DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Rookies Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson took the NASCAR world by storm last season. And while Newman ultimately won the Rookie of the Year award, it was Johnson who initially turned heads by winning the pole at Daytona in his first-ever Winston Cup race at the track.

Johnson would finish 15th while Newman was a strong seventh in the race. And both proved that rookies could not only make waves throughout the Winston Cup season, but could also make an immediate impact upon the series in the season-opening Daytona 500.

This season, six rookies -- along with Christian Fittipaldi, who plans to compete as a rookie in Winston Cup next season -- will try to qualify for the Daytona 500.

Among them are several names already familiar to NASCAR fans: Last season's Busch Series champion and former Craftsman Trucks champ Greg Biffle, Ganassi rookie and '02 race-winner Jamie McMurray, A.J. Foyt's son Larry Foyt and another Craftsman Truck champion, Jack Sprague.

	Mears posted the 42nd-best practice time on Tuesday after placing 23rd in qualifying on Monday.

Also on the entry list are Tony Raines, who made seven Winston Cup starts and ran a full Busch schedule last season, Casey Mears, who also ran a Busch Series schedule in 2002 and has made several CART starts in his career, and open-wheel veteran Fittipaldi.

And while each of these rookies has different takes on the 2003 season and their expectations for it, they all seem to share one obvious goal -- just making it into the race. And based on Monday's qualifying times, there are few sure things out there.

"I really thought if we could back up what we did in testing we'd be in the top 20," said Sprague, whose time was 28th-best on Monday. "We've got to race our way in Thursday and it's going to be difficult to do. ... I wish we could have run a little bit faster like everybody else, I'm sure"

McMurray, who won at Charlotte last season while filling in for the injured Sterling Marlin -- with whom he is now teamed -- posted the best time among the rookies in qualifying, as his 184.502 mph lap ranked 11th on Monday.

"That's better than we expected," said McMurray, whose win came in just his second Winston Cup start. "I think the race track picked up some, but the guys found something (heading into qualifying). I don't know what it was, but it worked."

Though only the top two qualifiers -- Jeff Green and Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- are guaranteed their starting spots based on Monday's qualifying, drivers who don't make their way in via Thursday's Gatorade 125s still can make the race based on strong qualifying times. With that, McMurray's time likely would be enough should he falter on Thursday.

"We're relieved right now. We were a little concerned about the 125s if we got caught up in something because we didn't have any points to fall back on to get in the race (with a provisional) ... and that we might go home. I feel like now if we don't finish well in one of the races that we can go back on our time."

Biffle, Raines, Mears and Fittipaldi finished 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th respectively in Monday's qualifying -- possibly good enough to qualify but by no means a sure thing.

For Biffle, who made seven Cup starts last season and is the only driver to win both the BGN and CTS championship, qualifying for Daytona is not a new experience. The Washington-native was at Daytona last season, but his qualifying hopes were dashed by mechanical failure.

"What's going through my mind right now is just being able to qualify to make it in the 500," said Biffle. "Last year we had a little trouble. Didn't quite make it in. Engine failure in the 125. That can happen to anybody that doesn't have points to fall back on or fast enough on time. That's my biggest concern right now -- just getting in the 500. Once we get in the 500, racing' going to be a lot of fun."

But without strong qualifying times, the surest way in would be by posting a strong finish on Thursday.

"There's a lot (of concern about qualifying and 125s)," said Foyt, who was 33rd on the chart after Monday's qualifying. "I'm with a team (that) didn't finish real high in the points, so you can't fall back on that. It's something where we've got to get in the race. If we have to race our way in, I'll just have to do the best I can at that."

And with so much on the line, anxiety levels will likely be high on Thursday.

"There's going to be a lot (of anxiety)," said Raines. "Missing it would be very disappointing. Making it would be awesome. It'd probably be the best day of my racing career so far. Obviously, just starting and competing in a Daytona 500 is going to be quite an accomplishment."

Foyt concurred.

There's definitely a lot of pressure," said Foyt. "You try not to think about it too much, but this is the big one.. There's so much tradition here. Your sponsor wants to be here. Everyone wants to be in this race and I want to be in this race. So it definitely adds some pressure."

But some drivers, such as Sprague, say they aren't worried. Rather, they'll just go out and race come Thursday.

"We'll do all we can do," said Sprague. "It's a new team. The guys are working hard trying to get all our ducks in the water and all our oars in the water. Just do the best we can."

