Labonte Awesome in Happy Hour at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 15, 2003) – Two-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Terry Labonte had the fastest car at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway during Saturday’s final Daytona 500 practice, posting a 187.602-mph lap in the No. 5 Kellogg’s / got milk? Chevrolet. Labonte will start 41st on Sunday in his 25th “Great American Race” at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. Driving the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy, Jimmie Johnson was 28th in the “Happy Hour” practice, followed by teammate Jeff Gordon in 31st overall. Joe Nemechek, driver of the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet, did not participate in Saturday’s final session after experiencing flu-like symptoms. The Lakeland, Fla., native sat out Saturday’s NASCAR Busch Series event, but will drive in Sunday’s 500-mile Winston Cup race. Johnson paced the Hendrick Motorsports contingent in the day’s early practice with a 187.060-mph lap, good for 22nd overall. He was followed by Nemechek in 27th, Gordon in 29th and Labonte in 37th. Bobby Labonte was quickest in the first practice at 189.721 mph.