Gordon goes fastest at Daytona

Gordon, who has been running up front since testing began on Monday, posted a lap of 188.466mph on Tuesday afternoon, already going faster than last year's pole speed.

Dale Jarrett took pole last year for last year's race with a lap of 188.312mph.

After last season's 11th place finish in the Nextel Cup, Gordon's number 24 Hendrick Motorsport entry has been restructured, former crew chief Robbie Loomis leaving for Petty Enterprises, and Steve Letarte promoted from within the team as his replacement.

"We're definitely going through some changes in the off season," Gordon said, "and I think they are all positive ones that just build around Steve as the leader of this team and given me the cars that I need and us and all around the best effort to go out there and win races and championships.

"I don't think that we're there today, but I think by the time the Chase comes around, I think that we will be."

Veteran Bill Elliott, who had topped the first day of testing on Monday, continued to show his pace by posting the second fastest time with a speed of 188.025mph.

Elliott Sadler was the best runner in the new Ford Fusion, coming in third ahead of Gordon's Hendrick Motorsport teammate Jimmie Johnson. Johnson has only used one car so far this week, and will switch to his spare car for the last day of testing.

After two days of single car practice, the final day of the three-day test will focus on multi-car drafting.

Only drivers whose cars finished in odd-numbered owner points positions are eligible to participate in this first three-day session, with the rest taking part at the same time next week.

Tuesday morning speeds:

Pos Driver             Car        Speed 
 1. Jimmie Johnson     Chevrolet  186.966
 2. Jeff Gordon        Chevrolet  186.734
 3. Mike Mclaughlin    Chevrolet  186.382
 4. Bill Elliott       Chevrolet  186.374
 5. Bobby Labonte      Chevrolet  186.047
 6. Jeff Fuller        Chevrolet  185.613
 7. Elliott Sadler     Ford       185.533
 8. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet  185.372
 9. Jeremy Mayfield    Dodge      185.338
10. Jeff Burton        Chevrolet  185.235
11. Matt Kenseth       Ford       185.094
12. Reed Sorenson      Dodge      184.961
13. Mike Skinner       Dodge      184.668
14. Scott Wimmer       Chevrolet  184.627
15. Kasey Kahne        Dodge      184.532
16. Ken Schrader       Ford       184.490
17. Ryan Newman        Dodge      184.305
18. David Stremme      Dodge      183.696
19. Martin Truex Jr.   Chevrolet  182.778
20. Kenny Wallace      Chevrolet  182.249

Tuesday afternoon speeds:

Pos Driver             Car        Speed 
 1. Jeff Gordon        Chevrolet  188.466 
 2. Bill Elliott       Chevrolet  188.025
 3. Elliott Sadler     Ford       187.594
 4. Jimmie Johnson     Chevrolet  187.582
 5. Matt Kenseth       Ford       186.982
 6. Mike Mclaughlin    Chevrolet  186.614
 7. Jeremy Mayfield    Dodge      186.521
 8. Bobby Labonte      Dodge      186.070
 9. Jeff Burton        Chevrolet  185.935
10. Jeff Fuller        Chevrolet  185.468
11. Reed Sorenson      Dodge      185.166
12. Ken Schrader       Ford       185.018
13. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet  184.805
14. Kasey Kahne        Dodge      184.657
15. Mike Skinner       Dodge      184.566
16. Ryan Newman        Dodge      184.479
17. Scott Wimmer       Chevrolet  184.411
18. David Stremme      Dodge      183.404
19. Martin Truex Jr.   Chevrolet  183.020
20. Kenny Wallace      Chevrolet  182.934