DOVER, Del. (June 1, 2002) -- Jimmie Johnson was the fastest Hendrick Motorsports driver in Saturday’s final MBNA Platinum 400 practice at Dover (Del.) International Speedway, posting the 12th-best time of the afternoon in the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet.
Four-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon was 16th-quickest in the No. 24 Dupont Chevrolet, followed by the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Monte Carlo of Joe Nemechek in 32nd overall. Terry Labonte was 40th during “Happy Hour” in the No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet.
Gordon was the class of Team Hendrick in Saturday’s first morning practice with the sixth-fastest time of the session. Johnson was 18th, followed by Labonte in 37th and Nemechek 39th.
Dover “Happy Hour” Practice (11:15 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
1. Ryan Newman – 24.098 seconds, 149.390 mph
2. Rusty Wallace – 24.103 seconds, 149.359 mph
3. Matt Kenseth – 24.144 seconds, 149.105 mph
4. Mark Martin – 24.157 seconds, 149.025 mph
5. Dale Jarrett – 24.182 seconds, 148.871 mph
6. Elliott Sadler – 24.182 seconds, 148.871 mph
7. Ward Burton – 24.196 seconds, 148.785 mph
8. Jerry Nadeau – 24.197 seconds, 148.779 mph
9. Kurt Busch – 24.210 seconds, 148.699 mph
10. Tony Stewart – 24.212 seconds, 148.687 mph
12. Jimmie Johnson – 24.219 seconds, 148.644 mph
16. Jeff Gordon – 24.252 seconds, 148.441 mph
32. Joe Nemechek – 24.383 seconds, 147.644 mph
40. Terry Labonte – 24.478 seconds, 147.071 mph
Dover Practice No. 2 (9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.)
1. Matt Kenseth – 23.906 seconds, 150.590 mph
2. Jerry Nadeau – 23.906 seconds, 150.590 mph
3. Jeff Green – 23.959 seconds, 150.257 mph
4. Elliott Sadler – 23.963 seconds, 150.232 mph
5. Ricky Rudd – 23.986 seconds, 150.088 mph
6. Jeff Gordon – 23.988 seconds, 150.075 mph
7. Bill Elliott – 23.988 seconds, 150.075 mph
8. Jeff Burton – 23.991 seconds, 150.056 mph
9. Todd Bodine – 23.994 seconds, 150.038 mph
10. Ricky Craven – 23.998 seconds, 150.013 mph
18. Jimmie Johnson – 24.057 seconds, 149.645 mph
37. Terry Labonte – 24.235 seconds, 148.545 mph
39. Joe Nemechek – 24.255 seconds, 148.423 mph