Speed has 'easy' first ARCA test

Speed drove the No. 21 Red Bull Toyota and ended the day with a best time of 53.12 seconds at an average speed of 180.271 mph. He ranked 29th fastest and third among the Toyota drivers, which included former Formula One colleague Jacques Villeneuve who was eighth.

"It was a pretty easy test for me because I was just driving flat out the whole time," Speed said. "I feel like the crew worked so hard and I just got in the car and drove. Being fast at Talladega has more to do with the car than the driver. The team worked all day making small changes to the car just trying to find more speed."

"It's interesting to see how the team works together. This whole scene reminds me more of my karting days how the guys would work on the car and you're standing right there watching them. Also, the other teams were so willing to come over and share information and that just doesn't happen in Formula One."

The Californian was impressed by the high banking at the 2.66-mile superspeedway, which he tackled for the first time while making his maiden outing in a stock car. He believes the experience required some bravery from him at first.

"The banking here is pretty incredible and intimidating," Speed added "Having never sat in a stock car and to just go out there and run the first lap flat against the wall - I'd be lying if I said that was easy! That took a bit of bravery. The banking here is just super."

"The car is so much heavier than a Formula One car and you feel so much more movement. This car is about three times the weight of a Formula One car, so it moves a lot on the springs and tires. It's just a big moving mass and you feel really tiny inside of it.

"A Formula One car is so small and stiff, if you even think about wanting to go right - you're going right."

While Speed was able to start familiarizing himself with his new environment, he believes he still has a lot to learn, especially on how to run in the draft, as he will have to when he makes his race debut next week.

"It will be so intense to race here," Speed said. "You're just hauling ass because it's so fast. It's not going to be easy to throw that thing into a corner at 170 mph. I have to learn how to draft and how to race these cars too. Learning how to run so close together with so many guys will be wild."

Speed, who left Formula One this summer after a fall-out with his Toro Rosso bosses, is embarking on a stock car career in his home country with continued support from Red Bull. The energy drinks company is also in its first year in NASCAR, fielding two cars in the Nextel Cup.