HMS Drivers Quick in Daytona Practice

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 4, 2002) -- Hendrick Motorsports had three of the fastest six teams on the track before rain ended Thursday’s Pepsi 400 pre-qualifying practice at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Jeff Gordon was the quickest HMS driver and fourth overall in the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet. The four-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion posted a top speed of 183.655 mph before inclement weather ended the session. Jimmie Johnson was fifth-quick overall, with a 183.311-mph speed in the No. 48 Lowe’s Monte Carlo. The rookie won the pole position at the Daytona 500 in February, the first of his career. In the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Chevy, Joe Nemechek, who earned the NASCAR Busch Series pole position on Thursday, was sixth in practice with a top speed of 183.064 mph. Two-time Winston Cup champion Terry Labonte was 34th overall, posting a speed of 179.856 mph.