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13th
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Gregg Biffle, driving a Roush Fenway Racing Ford claimed the fastest single-car speed of the three-day test at Daytona International Speedway at an average of 194.936 mph on Saturday afternoon.
He was followed by former teammate, Matt Kenseth, who is now driving a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, who turned in a lap of 194.717mph.
Only 21 drivers turned laps in the morning session followed by 15 drivers in the final afternoon session due, in large part to a “Big One” a 12-car crash in drafting practice on Friday.
All-in-all NASCAR officials were pleased because the new car makes it hard to bump draft (where drivers would strike the car in front) or tandem draft (like two cars attached), two practices hated by the fans of the stock car series.
“All in all, I think the test progressed quite nicely,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition. “Speeds look to be where they need to be.
“Even though there was an incident, there was an opportunity for manufacturers to look at the components they built and we got a good look at the new roof-flap system.”
“We were ready to be hands-on but we felt we did our homework on this, working with the manufacturers and the teams and came down here pretty straightforward,” Pemberton added.
“Single car speeds are a little bit quicker than last year, and that was a goal. Pack speeds are the same or down a little bit, and that was another one our goals.”
Team will bring different cars to a test at the “home track” the 1.5 mile Charlotte Motor Speedway where they will be allowed to run with more downforce.
Pemberton said that the teams which suffered damaged cars would unlikely be prevented from the test in Charlotte because of the teams usually prepare different configurations for the 1.5 miler versus the 2.5 superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega.
He was followed by former teammate, Matt Kenseth, who is now driving a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, who turned in a lap of 194.717mph.
Only 21 drivers turned laps in the morning session followed by 15 drivers in the final afternoon session due, in large part to a “Big One” a 12-car crash in drafting practice on Friday.
All-in-all NASCAR officials were pleased because the new car makes it hard to bump draft (where drivers would strike the car in front) or tandem draft (like two cars attached), two practices hated by the fans of the stock car series.
“All in all, I think the test progressed quite nicely,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition. “Speeds look to be where they need to be.
“Even though there was an incident, there was an opportunity for manufacturers to look at the components they built and we got a good look at the new roof-flap system.”
“We were ready to be hands-on but we felt we did our homework on this, working with the manufacturers and the teams and came down here pretty straightforward,” Pemberton added.
“Single car speeds are a little bit quicker than last year, and that was a goal. Pack speeds are the same or down a little bit, and that was another one our goals.”
Team will bring different cars to a test at the “home track” the 1.5 mile Charlotte Motor Speedway where they will be allowed to run with more downforce.
Pemberton said that the teams which suffered damaged cars would unlikely be prevented from the test in Charlotte because of the teams usually prepare different configurations for the 1.5 miler versus the 2.5 superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega.