WALLACE & MILLER LITE TEAM PENSKE TAKING NEW CAR & ANALYTICAL ATTACK INTO POCONO 500

LONG POND, Pa. (June 5, 2002) Rusty Wallace and his Miller Lite Team Penske are hoping that their recent test, an analytical approach and a brand-new race car will equal the sum of all fears for the other competitors in this weekend's Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway.

"Just two seasons ago, we were winning the poles and the races at Pocono and we're determined to get back there and do it again," said Wallace, a four-time winner on the 2.5-mile triangle-shaped Pocono Raceway. "That's why we spent a couple of days testing there last week.

"It rained a lot and we did all we could to get everything possible out of it (the test) with our new (PC-) 47 race car," continued Wallace, now back up to fifth in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series points race. "A lot of the time we had the entire track to ourselves because there were still a lot of wet spots down near the apron all around the place. But the fact was that the racing groove was dry through all the corners. But, to make sure that we played it safe, we had 'em put cones up in the turns where the wet stuff started.

"Pocono is all about getting through the corners and there are three distinct turns to deal with," said Wallace, who won the pole for the June race here two years ago and bounced back to win the July race during the same season. "So, we spent a bunch of time dealing with each corner separately, trying to get as good as possible in all three turns.

"We really think we'll have something for them this time around and all of our hard work will pay off," concluded Wallace.

"It's (the test) the most analytical situation I've seen since being
with Rusty and the team," said team engineer Matt Lucas. "I think it was a smart move and will pay some dividends. We worked on the turns individually and have all of that data to work with. I think that is steps ahead of everybody else; especially so much more than what the other teams there at the test could have gained from it. At least we're counting on that to be the case."

"We'll be pretty stout, I feel," said crew chief Bill Wilburn. "The
deal at Pocono.and you always hear the media and everyone else talking about it.is that Pocono is all about compromise. When dealing with such a unique track where there are three different turns, you have to take a little over here in order to get a little over there.

"But the bottom line is that without testing, you only have two hours of practice before qualifying and then another 90 minutes prior to the race. What that means is that you have to look at the stopwatch for the whole lap and don't have the time to focus much on each turn. We think we've had a chance to look super close and spend time with each turn. We hope to have the best for all the turns and can work that into the best compromise.or whatever you want to call it.possible. We'll see, but we think we're gonna' be really good. "Then, on top of that add the fact that we have a brand-new race car for Pocono," said Wilburn. "There's always been something about Rusty and new race cars. There always has been and there always will be an extra shot of adrenaline involved whenever that happens.not just with the
driver, but with all the team members, too."

Wallace started 16th and finished 16th in last year's Pocono 500. The car (PC-34, raced last week at Dover) was loose for much of the day and got caught on pit road when a caution flag flew. In last year's fall event, Wallace started 15th and finished 11th. The car was too tight for much of the race, but Wallace hung on to finish in the lead lap.

Friday's 3:05 p.m. single round of two-lap qualifying will establish
the 43-car starting field for Sunday's race. Saturday's final "happy hour" practice session is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. till 12:00 noon. Sunday's Pocono 500 features live broadcasts by Fox-TV and MRN radio beginning at 12:30 p.m. EDT.