytona 500 favorites - ranked 38th and 39th in Friday's practice. Pole-sitter Dale Jarrett was 34th and Johnson 31st.
Find this article at:
http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/head...ick/index.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bear in mind this dicussion took place with their Helments off .... it's a L O N G session ....OH Yeah....Yeah !!