Johnson, Kahne win qualifying races but what did we learn at Daytona?

Trends are starting develop at Daytona and with rain in the forecast for Friday, things could get even more interesting. Thursday, fans saw tight finishes with Jimmie Johnson nipping Kevin Harvick in the first qualifying race and Kasey Kahne edging Tony Stewart in the second qualifying race.

The thing I keep hearing from drivers is how challenging it is to drive these cars. I keep hearing the word "handful.'' Certainly, you can see it with the way these cars wiggle, slide and slip on the track.

Typically you see this type of sliding around when the series is here in July -- when the sun bakes the track and makes it slippery for everyone. Thursday, temperatures were in the 40s most of the day (yes, some places would love to be that warm now but that's more than 25 degrees below the average high temperature for Daytona at this point of the year.

So, why are the cars sliding around as if it seems they're on ice? Consider a new tire from Goodyear, a larger restrictor plate, aerodynamic changes and a new rear shock package.

What that means is handling is pivotal. It's always key here but will be more imporant with the way the car is acting. Adding to the challenge is that with Friday's forecast calling for rain, it seems doubtful the Cup guys will practice. That will leave only an 85-minute session on Saturday to be ready for the Daytona 500.

Another key thing is that crew chief Kenny Francis said that Kasey Kahne hasn't complained about his car's handling all week  That's a good sign based on the way this race is headed. And, recall that Kahne and his team will switch to the old Ford engine for the race. They, along with some other Ford teams, have been using the new Ford engine this week. With teams allowed to change engines, they'll switch back to the old Ford engine. Don't fret. Kahne had an old Ford engine in his car when he finished second to Kevin Harvick in last weekend's Budweiser Shootout.

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A GOOD SIGN FOR DALE JR

While Junior Nation couldn't have been thrilled to have seen Dale Earnhardt Jr. riding at the back of his qualifying race Thursday, there was an interesting debate going on over the radio frequency. Earnhardt was back there after he said Brian Vickers got into him and forced him into another car. The contact damaged Earnhardt's car on both sides. Crew chief Lance McGrew suggested it would be best to just come in and park the car since Earnhardt qualified second and McGrew didn't want to further damage the car and risk going to a backup and starting at the rear. Dale Jr. wanted to race.

That's a good sign for Junior Nation. No doubt Dale Jr. was beat up by his struggles last year and it was obvious his confidence took a hit. Granted this is Daytona where Dale Jr excels, but he could have easily just decided to park it. Instead he wanted to stay out and thought he could catch the pack even though he was running with a couple of backmarkers well back. That Junior remains driven and is eager to keep racing even under such a dire situation should be encouraging for Dale Jr. fans. Now, it doesn't mean stuff won't happen to him but it is a step forward. That's what this season is about. Taking steps forward.

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JEFF GORDON HAS SOME WORK TO DO

Gordon's car was damaged when he rammed Regan Smith's car in the rear after Smith got into Michael Waltrip, sending Waltrip spinning into the inside wall. Gordon will go to a backup car, thus will start at the rear of the field Sunday. After the qualifying race, he spent 20-30 minutes in the hauler with crew chief Steve Letarte and the team. One can only imagine what was taking place but it's safe to guess there was a lot of talk about changing to the backup, what Gordon liked about his primary car, what he didn't like and what they need to do. With handling such an issue, I'd keep an eye on Gordon and other veterans who run well at this track. That experience could play a key role in determining Sunday's winner.

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SHORT TAKES

# I was impressed with Tony Stewart in finishing second. He was not very good in the first half of his qualifying race but he put himself in the right position to nearly win the thing. That's how good he is on this style of racing. Don't count him out even when he said on the radio that the car was "terrible, terrible tight'' as he did just before the halfway mark in his qualifying race.

# Pit road calls are going to be interesting Sunday. Recall that Kevin Harvick used a two-tire stop to win the Budweiser Shootout while Greg Biffle, who had older tires because he didn't pit wrecked after being bumped by Jeff Gordon. Then, Thursday, Johnson climbs to the lead because he doesn't pit with seven laps left and holds on to win the race. Two different situations and two different results. While you always want tires here, Johnson showed that going without new tires still can win. Of course, it takes a heck of a wheelman also.

# Michael Waltrip slipped into the Daytona 500 field on the basis of Scott Speed finishing ahead of Casey Mears (driving for Keyed-Up Motorsports owned by Va. Beach businessman Raymond Key). This is the only Cup race Waltrip is scheduled, although if he can find more sponsorship he'll race in some additional events. I would expect him to show up and compete in a few Cup events this year. Also making the field was Mike Bliss in a backup car for Tommy Baldwin Racing. Recall that Baldwin's team was formed shortly before last year's Daytona 500 and was one of those underdog teams that made it (with Scott Riggs as driver). Well, Bliss drove the same car Thursday that made the Daytona 500 last year. Not bad.

# NASCAR announed that they'll make up to 3 attempts at a Green-White-Checkered finish for all national series races (Cup, Nationwide and Truck). What this means is that if on a GWC restart the caution comes out BEFORE the leader begins the final lap, they'll do it again and do it for up to three times. Now, once the leader takes the white flag and begins the final lap and the caution then comes out ... well the race is over.

# In the Truck series, there's an All-Virginia front row with Jason White of Richmond on the pole and Elliott Sadler of Emporia (driving for Kevin Harvick Inc.) beside him.

Here's your Daytona 500 starting lineup (not taking into account those going to the rear for backups (at least J. Gordon, Waltrip and Jeff Burton)

1. Mark Martin

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

3. Jimmie Johnson

4. Kasey Kahne

5. Kevin Harvick

6. Tony Stewart

7. Kyle Busch

8. Juan Pablo Montoya

9. Clint  Bowyer

10. Kurt Busch

11. Regan Smith

12. Elliott Sadler

13. Jamie McMurray

14. Martin Truex Jr.

15. AJ Allmendinger

16. Joey Logano

17. Ryan Newman

18. Marcos Ambrose

19. David Ragan

20. David Reutimann

21. Jeff Gordon

22. Brian Vickers

23. Greg Biffle

24. Matt Kenseth

25. Denny Hamlin

26. Brad Keselowski

27. Carl Edwards

28. Mike Bliss

29. Michael McDowell

30. Scott Speed

31. Max Papis

32. Paul Menard

33. John Andretti

34. Robby Gordon

35. Travis Kvapil

36. Sam Hornish Jr.

37. Robert Richardson

38. Boris Said

39. Jeff Burton

40. Bill Elliott

41. Joe Nemechek

42. Bobby Labonte

43. Michael Waltrip

There you go. So what was your take on what happened Thursday at Daytona?

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