Jeff Gordon broke in the preseason testing session at the Daytona International Speedway by posting the fastest speed of the morning session with 187.029 mph, narrowly beating teammate Jimmy Johnson in the process. After the 2 fast Chevy's came Bill Elliot, racing the #36 for MB2 Motorsports, Matt Kenseth of Roush Racing with the new for '06 Ford Fusion, and Elliot Sadler for Yates.
Bill Elliot and Dale Earnhardt Jr were the only drivers with 2 cars in the top 10. Defending champ Tony Stewart is not testing the #20 this week with Mike McLaughlin subing in and posting the 6th fastest time. Three Nextel Cup rookies; Reed Sorenson, Martin Truex Jr, and David Stremme all finished the day 20th, 23rd, and 33rd respectively.
Ryan Newman was 17th fastest in the revamped Dodge Charger. After starting the last race in 2005 with an Intrepid nose on the new Charger platform, Newman is starting the 2006 season with high hopes. But leading the Dodge drivers, was the first one on the track, Jeremy Mayfield in 12th.
There will be 2 sessions each day through Wednesday. This weeks testing will feature all drivers that were in the odd-numbered positions in the owners points standings at the end of the year, and next weeks sessions will feature the even-numbered placed drivers.
The truck series will get their first opportunity to take the track on Jan 13-15, and the Busch series will finish out the testing on Jan 20-22.
RESULTS
Pos. Car Driver Speed
1 24 Jeff Gordon 187.029
2 48 Jimmie Johnson 186.928
3 36a Bill Elliott 186.521
4 17a Matt Kenseth 186.023
5 38a Elliott Sadler 186.020
6 20a Mike McLaughlin 185.927
7 8a Dale Earnhardt Jr. 185.628
8 36b Bill Elliott 185.300
9 8b Dale Earnhardt Jr. 185.132
10 4 Scott Wimmer 185.071
11 31x Jeff Burton 184.983
12 19a Jeremy Mayfield 184.885
13 80b Jeff Fuller 184.809
14 17b Matt Kenseth 184.710
15 20b Mike McLaughlin 184.642
16 43a Bobby Labonte 184.543
17 12b Ryan Newman 184.525
18 38b Elliott Sadler 184.509
19 31 Jeff Burton 184.483
20 41 Reed Sorenson 184.456
21 12a Ryan Newman 184.411
22 43b Bobby Labonte 184.305
23 21b Ken Schrader 184.260
24 23 Mike Skinner 184.143
25 4a Scott Wimmer 184.090
26 1b Martin Truex Jr. 184.019
27 23a Mike Skinner 184.015
28 9a Kasey Kahne 183.805
29 21a Ken Schrader 183.790
30 80a Jeff Fuller 183.733
31 1a Martin Truex Jr. 183.718
32 9b Kasey Kahne 183.554
33 40x David Stremme 183.236
34 40 David Stremme 183.083
35 41x Reed Sorenson 182.953
36 19b Jeremy Mayfield 182.619
37 78a Kenny Wallace 180.963
