Team Penske helps rookie Ryan Blaney in Daytona 500 practice
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) Team Penske teammates Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski helped rookie Ryan Blaney post a solid lap in Daytona 500 practice Saturday.
Logano, Keselowski and Blaney drafted their way to the top three spots in the second practice session. It was a significant finish for Blaney, who is one of several drivers needing to race their way into the Daytona 500.
Practice speeds would be pivotal to making the 40-car field if pole qualifying and qualifying races get rained out before the Feb. 21 season opener. Although the forecast doesn't call for heavy rain either day, bad weather caused Blaney and his Wood Brothers Racing team problems last season.
Blaney failed to make three races because rain wiped out qualifying. This year, he goes into the season without one of the 36 charters than guarantee starting spots in the Sprint Cup Series. Blaney is on loan to the Wood Brothers from Team Penske.
Logano averaged 195.933 mph during his fast lap, just ahead of Keselowski (195.848 mph) and Blaney (195.797 mph).
