Jeff Wackerlin
Senior Editor
|
Posted Monday, January 8, 2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
1/10
|
|
|
|
|
Speeds: Monday | Tuesday | Photos | Podcast: Day 1
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Not only was Dave Blaney the first to hit the track in Jackson Hewitt Preseason Thunder, but it also signaled the start of Toyota's campaign in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.
At approximately 9:45 a.m. (ET), Blaney took to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway in his No. 22 Caterpillar Camry, joining 26 teams that will test over the next four days.
Blaney was the fastest among the three Toyotas present in the a.m. session with a lap of 183.756 mph. Dale Jarrett and Brian Vickers were 14th and 34th, respectively, in their Toyotas.
Reigning NEXTEL Cup champion Jimmie Johnson recovered from his fractured wrist to post the second fastest lap (183.869 mph) in his wild looking "zebra striped" designed No. 48 Chevrolet.
"My wrist is good," Johnson said. "I’m going to wear a splint in the car just to be smart and to be sure, but the cast is off and the hand is working and everything is good."
It’s been a little over a month since Johnson was injured while riding on top of a golf cart during charity golf outing in Lecanto, Florida.
"It was just one of those bad decisions I’ve made in my life to get up on top of it," Johnson said.
Tony Raines was the fastest in the first session with a lap of 183.974 mph in the No. 96 DLP Chevrolet. Jamie McMurray (No. 26a Ford) and Mike Mclaughlin, who is testing for Tony Stewart, were fourth and fifth, respectively, on the speed chart in the day's only session after rain showers wiped out the afternoon's.
Today marked Ricky Rudd's first public appearance since 2002 behind the wheel of a Robert Yates Ford. Rudd, who was supposedly going to switch from the No. 88 to 28, rolled the No. 88 Snickers machine to seventh fastest at 183.460 mph.
"We kind of hoped for the 28, but I guess it didn’t really work out," Rudd said. Actually, I drove the 88 back in 1981 when it was the Gatorade car and Robert was actually running the show back then."
Rudd, like everyone, is racing with a heavy heart this week with yesterday's passing of 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton.
"Bobby was a class guy," Rudd said. "He worked hard to get where he was and was a good family guy and I hate to see anybody have trouble like that or pass away like that. I guess it’s more of a shock to me. I was kind of away and I didn’t realize maybe that his health had declined lately. It’s too bad. He was a good guy, a great guy."
Kasey Kahne's second car was the slowest among 47 cars in session one.
Due to the rain, a 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (ET) session has been added on Thursday.
|
|
