Labonte praises new champ Gordon

Labonte won the penultimate race of the 2001 season, while Gordon finished sixth, but the Joe Gibbs Racing star said he was impressed with Gordon's performances throughout the whole year.

"He keeps a very level head when it comes down to it," said Labonte. "He keeps it all in stride and knows he isn't the one that makes it happen, it's everyone around him. When his car is right, he drives the wheels off it. Racing against him week in and week out, he can take a good race car and make it a lot better than what other guys can."

Labonte's crew chief, Jimmy Makar, is equally impressed with his counterpart at Hendrick Motorsports, Robbie Loomis.

"Robbie has been around a long time and has worked his way up through the ranks," Makar said. "It's a very rewarding feeling when you think of what it takes to get to that point. It's a wonderful sense of accomplishment - the culmination of many years of hard work. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. He is a great competitor."