Busch heads Indy practice

Busch, who finished second last week at Pocono, unofficially was faster than the stock car track record (49.704s) set by Brett Bodine in 2000. With few track records threatened this year, Busch was more than 2mph faster than Jimmy Spencer's pole speed of last year.

Bill Elliott, winner last week at Pocono, was second-fastest at 49.556s. Points leader Sterling Marlin was third at 49.726s, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr, Mark Martin and Ryan Newman.

The two-hour session was largely a run-in, with only three teams making as many as 20 laps. Most teams tested here two weeks ago, and the Pocono race, also on a big, flat track, has come to be considered as a warm-up for Indy.

In all, 50 cars and drivers tried out in practice. Surprisingly slow were Jeff Gordon (27th), Casey Atwood (40th) and Jimmie Johnson (41st).

In addition to the series regulars, about 10 part-timers and one-timers padded the list, mostly at the bottom. Among them are Geoff Bodine (in the Miccosukee Gaming car), Derrike Cope, Scott Wimmer, Ron Hornaday (in the BAM car), Stuart Kirby, Jim Sauter (in Dave Marcis's No. 71) and PJ Jones.

Craftsman Truck points leader (and former Cup regular) Ted Musgrave, who will drive a few Cup races for Dodge, was 21st at 50.271s.

The field was spread over just 2.215s.