Gordon stays on top at Daytona
Reigning Daytona 500 champion Jeff Gordon topped the times again on the third day of pre-season testing at the Daytona International Speedway
Gordon set the fastest speed of the week so far at 189.298 mph as teams practiced drafting in packs with other cars.
Gordon was just a whisker ahead of Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson with Matt Kenseth third fastest in the new Ford Fusion.
2003 Nextel Cup champion Kenseth felt positive about how his chances look in preparation for this season: "Our test is going pretty good so far. We're happy to get the new Fusion out on the track.
"I always look forward to the Daytona 500, more so, probably this year, than years past just because we ran pretty good at all the plate races last year. We have hopes that we'll be competitive and hopefully be part of the outcome."
David Stremme in a Dodge and 2004 and 2005 Busch Series Champion Martin Truex Jr in a Chevrolet rounded out the top five times, a particularly impressive result for Stremme who is yet to race in Nextel Cup.
Wednesday's testing wrapped up this week's testing at Daytona, with drivers whose cars finished in even-numbered owner points positions getting their chance to test on the track between Monday and Wednesday next week.
Wednesday morning speeds:
Pos Driver Car Speed 1. Matt Kenseth Ford 188.403 mph 2. Elliott Sadler Ford 187.649 3. Ryan Newman Dodge 187.637 4. Reed Sorenson Dodge 187.488 5. Ken Schrader Ford 187.441 6. David Stremme Dodge 187.402 7. Kasey Kahne Dodge 187.367 8. Jeremy Mayfield Dodge 187.282 9. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 187.250 10. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 187.110 11. Jeff Burton Chevrolet 186.935 12. Dale Earnhardt Jr Chevrolet 186.908 13. Bill Elliott Chevrolet 186.834 14. Martin Truex Jr Chevrolet 186.359 15. Jeff Fuller Chevrolet 185.877 16. Bobby Labonte Dodge 185.647 17. Mike McLaughlin Chevrolet 185.613 18. Reed Sorenson Dodge 184.869 19. Scott Wimmer Chevrolet 184.862 20. Mike Skinner Dodge 183.978
Wednesday afternoon speeds:
Pos Driver Car Speed 1. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 189.298 mph 2. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 189.195 3. Matt Kenseth Ford 189.024 4. David Stremme Dodge 189.000 5. Martin Truex Jr Chevrolet 188.663 6. Jeff Fuller Chevrolet 188.426 7. Ryan Newman Dodge 188.229 8. Dale Earnhardt Jr Chevrolet 188.222 9. Jeff Burton Chevrolet 188.103 10. Mike McLaughlin Chevrolet 188.029 11. Bobby Labonte Dodge 187.903 12. Kasey Kahne Dodge 187.903 13. Mike Skinner Dodge 187.739 14. Elliott Sadler Ford 187.621 15. Reed Sorenson Dodge 187.613 16. Jeremy Mayfield Dodge 187.613 17. Bill Elliott Chevrolet 187.578 18. Ken Schrader Ford 187.531 19. Scott Wimmer Chevrolet 185.801
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