NASCAR Cup Series

Ordinary NASCAR fans enjoying the Nationwide Series race Saturday afternoon acted heroically when fellow race fans were injured following the last lap crash. No fan expected to be in danger when they entered the Speedway that day but, when disaster struck, fans helped fans to make sure everyone was alright.

For NASCAR, the news is good. Ratings for the Daytona 500 were up 30% this season. That’s good for the sport and better for the bottom line. Final ratings are not out, though. We shall see.

It’s often said that champions know how to deal with adversity, and in the Daytona 500 no driver navigated hardships more admirably than the reigning titleholder.

TEAM CHEVY IN THE GARAGE PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY – ALBA COLON, PROGRAM MANAGER, NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES - CHEVROLET RACING: “Congratulations to Mr. Rick Hendrick and the entire Hendrick Motorsports organization for the fantastic 1-2 finish at last Sunday’s Daytona 500!

After further evaluation by two different doctors in North Carolina, it has been determined that Richard Petty Motorsports driver Michael Annett has suffered a fracture and dislocation of his sternum. He will immediately undergo surgery for his injuries in Charlotte. He suffered the injury as a result of an accident during Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series event in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Reinforcing the need for speed and going all out for the win, NASCAR announced on Tuesday the format for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race that will put added emphasis on finishing well in each of the five segments. The sport’s annual classic is set for Saturday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. (live on SPEED) at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Daytona 500 Recap: The No. 1 team planned to race cautiously in the early stages just to get a feel for the new car in race conditions. Following an early caution on lap 28, the McDonald’s team pitted to take four tires and make a chassis adjustment.

RCR at "The Desert Jewel" ... Team owner Richard Childress has four victories at Phoenix International Raceway, ranking him third on the all-time car owner victories list at the Avondale, Ariz.,-based facility. This includes RCR's most recent points-paying NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win with driver Kevin Harvick last November; and Harvick's sweep of both races at PIR in 2006.

With the 2013 season now underway, NASCAR® driver Greg Biffle will once again be racing with the environmentally sustainable, 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid as a new standard in the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion. Novec 1230 fluid balances performance requirements with favorable environmental and safety properties, giving Biffle added reassurance and peace of mind.

THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to today's NASCAR teleconference. We are joined by Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet. Johnson won Sunday's 55th running of the Daytona 500, his second career victory in the Great American Race.