Carpentier shines during practice

The Gillett Evernham driver set a fastest lap of 48.348 seconds at an average speed of 186.150 mph at the wheel of his No. 10 Dodge Charger.

Although he topped the final practice session before qualifying, his lap was just marginally slower than Jimmie Johnson's best from the first practice, where Carpentier had been second.

"I like that, it's wonderful," Carpentier said following practice. "The guys did a lot of work with the car and every little thing that we could think of to make it better and every aero things they did it and did it.

"I think everything is coming together so I'm really happy. The main objective here is to make the race. If we make this race then that's a good start to the season and then we'll be in.

"We have to be in the top eight because some of the guys are pretty fast and if we're in the top eight we'll be okay but we've got to be in the top eight.

Carpentier is one of several drivers who need to make the field on time for next weekend's Daytona 500, forcing him and his team to put more emphasis on the car's handling in qualifying trim.

The Toyotas continued to excel with Michael Waltrip setting the second fastest lap in the final practice, ahead of the two Joe Gibbs Racing Camrys of Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin.

Jacques Villeneuve, who also has to qualify on time for the race and is driving an unsponsored Bill Davis Racing car, was fifth fastest in the first practice session of the day but did not run in the second one.

His crew chief Richard 'Slugger' Labbe feels confident about their chances of making the field.

"We feel pretty good about our stuff and hopefully we'll have a good lap tomorrow and get locked in this Daytona 500," Labbe said. "That would be a great thing with a Raybestos Rookie and no sponsor. It'd be fun. We've got to be one of the fastest three."

If either Carpentier or Villeneuve qualify on the front row that will be their starting position for the Daytona 500.

But if they qualify lower than that, they will need either a good result next week in the Gatorade Duel or be among the fastest qualifiers to have a good chance of making the field.