Notes: Wreck makes for a tough start for Penske cars (cont'd)

Hall of Famer discusses draft origins

Junior Johnson, the 1960 Daytona 500 winner who is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his biggest victory, served as grand marshal for the latest Great American Race and recalled the early origins of drafting at NASCAR's famed track.

Johnson is credited with helping discover the advantage of having two or more cars racing together versus racing alone. It helped him win his only Daytona 500.

"Basically, I stole the race," Johnson said. "I didn't win it."

Johnson was about 15 mph slower than some of the new cars and was "about to go home" because his year-old Chevrolet was "disgusting." But he figured out in the final Daytona 500 practice that his car came to life when he "ducked in behind" Jack Smith.

So Johnson decided to stick around. His strategy?

"Grab people all day long and ride behind them," he said.

Still, he never thought he would win. But after many of the top cars fell back or dropped out of the race, it left him, Bobby Johns, Richard Petty and Lee Petty as the only ones on the lead lap. Johnson ended up winning by 23 seconds.

"When I figured the [draft] out, I did not know what it was," he said.

Nowadays, drafting -- tailgating the car in front of you to avoid wind resistance -- is one of the most important aspect of Daytona races.

Johnson is one of five men voted into NASCAR's first Hall of Fame class and will be officially enshrined when the Charlotte, N.C.-building opens in May.

Palin plays politician around Daytona 500

Sarah Palin took a break from the snow and played politician on stock-car racing's biggest stage.

Pretty important place on the political landscape, too.

The former vice presidential candidate and Alaska governor sped around Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, shaking hands and taking photos with drivers and fans alike before what she called the "all-Americana event."

Palin said she was "having fun and not thinking about the politics of this," but didn't miss the chance to energize her base in one of the most critical regions of the largest swing state.

"This is awesome," she said. "It's all-Americana event. Good, patriotic, wonderful event that's bringing a whole lot of people together. I think this is good for our country."

Sporting a black coat, blue jeans and heels -- no hand notes -- the self-described "hockey mom" got the full experience in her first visit to the Daytona 500.

She sat through the pre-race drivers' meeting, muscled her way through pit road, took to the stage on the infield and wished drivers a safe race. She drew roars from throngs of racing fans, many shouting "We love you, Sarah!"

Palin took just two questions from the only two reporters around her entourage, consisting of about a dozen security personnel and managers. That didn't stop her from doing what she does best: getting out in the crowds and mingling with supporters.

"I'm thinking about this good, active, speed-loving event that a lot of Alaskans, too, are really into," said Palin, adding that some elements -- minus the snow -- were similar to the famous Iditarod sled dog race.

"We've got our snow-machine races up there. This is, of course, on a much greater scale," she said. "Same type of sport, though, same type of risk-taking, speed-loving all-American event that we participate up north. We love it. You bet."

Seven-time Daytona 500 winner Richard Petty posed for a photo, and crew members on pit road even took a break from changing tires, some stunned to see Palin walking through their familiar domain before the race.

"If you run [for president] in 2012, you've got my vote," one told Palin, shaking her hand.

Palin hasn't announced plans to run for president in 2012 but has said it would be "absurd" for her not to consider running.

Sporting News Wire Service contributed to this report.