Denny Hamlin may have a bum left knee, but don't count him out as a title contender.
Hamlin said he is still in the process of healing after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee but expects to be walking normally by the time he arrives in Daytona International Speedway for the beginning of the 2010 season next week.
"It should be fine, I drive on the street and it's OK, but of course I'm not clutching a whole lot," Hamlin said. "That's going to be the biggest thing, downshifting and getting up to speed at Daytona, once I'm up to speed everything should be fine because the little bit of brake pressure that you use at Daytona won't affect it I don't think. The biggest thing is just going to be getting in and out of the race car.
"I think a lot of it is very similar to what Carl Edwards' injury was with his foot. He was very immobile I guess you can say. But getting in and out of the car, the only time I can really think it will be an issue is getting in the car because you have to bend your knee quite a bit to get down in – getting out is quite a bit easier. I don't think there's an issue where that's concerned, but I think realistically within one week from right now I'll have a normal walk so it'll be hard to tell I even have an injury."
This isn't the first knee injury for Hamlin. He had surgery in December on his right knee, and the new issue is unrelated.
Although the driver of the No. 11 FedEx Toyota anticipates problems once NASCAR reaches tracks with lots of braking and gear changes, like road course venues Infineon Raceway (June 20) and Watkins Glen International (Aug. 8), it hasn't tempered his ambition of being the driver to knock off four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson.
"There's no more focus that I can have as far as winning a championship as what I do now," Hamlin said.
"Definitely, my confidence can't be any higher than what it is right now, I don't think, because I know how we performed at the end of last year and I know what we have in store for this year."
