Brief drafting run boost speeds
NASCAR Sprint Cup teams didn't draft for long Friday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway, but it was enough to show just how impressive speeds can be.
The speed chart for the second day of testing's session showed an impressive boost, with Wood Brothers Racing's Trevor Bayne leading the field with a top lap of 199.650 mph. Penske Racing's Joey Logano, Michael Waltrip Racing's Martin Truex Jr. and Mark Martin and Roush Fenway Racing's Carl Edwards rounded out the top five.
Richard Petty Motorsports' Aric Almirola, Hendrick Motorsports' Dale Earnhardt Jr., Roush Fenway Racing's Greg Biffle, Joe Gibbs Racing's Kyle Busch and Germain Racing's Casey Mears rounded out the top 10.
The session was interrupted by an 11-car crash as Earnhardt Jr. was trying to push Marcos Ambrose in the draft. Several top drivers, including defending Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski and Hendrick Motorsports' top-10 2012 season finishers Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne were caught up in the incident. After that, the field returned to single-car runs for the rest of the afternoon.
Richard Childress Racing showed its speed Friday morning during the opening session.
Jeff Burton topped the field with a fast lap of 194.805 mph. Teammate Kevin Harvick was second in the session. Joe Gibbs Racing's Matt Kenseth, who turned the fastest lap in Thursday's session, was third. RCR's Paul Menard and Roush Fenway Racing's Greg Biffle rounded out the top five.
Kyle Busch, Furniture Row Racing's Kurt Busch, Ambrose, Stewart-Haas Racing's Danica Patrick and RCR's Austin Dillon rounded out the top five.
The teams are testing NASCAR's new-model Sprint Cup Series car in preparation for the season-opening Daytona 500. The test concludes Saturday.