Daytona day 2: Here comes Little E

Johnson was fastest for the second day running of the 23 drivers that tested on the Florida oval in his Hendrick Motorsport Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

"This has been an awesome two days of testing for us," said Johnson. "It's a great shot in the arm for the whole team. This is the first time a lot of these guys have worked together. Everyone is gelling well."

Earnhardt Jr was in upbeat mood about his chances for next month's Daytona 500, and set the second fastest time in the car with which he won the Pepsi 400 last July.

"Man, we just can't do anything wrong with that car," he said. "It's a good car. It goes through the corners so much better. I told the guys it would roll up a hill if you give it a shove!

"It just rolls real good. Both cars have identical motors in them. We expected the other car to be better. It's a brand new car and they really had high hopes for it, but I had a hard time believing they were going to build anything better than what we had," he added.

Chevrolet once again held sway with the top three times, with Ward Burton fourth quickest for Dodge, Geoffrey Bodine eighth for Ford and Stacy Compton 10th for Pontiac.


Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 183.816mph
Dale Earnhardt Jr, Chevrolet, 183.475mph
Kenny Wallace, Chevrolet, 182.756mph
Ward Burton, Dodge, 182.689mph
Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 182.608mph
Terry Labonte, Chevrolet, 182.282mph
Geoffrey Bodine, Ford, 182.186mph
Sterling Marlin, Dodge, 182.031mph
Dale Jarrett, Ford, 181.925mph
Stacy Compton, Pontiac, 181.877mph