Terry Labonte fast laps at Texas test

FORT WORTH-DALLAS (March 20, 2000) - Defending DIRECTV 500 champion Terry Labonte was back in Texas for testing and turned in some of the fastest laps of the day.

Labonte pushed his #5 Kellogg's Chevrolet and backup car around Texas Motor Speedway at an average speed of 184 mph during Monday's session.

Six NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series teams are testing Monday and Tuesday. In addition to Labonte, drivers include: Scott Pruett in the #32 Tide Ford; Adam Petty in his #45 Sprint Chevrolet, the car he will attempt to qualify in at Texas for his first Winston Cup race; Jack Sprague in the #15 Albertson's Chevrolet; Jason Leffler in the #18 MBNA Pontiac; Tony Roper in the #50 Dr. Pepper Chevrolet; and Rich Bickle in the #91 Popeye's Pontiac.

Labonte says he picks where he tests a little differently than other teams.

"I like to go back to the speedways where I've had success and figure out what I'm doing right at those tracks," he said.

The wind was a factor in test times early in the day, but finally died down in the afternoon.

"It was a little windy through turns one and two," said Petty. "But that's okay, because you never know what the weather will do here and we have to be ready for anything. The car is handling good. It has a lot more horsepower than the Busch car so I'm wanting to get in as much time as I can."

In addition to defending his Winston Cup title at Texas in the April 2 DIRECTV 500, Labonte will also join eleven other Winston Cup drivers in attempting to make the field for the April 1 Busch Series Albertson's 300 presented by Pop Secret.

Tickets for both the DIRECTV 500 and Albertson's 300 presented by Pop Secret are available seven days a week at Texas Motor Speedway's ticket office, at the ticket hotline of (817) 215-8500, on-line at www.texasmotors peedway.com or through Ticketmaster locations.