Johnson still waiting on apology from Hornish (cont'd)

Hamlin hurting

Denny Hamlin has been fitted with a knee brace, but he's not likely to turn laps with the bulky binding.

2010 Cup Schedule

Track	Time (ET)	TV
Daytona	1 p.m.	FOX
Fontana	3 p.m.	FOX
Las Vegas	3 p.m.	FOX
Atlanta	1 p.m.	FOX
Bristol	1 p.m.	FOX
Martinsville	1 p.m.	FOX
Phoenix	7:30 p.m.	FOX
Texas	3 p.m.	FOX
Talladega	1 p.m.	FOX
Richmond	7:30 p.m.	FOX
Darlington	7:30 p.m.	FOX
Dover	1 p.m.	FOX
Charlotte	5:45 p.m.	FOX
Pocono	1 p.m.	TNT
Michigan	1 p.m.	TNT
Sonoma	3 p.m.	TNT
Loudon	1 p.m.	TNT
Daytona	7:30 p.m.	TNT
Chicago	7:30 p.m.	TNT
Indianapolis	1 p.m.	ESPN
Pocono	1 p.m.	ESPN
Watkins Glen	1 p.m.	ESPN
Michigan	1 p.m.	ESPN
Bristol	7:30 p.m.	ABC
Atlanta	7:30 p.m.	ESPN
Richmond	7:30 p.m.	ABC
Loudon	1 p.m.	ESPN
Dover	1 p.m.	ESPN
Kansas	1 p.m.	ESPN
Fontana	3 p.m.	ESPN
Charlotte	7:30 p.m.	ABC
Martinsville	1 p.m.	ESPN
Talladega	1 p.m.	ESPN
Texas	3 p.m.	ESPN
Phoenix	3 p.m.	ESPN
Homestead	1 p.m.	ESPN

Hamlin tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee playing basketball last month and plans to have surgery after the season. He recently did some clutching and breaking with his injured leg and believes he should be able to drive without pain.

Hamlin expects the new brace to eliminate his limp, but he won't wear it when he gets behind the wheel of his No. 11 Toyota.

"The confines of the cockpit are so small that in case of an emergency or in a wreck and you have to make an abrupt move with your feet to hit the brakes you've got to have that mobility and you've got to have that room, and I think the brace takes a little bit of that away," he said.

Hamlin said he has about 80 percent of his normal leg strength.

"That's good enough," he said. "That's probably stronger than most guys at 100 percent."

Future drivers?

Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon became the latest driver to announce a pregnancy.

Gordon and his wife, Ingrid, said Thursday they are expecting their second child in August. Four-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Elliott Sadler and Juan Pablo Montoya also have pregnant wives.

"I don't know what's going on in our sport right now," Gordon said.

Johnson's wife is due in July. Edwards and Sadler could become first-time fathers in the next few weeks. Edwards' wife is due Feb. 17, three days after the season-opening Daytona 500, and Sadler's wife is due in early March. Montoya's wife is due in July.

Edwards should be the first to juggle a delivery with the racing schedule.

"My plan is to go race the best I can and we've got backup plans in case something happens," he said. "I don't anticipate missing any car time. Not at all. My wife's pretty cool. She'd be mad at me if I left. Hopefully, the timing will work out. Hopefully, the worst case is I miss some practice."

Gordon's first child, Ella, will turn 3 in June. Gordon said Ella "is excited about being a big sister."

"She can't stop talking about it at home," he said.

Harvick out

Kevin Harvick sat out Budweiser Shootout practice Thursday because of flu-like symptoms.

Harvick, the 2007 Daytona 500 winner, was still back home in North Carolina when practice began. Richard Childress Racing teammate Clint Bowyer took Harvick's place in the No. 29 Chevrolet and was involved in a wreck during practice. According to the team, Harvick hoped to arrive in Daytona on Thursday night.

The Shootout, an exhibition race that kicks off Speedweeks, is Saturday night.