The No. 48 Chevy was covered in confetti during Jimmie Johnson's Victory Lane celebration. Credit: Getty Images

Johnson's 500-winning car goes on display

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- After celebrating his first Daytona 500 victory on Sunday night, Jimmie Johnson, owner Rick Hendrick and substitute crew chief Darian Grubb were up bright and early to present the winning racing machine to the DAYTONA USA attraction.

The No. 48 car will be on display for the next 364 days and will be returned to the team before the start of the 49th Daytona 500 on Feb. 18, 2007.

Johnson, Hendrick and Grubb participated in a fan forum inside the attraction and received their winning Daytona 500 leather jackets from Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig and Gatorade presented the 2006 Daytona 500 champ with a framed photo from Victory Lane.

"It's slowly sinking in," said Johnson, who earned $1,505,124 in winnings. "Last night, I had the pleasure of hanging out with all of my guys. Channy and I were reminiscing on a few things. It's just amazing to me to be in this position to win this race and how much it means to my career. I think over the next couple of days and really the next couple of years, it'll really sink in what this race means to me and how big it is and what it means for my career.

	Credit: Autostock
	Daytona 500 Unofficial Results Pos. Driver Make 1. J. Johnson Chevrolet 2. C. Mears Dodge 3. R. Newman Dodge 4. E. Sadler Ford 5. T. Stewart Chevrolet Complete results, click here Victory LaneJimmie Johnson celebrates a Daytona 500 victory Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

"It's kind of hard to believe racing off road trucks and living in San Diego that I would be here today winning the Daytona 500. It's been a long road. From growing up racing dirt bikes through the off road ranks, I've been to Daytona many times just watching and wondering what it would be like. To be here today is very special."

Once again, Hendrick Motorsports went a step further in the tradition of signing the Daytona 500-winning car.

Steve Burgh, who heads up Hendrick's Superspeedway program, had everybody at Hendrick Motorsports sign a sticker just in case any of their four race cars were able to win Sunday's race.

"He took the forethought," Grubb said. "He knew we had an incredible speedway program. He knew we had a really great shot at winning the race with one of our four cars. He didn't care which one and nobody cared which one.

"He went through every shop. He went through the engine shop, 5 and 25 building, 24 and 48 building, marketing department, everybody. Everyone that wanted to sign it, he said, 'Here's your opportunity. This is what we were going to put on the back of the Daytona 500 winner.' We're just so lucky that the Lowe's Monte Carlo is it."

Johnson will apear on the Late Show with David Letterman on Monday night and Live with Regis and Kelly on Tuesday.