Biffle fastest in Richmond CoT test

Fifty Nextel Cup teams gathered for the Easter Week test, as they get ready to race the Car of Tomorrow at bigger tracks than the half-mile Bristol and Martinsville ovals.

Biffle set a fastest lap of 22.214 seconds with an average speed of 121.545 mph, driving his No. 16 Ford Fusion. The time is some 1.5 seconds off the official track record held by Brian Vickers with the current specification of car.

Teams continue to experiment with the new car, trying to improve its handling and solve issues like broken exhaust pipes and melting safety foams, that came up during the first two Car of Tomorrow events.

"We're going to work on getting our car to turn here the best we can, whatever we can do, whether it's changing front wheel center up and down because this car has a higher center of gravity, so this car wants to roll more because it's boxier and it's taller," Biffle said

"There's so many things that will give the front tires grip that we're going to be here for the next two days trying to figure out what the best scenario is."

Behind Biffle, Clint Bowyer was second in his Richard Childress Chevrolet Impala SS while Ganassi's Redd Sorenson was third in his Dodge Avenger, making it three different manufacturers in the top three.

Points leader Jeff Gordon ended the day as fourth fastest, running in the same tenth as the top three. while Mark Martin returned to the No. 01 Ginn Racing Chevrolet, ending up 14th fastest.

Dave Blaney was as usual the fastest Toyota Camry, ending the day in 11th, while Craftsman Truck series regular Johnny Benson drove the No. 46 entry for Bill Davis Racing, setting the 17th fastest time.

Richmond will be the venue for two Car of Tomorrow events this year, the first one in May and the second one in September, where the top 12 drivers in the standings will make the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

Teams will test until Wednesday afternoon and while most Nextel Cup drivers will take the weekend off,  some will race in the Busch Series race at Nashville on Saturday.