CNNSI.com's B. Duane Cross offers three points to ponder for the Daytona 500

1	Can we expect to see more rule changes?

Spoilers have become the rage at Daytona. Chris Stanford/Allsport There is no doubt the rules will be tweaked throughout the year -- always have been, always will be. The teams (and fans) now making noise because Ford teams were given a quarter-inch spoiler reduction will be on the other end of the argument later this year. It happens each year and the Speed Weeks firestorm will be long forgotten. Give NASCAR credit -- it is trying to make all things equal. And who can argue with the decision to tweak the rules before the Daytona 500? If anything is amiss, more changes will happen before Sunday.

2	Is there a dark horse to keep an eye on during the Twin 125s?

Dave Marcis Jonathan Ferry/Allsport Actually, there are two: Dave Marcis and Geoffrey Bodine. Neither should be a threat to win Sunday, but getting into the Daytona 500 is half the battle. Bodine, who will start 15th in the first Twin 125 on Thursday, had a speed of 182.734 mph during first-round qualifying. Given his horrific Truck series crash two years ago at Daytona, just making the field would be considered a conquest. Marcis, trying to qualify for a record 33rd Daytona 500 start, turned in a speed of 183.258 and will start 11th in the second Twin 125. A spot in the starting lineup would be a fitting end to this old-schooler's career.

3	What can we expect from pole-sitter Jimmie Johnson?

Jimmie Johnson Craig Jones/Getty Images Going out on a limb, he will not take the checkered flag. But he will compete -- maybe for the entire 200 laps. That in itself would be something to hang his helmet on. Given the fact Hendrick Motorsports has a record of success at Daytona, the car will have a setup capable of hanging with the big boys. But when push comes to shove, the veterans will make life hard on the rookie. Nonetheless, Johnson's first Daytona 500 will be more than an afternoon of turning laps. It will be an invaluable learning experience that will pay dividends long after Sunday.

 

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2002 Gatorade Twin 125s -- Race 1 Lineup 2002 Gatorade Twin 125s -- Race 2 Lineup
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