Earnhardt like new kid at school during Atlanta test

HAMPTON, Ga. -- For Dale Earnhardt Jr., Monday's tire test at Atlanta Motor Speedway was like being the new kid in town on the first day of school.

After getting a taste of what it's like to drive a Hendrick Motorsports car when he took the wheel of Kyle Busch's banged-up Chevrolet for a few laps at Texas earlier this season, Junior's new adventure kicked off for real in a specially painted No. 5 Chevrolet with a retro All-Star Racing paint scheme, circa 1984.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove a white and red No. 5 during the test at Atlanta.

Check out what Dale Earnhardt Jr. had to say about testing in a Hendrick Motorsports car.

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"I think the hard part for me is just, it's like going to a new school, making new friends," Earnhardt said. "It's hard to make friends. It's hard to build relationships. Starting all over with a new group of guys, I had such a great rapport and great relationship with all the guys on my team I'm currently with, and to have to go through the challenge of that and building that respect and trust, you know, with a whole new group's gonna be tough.

"They seem like they're willing to have a great attitude, willing to work really well. So it should be just a matter of time. Just getting to know everybody, remembering everybody, everybody's name, getting to understand and learn their personalities, the ins and outs of every member on the team. That's going to be the only challenge."

At least Junior knows somebody. His cousin, Tony Eury Jr., will be his crew chief in 2008. The two spent Monday going through a checklist of things they'd like to try during the two days of testing.

"We haven't really tore through our list of things to do," Earnhardt said. "We just sort of run both cars a couple times, tried some rear shocks. Now we're redoing this one car with a totally different setup. We didn't get a chance to get out on the racetrack with it.

"We haven't really delved into the technical side of it yet. We're just sort of driving the cars, making sure nothing scared me, making sure there's no big problems, anything like that. So the cars drive really good and very comfortable. One's got a set that I've been running in it, running for a long time. The other's got a seat that -- new carbon fiber seat. We're trying that out, getting used to that, getting the bugs out of that."

Junior said the biggest difference he noticed between his new Hendrick ride and the cars from the Dale Earnhardt Inc. stable was in the steering.

"The steering is smoother," Earnhardt said. "I think the theory and the method that Hendrick takes in putting their geometry together and putting this front suspension -- how the front suspension's assembled -- makes the car steer smoother. That's the way the 5 car felt at Texas. It was quite a bit different than my car at Texas. It's a little bit the same here."

For a driver, testing is rarely exciting. But in this instance, Earnhardt said there's a little more to it than just getting in the car and cranking off laps.

"Well, the actual physical testing part is mundane, of course," he said. "But I was excited. Rick is going to be here any time. I'm excited to see him. I'm excited to watch Tony Jr. work with the new guys. I'm excited to see the expressions on their face, their mannerisms, their attitude about the whole thing.

"I was looking forward to that waking up this morning, but I knew the physical testing part of it would be relatively as boring as it always is. Plus, like I say, I've been here all weekend. I think NASCAR is trying to punish us for some reason with this scheduling deal. But it is a lot more convenient. But, man, it makes for quite a long week."

So does he now feel like a Hendrick driver?

"I don't know what that's supposed to feel like," Junior said. "I think that will probably be the feeling I have when I go to test in Daytona. You know, I'm getting an opportunity to work with these guys a little early, but I'm still focused and dedicated toward finishing my job with dignity over at the 8 car.

"That's important to me, that we keep working and work hard. I would regret if we end up not doing that. I feel like those guys are very welcoming and excited. But I think it really won't sink in until we go to Speedweeks testing."