Phoenix: Hamlin post qualifying interview

DENNY HAMLIN , NO. 11 FEDEX IMPALA SS - Qualified 3rd:

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RUN:

"It was pretty uneventful. I might have given up a little bit of time in (turns) three and four - a full tenth, maybe, I don't know where we may have gotten that kind of speed. But it was still a good run for us that we picked up from qualifying, obviously. We're really happy about our run."

ON THE VIRGINIA TECH TRAGEDY

"I've got to thank the sponsors for letting me do that, that's for sure. But for the most part, I have a lot of family and friends that go to Virginia Tech, not family, but friends. It definitely struck home quite a bit for myself but for them most part we're trying to do things as normal here at the race track but we still know in the back of our minds everything that happened and we're keeping them in our prayers."

DO YOU SEE SOME TRENDS WITH THE NEW RACE CAR? ARE YOU SEEING SOME OBVIOUS LEADERS?

"When you think of leaders, Hendrick (Motorsports) is obviously. they've won both the races, they finished 1-2 in the last race. They seem really good but they were really good in the other cars. I think you see the same teams up front with the new car that you did with the other car. It's better safety-wise so I guess it's a step in the right direction but right now they're not driving that well."

-credit: gm racing