The spectacle and drawn-out nature of the 500 is something that many of these drivers have never experienced. Rather, most are accustomed to qualifying on a Thursday or Friday, racing a couple of days later and then heading home.

But aside from Biffle's attempt at making the Daytona 500 field last season, two of this year's Daytona rookie class have been through something similar -- the Indy 500.

Mears attempted to qualify at Indy in 2001 but fell short. But he's feeling just a bit better about his prospects at Daytona.

"I feel a lot better right now because when I went to Indy I was in horrible equipment and there was no chance of qualifying," said Mears, who is teamed with Marlin and McMurray in Chip Ganassi's stable. "We're definitely solidly in the middle of the field here as we sit right now. I feel a lot more comfortable with doing what we're doing now."

Fittipaldi finished second in the 1995 Indy 500, but he doesn't see his Indy experience as an advantage here at Daytona.

"I don't think it makes any difference at all. I don't think I have any advantage over anyone," said Fittipaldi. "I could reshuffle that question and say I have been to Indy but at the same time I have very little experience with stock car racing and (the other drivers) have a ton of experience. So really don't think it makes a difference, especially with this type of track. A very particular track and the racing is completely different from short-oval racing."

Fittipaldi has made a handful of Busch, Cup and ARCA starts in his transition from Champ cars to stock cars. And though his showing during qualifying wasn't nearly as strong as his surprising practice and testing times here at Daytona, Fittipaldi says he is comfortable in the stock cars..

"Believe it or not, (my comfort levels) are pretty good, especially because I haven't driven the open wheel car -- and I'm not going to drive an open wheel car in the near future for sure -- since October. I've only run this type of car and I only have this type of car in the back of my head.

"I guess what was the hardest for me last year was jumping from one car to the other (when testing toward the end of CART season). That made things a little bit complicated because I have to get used to these very, very quick, especially the way qualifying is and the way the first practice is. You don't do a lot of laps and you go straight into qualifying and you try to get the best out of the car."

	“	There's going to be a lot (of anxiety). Missing it would be very disappointing. Making it would be awesome. It'd probably be the best day of my racing career so far. Obviously, just starting and competing in a Daytona 500 is going to be quite an accomplishment. ”
		— Tony Raines

Another step in the Daytona learning curve for many of these drivers is getting a handle on the draft and positioning within the pack. Both are potential keys to a good or bad finish.

"It's like 'don't make any sudden moves'," said Biffle. "Keep alert on what's around you. Spotters are doing the best they can. But it's a pretty exciting feeling. You are always anticipating what you are going to do next. You are thinking way ahead and hoping the guys around you are using their heads, too, looking for that next break or the next guy to draft with to get a position or two."

But with so many veterans in the field, it might not be so easy for unproven rookies to find draft partners. In other words, don't be surprised to see some of this season's potential young guns getting shuffled to the back of the pack a few times on Thursday and Sunday.

"I think (your experience matters) a ton, especially with getting someone to go with you," said Foyt. "That's going to definitely take some time. The guys are going to have to learn me, they're going to have to race with me and trust me. And that's something hopefully through practice I can get a little bit, but it probably won't be there this first Daytona 500.

"I'll probably get hung out there a few times. You see that happen to a lot of rookies. I know that, so my goal is to race clean with the guys and help some of the guys and hopefully get attached to a good car and I'll just stick with him and move up with him and maybe that way I can earn some respect."

For both rookies and veterans, another oft-heard key to the race is to be patient. Many preach it and some even practice it -- that is, until the laps begin to wind down and the checkered flag approaches. It's true for both the 125s when qualifying spots are on the line, and the Daytona 500 itself.

"I think for Sunday, it's going to be a long race. I have to have patience most of all," said Fittipaldi. "But if we keep our nose clean the entire race, I think we have a very good chance for a very strong finish. Again, this type of racing -- a lot of depends on being in the right place at the right time and having a little bit of luck over here because how many examples have we seen on superspeedways that one car starts spinning ahead of you and then it really develops into "the big one" and sometimes maybe somebody's running fine, your car is good and you caught out in this big one and there's nothing you can do."

These Daytona rookies have varying expectations about Thursday and Sunday, but perhaps the simplest angle -- taken by Casey Mears -- speaks to the most obvious yet most realistic expectations.

"We're going to find out when the race is over," said Mears. "Really, I'm just going into the race to do the best job I can and where I end up that's where I end up. Hopefully it's good."