DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- If Denny Hamlin's learned anything in four years in the Cup Series, it might be the predatory nature -- the law of the jungle -- that rules: Don't show weakness or you'll get eaten alive.

And so when Hamlin walked into Media Day on Feb. 4, he had no hitch in his stride, no evidence of the torn left anterior cruciate knee ligament he'd suffered playing pickup basketball on Jan. 22.

Hamlin has repeatedly tested his knee, in both a systematic and impromptu manner. On the opening day of practice for the Budweiser Shootout, Hamlin was part of a grinding six-car wreck in Turn 1. Nothing compromised his knee there, but make no mistake, he's aware of it.

And with everything he's said about the knee not compromising his ability to drive -- primarily in manipulating the clutch and brake pedals -- he proved it Saturday night in the Shootout, where he finished fifth behind defending champion Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne.

"No, nothing at all [on Thursday]," Hamlin said, wearing the smile he often displays. "I tested it right before this race started. I pressed down on the brake just as hard as I could and had some pit stops and was able to take off with the clutch and everything was smooth."

But as much as his stride belies any discomfort he's feeling, Hamlin had to tell the truth.

"It's good," Hamlin said. "But it's better in the car than it is now. But really, it's just not an issue at all. I thought that it would be, but not here, definitely."

Hamlin's last comment did mean the questions would arise again after Sunday's Daytona 500, when the series heads to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., a high-speed two-mile oval where a lot more brake pressure is needed.

"By then I think the pain will be much, much less than it is at the current time," Hamlin said. "Myself, there's no better place than I can be [than] at Daytona as far as the leg is concerned. Talking to the doctors and everything like that, by the time I get to California I won't have a limp, I'll walk normal and everything will be fine."

Hamlin has a custom-fitted brace. (Continued)