Jeff Wackerlin
Managing Editor
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Posted Tuesday, January 8, 2008 |
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1/10
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Speeds | Day 1 Video | Photos | Schedule
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Jimmie Johnson and J.J. Yeley paced Tuesday's two sessions of NASCAR Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway with the defending champ leading the morning runs and Yeley showing the way in the afternoon drafting session.
After a rain shower delayed this morning's start, Johnson went out and posted a lap of 184.763 mph in his No. 48A Chevrolet.
Jacques Villeneuve, Travis Kvapil, Casey Mears and AJ Allmendinger rounded out the top five in a.m. single car runs.
In the afternoon session, teams were able to run in the draft for the first time and Yeley had his No. 96A Toyota on top of the charts with a speed of 187.359 mph.
Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Joe Nemechek and Matt Kenseth rounded out the first five.
Two incidents occurred during the afternoon session when Casey Mears slapped the wall when a tire let go and when Reed Sorenson spun his No. 41 Dodge in Turn 3.
With the exception of the incidents with Mears and Sorenson, the first two days of testing have gone off without any major trouble, although some drivers have experienced right-front tire blistering.
"We did have some right front tire issues, I think a couple teams did," said Elliott Sadler, who was 37th quick this afternoon. "I think this is a normal issue in winter testing. I made a full fuel run and we just saw a little bit of blistering on the right front. Are we concerned about it, No. If I was a rookie maybe, but I have raced here at Daytona before."
Clint Bowyer was one of the drivers that did not run in the draft today and said he had no problems with the tires. However, he did notice Mears' tire in the garage area.
"The 5 was right beside us and I got to talk to him a little bit. I obviously saw the tire sitting there and corded on the inside. He said it didn't really give any kind of indication that it was fixing to have trouble. It just kind of blew out and away she went," Bowyer said.
A green race track is said to be the cause of the tire problems.
The first session of Sprint Cup testing will conclude tomorrow. Be sure to check back with RacingOne for the latest updates, photos and speeds.
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